2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2025 Toyota 4Runner

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner, in its sixth generation, maintained a design evolution rather than a complete overhaul. It retained the horseshoe-shaped grilles from the previous generation, but with a more robust and industrial look. The side body panels featured deep beveled creases that seamlessly integrated with the flared wheel arches, giving the 4Runner a broad-shouldered stance suitable for an off-road SUV. Paying homage to its predecessors, the 4Runner included design elements like the slanted rearmost window, while the sliding rear window facilitated easier cargo access. Inside, the 4Runner mirrored the Tacoma pickup truck, with a cabin that echoed the exterior's beveled styling. It was designed to endure punishment with hard plastics, yet offered light cushioning for comfort. The materials were of higher quality than those in a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, though not as refined as the Land Rover Defender.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in three trims in Canada, debuted its fifth generation in 2024, maintaining its chunky, boxy design with a long wheelbase and flat hood. The pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps aligned with Hyundai's design aesthetic, and the brand offered vibrant colours like Terracotta Orange and Atlantis Blue. However, the rear design suffered from mismatched proportions, with taillights positioned lower than ideal. Each trim had specific wheels, 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. The interior offered leatherette, leather, or Nappa leather upholstery, depending on the trim. While the fit and finish were generally good, some squeaks and rattles were noted. The inclusion of physical dials for HVAC temperature was appreciated, though fan speed buttons were less intuitive.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner offered two engine choices. The entry-level trims came with a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 317 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup promised better acceleration and fuel economy compared to the previous five-speed unit. In Canada, part-time 4WD was standard, with full-time 4WD available in the Limited and Platinum packages. Toyota introduced a Hybrid i-Force Max powertrain, combining the four-cylinder engine with a 1.87-kWh battery pack and an electric motor, delivering a combined 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. This hybrid variant offered stronger power at lower speeds, beneficial for off-roading. The 4Runner's new generation was quieter and more composed on pavement, with improved handling and reduced body roll. Off-road capabilities remained impressive, with eight distinct packages offering varying levels of off-road prowess. The TRD Pro and Trailhunter models were the most capable, with approach angles ranging from 18 to 33 degrees, departure angles between 22 and 24 degrees, and ground clearance from 20.5 to 25.6 centimetres.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a standard 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. AWD was standard across the lineup in Canada. The Santa Fe Hybrid, a separate model, combined a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, also with standard AWD. The Santa Fe offered stable cornering, firm brakes, and responsive steering, though turbo lag was noticeable during acceleration. The gear selector, located on a stalk on the steering column, required some getting used to. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and 21.2 centimetres of ground clearance, enhancing its off-road geometry. While the Santa Fe was suitable for graded dirt roads, it wasn't designed for rugged rock crawling, unlike larger three-row SUVs.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner measured nearly 13 centimetres longer than its predecessor, with a 6-centimetre increase between the axles. Despite the longer wheelbase, passenger space gains were minimal. The front seats offered ample room for taller passengers, but the middle row was less accommodating, with adequate legroom and headroom. A third row was available on non-hybrid models, though it was cramped and lacked thigh support. The cockpit was well-organized, with oversized climate control knobs and tactile off-road controls. Storage options included door pockets, a dashboard tray, cupholders, and a centre armrest bin. Cargo capacity was 1,371 litres behind the second row, reduced to 1,206 litres in the Hybrid due to the raised floor. A sturdy roof rack supported a static load of 360 kilograms.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered ample 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. Folding the third row provided 1,148 litres, while folding the second row expanded it to 2,267 litres. With all rows occupied, there was still 413 litres of space. 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, with the XRT trim capable of towing 2,040 kilograms.

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard, with an optional 14-inch touchscreen. Both offered logical menus and quick responses. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, along with a charging pad. Hybrid variants came with a digital instrument panel, available in most extra-cost packages for gas models. Off-road models had external camera views for trail navigation, with automatic activation at low speeds. A 14-speaker JBL premium audio system was available, along with a portable Bluetooth speaker. Remote monitoring and control were possible through a smartphone app, which also offered a digital key function.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster of the same size. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clear graphics and quick reactions. Navigation was built into the Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, but wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. Charging options included multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad, capable of charging two phones in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. A digital key function allowed phone or Apple watch use for unlocking and starting the car. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display. Bluelink app connectivity was standard, providing features like climate control presets and location alerts. Over-the-air updates ensured the latest software.

As of the writing, crash test results for the 2025 Toyota 4Runner were unavailable from NHTSA or IIHS. However, the Tacoma pickup truck, on which the 4Runner is based, was named a Top Safety Pick by IIHS. All 4Runner models included the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite, featuring frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a traffic sign reader, and automatic high beams. The Proactive Driving Assist feature, which could be intrusive, was also included but could be disabled. In Canada, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert was standard.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of safety features as standard, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, forward collision avoidance assist, lane keeping and following assist, a driver attention monitor, and safe exit assist. Additional features like rear parking collision avoidance assist and Highway Drive Assist were available. The Highway Drive Assist feature combined adaptive cruise control and lane following assist, though it occasionally exhibited erratic behaviour in heavy traffic. The top trim included a blind spot avoidance feature and a Blind View Monitor. NHTSA awarded the Santa Fe a four-star overall safety rating, while IIHS rated it "Good" in most sections, with "Acceptable" scores for headlights and LATCH.