2025 Ford Explorer vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2025 Ford Explorer continued to build on its previous redesign, which had shifted the SUV from a front-wheel-drive to a rear-wheel-drive platform, enhancing its proportions and giving it a sleeker, more streamlined appearance. The refreshed model featured a restyled front end that made it appear wider and more ruggedly handsome, complemented by new LED taillights that bled into the liftgate. Inside, the Explorer saw significant improvements with upgraded materials, colours, and design, making it more competitive in its segment. Ford reduced the available trim levels in Canada to four, with prices ranging from $52,830 to $71,430, including the destination charge.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in three trims in Canada, maintained its chunky, boxy design with a long wheelbase and flat hood. The pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps and taillights aligned with Hyundai's design aesthetic, though the rear lights' placement was criticized for being visually unbalanced. Each trim offered specific wheel designs, and the interior provided ample space, especially in the third row. The Santa Fe's fit and finish were generally good, though some squeaks and rattles were noted. The SUV offered a range of upholstery options and practical features like adjustable second-row seats and a wide rear opening for easy cargo access.

The 2025 Ford Explorer offered two EcoBoost engine options: a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, and a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 producing 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, standard on the ST trim. All Canadian models featured a 10-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, with various driving modes available. Fuel economy ratings for the base engine were 11.9 L/100 km city, 8.7 highway, and 10.4 combined, while the V6 in the Platinum and ST trims had slightly higher consumption. The Explorer's turbo four provided quick acceleration, and the 10-speed automatic delivered decisive shifts. The ST-Line's performance was enhanced with larger wheels and performance brakes, offering a delightful ride and handling experience.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a standard 2.5-litre turbocharged engine delivering 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup. The Santa Fe Hybrid, a separate model, combined a 1.6-litre engine with an electric motor for 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe felt stable in corners, though turbo lag and occasional transmission delays were noted. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, enhancing its off-road capabilities. However, the Santa Fe was not designed for rugged rock crawling, performing best on graded dirt roads.

The 2025 Ford Explorer seated six in its standard configuration, with an optional second-row bench seat increasing capacity to seven. The ST-Line trim featured comfortable front seats with black artificial leather upholstery and cloth inserts, while the second-row captain's chairs offered similar comfort. The third row was less accommodating for adults. Cargo space was competitive, with 461 litres behind the third row, 1,302 litres behind the second row, and a maximum of 2,429 litres. The interior included practical features like a new dashboard tray with a wireless smartphone charger.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered generous interior space, with the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats had adjustable cushion angles, and both the second and third rows could be folded for increased cargo space. With all seats occupied, the Santa Fe provided 413 litres of space, expanding to 1,148 litres with the third row folded and 2,267 litres with the second row down. The rear opening was widened to 127.5 cm, facilitating the loading of large items. The Santa Fe's towing capacity varied by trim, with the XRT capable of towing up to 2,040 kilograms.

The 2025 Ford Explorer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a new 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system called Ford Digital Experience. This system included Google Built-in, Amazon Alexa Built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, among other features. A 5G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and web browser apps were available, and the system was praised for its simplicity and functionality. The Explorer offered B&O sound systems, with the ST-Line featuring 10 speakers and the Platinum and ST boasting 14 speakers and 980 watts of power.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster, except for the base hybrid trim. The system was user-friendly, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. Higher trims included built-in navigation and additional features like a digital rearview mirror and head-up display. The Santa Fe offered multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad, with the ability to use a phone or Apple watch as a digital key. Bluelink app connectivity provided remote access and monitoring features, and over-the-air updates ensured the latest software.

The 2025 Ford Explorer was equipped with Ford CoPilot 360 Assist+, which included adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assist and other driver assistance systems. Higher trims featured Ford CoPilot 360 2.0 with a surround-view camera system and BlueCruise hands-free highway driving. The Explorer received five-star side-impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings from the NHTSA, while the IIHS rated its crash performance well but criticized the headlights on some trims.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision avoidance assist. Higher trims added features like rear parking collision avoidance assist and Highway Drive Assist. The Santa Fe received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating from the IIHS, with some exceptions in the headlight and LATCH categories.