2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in Canada in LE, XLE, XSE, and Limited trims, presented a distinctive look with its sleek front and rear fascias. It offered a range of cool colours like deep blue, red, or bronze, making it a stylish choice for families. LED lighting was standard, with upper trims featuring Bi-LED projector headlamps. The XSE trim, known for its sporty appeal, included a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. Inside, the Sienna provided a spacious feel with horizontal design lines and a fixed centre console trimmed in satin accents. While not luxurious, it was practical for families, offering cloth seats, three-zone climate control, and room for eight. The XSE trim replaced the second-row bench with captain’s chairs and leatherette-trimmed sport seats, adding a touch of sophistication.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in XRT, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, maintained its fifth-generation design with a chunky, boxy appearance. It featured a long wheelbase, flat hood, and snub nose, complemented by pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps. The Santa Fe offered vibrant colours like Terracotta Orange and Atlantis Blue, appealing to those seeking a break from the typical greyscale SUV palette. However, the rear design suffered from mismatched proportions, with taillights positioned lower than ideal. Each trim had specific wheel sizes, ranging from 18 to 21 inches, and the off-road-focused XRT trim added chrome and black accents. Inside, the Santa Fe accommodated seven passengers, except for the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which featured captain’s chairs in the second row. The interior boasted good fit and finish, though some squeaks and rattles were noted. Physical dials for HVAC temperature were appreciated, but fan speed buttons were less user-friendly.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was powered by a hybrid system combining a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. All-wheel drive models added an electric motor for the rear wheels. Despite a sport-tuned suspension and a Sport mode button, the Sienna's performance was not particularly thrilling. It felt sluggish off the line, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) contributed to a less engaging driving experience. Acceleration was smooth but slow, especially during highway merging or climbing. The CVT could become noisy, and the brakes were occasionally grabby. However, the Sienna offered a pleasant driving experience around town, with excellent visibility and light, accurate steering.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a standard 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup, and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission handled shifting duties. The Santa Fe Hybrid, a separate model, combined a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, delivering 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe felt stable in corners, with firm brakes and responsive steering. However, turbo lag was noticeable during acceleration, and the transmission occasionally delayed downshifts. The gear selector, located on a stalk, required some getting used to. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, enhancing off-road capabilities. While not a rugged rock crawler, the Santa Fe handled graded dirt roads and small obstacles well.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space, though some seating features were tricky to master. The front offered a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items, four cupholders, and a shelf above the glovebox with a wireless charging pad. Both side doors were powered, and second-row captain’s chairs could slide fore and aft 63.5 centimetres, providing up to 101.5 centimetres of legroom. However, the slide function was complicated, and the seats couldn't be removed, limiting maximum cargo space. The third row was accessible for adults, with ample legroom when the second row was adjusted. The Sienna offered tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone for the front passenger in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate, activated with a kick motion, revealed 949 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,860 litres with the second row folded.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT trim came well-equipped with heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a sunroof, and a 115-volt outlet. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added heated second-row seats, ventilated front seats, and a premium audio system. The Santa Fe boasted the most third-row legroom in its class, with adjustable second-row seat cushions. Folding the third row provided 1,148 litres of space, expanding to 2,267 litres with the second row folded. With all seats occupied, 413 litres of space remained. The rear opening was widened to 127.5 cm, with a height of 81 cm, facilitating easy loading of large items. Most trims could tow 1,587 kilograms, while the XRT trim increased towing capacity to 2,040 kilograms.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the system included physical buttons for common menus, the backup camera's grainy view was disappointing. Analog gauges were complemented by a 7-inch digital display for essential information. Available features included SiriusXM satellite radio, a 12-speaker JBL stereo system, and a rear-camera mirror. USB ports were plentiful, and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet was available for the second row and rear cargo area.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster of the same size. The system was user-friendly, with clear graphics and quick response times. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, though built-in navigation was limited to higher trims. Charging options included multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad. The digital key feature allowed unlocking and starting the car with a phone or Apple watch. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display. Bluelink app connectivity provided remote climate control and alerts, while over-the-air updates ensured up-to-date software.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, road sign recognition, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Sienna received a four-star rating from the NHTSA for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS rated it "Good" in crashworthiness and seat belt systems, though front crash prevention was rated "Average."

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision avoidance assist. Higher trims added features like rear parking collision avoidance assist and Highway Drive Assist. The NHTSA awarded the Santa Fe a four-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it "Good" in most categories, with "Acceptable" scores for headlights and LATCH.