Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid vs Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid was reminiscent of a pair of "dad jeans"—practical and offering great value, yet lacking modern flair. Despite a refresh in 2021, its design appeared outdated compared to newer crossovers like the Hyundai Palisade or Kia Sorento. The Santa Fe's exterior featured a handsome grille and flush-mounted headlights, but its silhouette was criticized for being too soft and lacking definition. The vehicle's dimensions placed it awkwardly between compact and three-row crossovers, resulting in a two-row midsize SUV with a spacious trunk. Inside, the Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized function over style, with a centre console filled with physical buttons, making it easy to use but not particularly stylish.

In contrast, the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid maintained its attractive design with evolutionary improvements over its predecessors. The third-generation Crosstrek featured new sheet metal and chassis construction, with a distinctive frameless grille and aerodynamic wheel arch cladding. Inside, the Crosstrek Hybrid balanced rugged utility with refined comfort, offering soft-touch surfaces and durable plastics. The cabin's straightforward design prioritized function, with standard features like heated front seats and a power moonroof. The Crosstrek Hybrid's interior was practical, with ample rear-seat space and a large cargo area, making it a versatile choice for various needs.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid delivered a balanced performance with its 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 44.2-kW electric motor, producing a total of 226 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It offered impressive fuel economy, with estimates of 7.1 L/100 km in the city, 7.9 on the highway, and 7.4 combined. The hybrid's power was managed by a six-speed automatic transmission and an HTRAC AWD system, capable of distributing power between the front and rear wheels as needed. While not the quickest, the Santa Fe Hybrid excelled in noise insulation and ride quality, providing a comfortable driving experience.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, on the other hand, was powered by a 2.5-litre Atkinson/Miller-cycle engine paired with an 118 hp traction motor, resulting in a total system output of 194 hp. This made it the fastest Crosstrek to date, with smoother acceleration than its gas-only counterpart. The hybrid system utilized two motor-generators for engine start/stop functions and regenerative braking. During testing, the Crosstrek Hybrid recorded 7.6 L/100 km, slightly above the estimated 6.5 L/100 km. Subaru's AWD system, combined with the X-Mode traction management system, provided excellent off-road capability, although the steering felt light and somewhat disconnected.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid featured a shift-by-wire, push-button transmission, freeing up space below the centre stack. However, the stack itself was massive, with limited storage space. Rear passengers enjoyed a panoramic sunroof and ample legroom, while the cargo area offered 1,032 litres behind the second row, expanding to 2,041 litres with the seats folded. The Santa Fe Hybrid's interior was equipped with heated and ventilated front seats, leatherette upholstery, and an eight-way power driver's seat.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid improved upon its predecessors by offering more horsepower and cargo space. With a 63-litre fuel tank, it could cover 829 kilometres between fill-ups. The Crosstrek Hybrid provided 926 millimetres of rear-seat legroom and a cargo volume of 527 litres, expanding to 1,433 litres with the rear seats folded. While storage space up front was limited, the Crosstrek Hybrid included a wireless charging pad and deep door pockets for added convenience.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid came standard with a 10.25-inch touchscreen featuring onboard navigation, Bluetooth, OTA map updates, and dynamic voice recognition. The infotainment system supported Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, though both required a wired connection. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster provided a clear view of essential driving information, although the Harman Kardon audio system was not available in Canada.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen, but its software was slow and prone to fingerprints. While wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, many controls were managed via touchscreen buttons, which could be frustrating. The Crosstrek Hybrid included a Harman Kardon stereo and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, although the navigation map couldn't display Google Maps when using phone projection.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized safety with features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance, lane keep assist, and more. While the surround-view and blind-spot view monitors were not available in Canada, the Santa Fe Hybrid received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid did not receive a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, scoring "Marginal" in the moderate overlap front crash test and "Acceptable" in the side-impact test. However, it received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. The Crosstrek Hybrid included Subaru's EyeSight ADAS, with features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and more, although it lacked a semi-autonomous driving system.