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 Despite a refresh in 2021, its design appeared outdated compared to newer crossovers like the Hyundai Palisade or Kia Sorento.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 overall silhouette seemed too soft for a modern SUV. The vehicle's length, at 188.4 inches, placed it awkwardly between compact and three-row crossovers, resulting in a two-row midsize crossover with a spacious trunk but only seating for five. Inside, the Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized function over style, with a center console filled with physical buttons and knobs, making it easy to use but not particularly stylish.

In contrast, the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid maintained its attractive design lineage, with evolutionary improvements over its predecessors. The third-generation Crosstrek featured a frameless grille with a curved wing bar, creating a visual connection with the headlights. The black plastic cladding around the wheel arches included aerodynamic air inlets and outlets, enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing road noise. Inside, the Crosstrek Hybrid balanced rugged utility with refined comfort, featuring soft-touch surfaces and durable plastics. The gray StarTex seats with orange contrast stitching added a subtle design flourish. The cabin's straightforward design prioritized function, with chrome-trimmed power window switches and "Hybrid"-stitched floor mats adding upscale accents.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid delivered a balanced performance with its 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 44.2-kW electric motor, producing a total of 226 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid powertrain offered impressive fuel economy estimates of 33 mpg city, 30 highway, and 32 combined. The Santa Fe Hybrid's power was managed through a six-speed automatic transmission, and its HTRAC AWD system could distribute 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 quiet and comfortable driving experience.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, on the other hand, was powered by a 2.5-liter Atkinson/Miller-cycle engine paired with a 118-hp traction motor, resulting in a total system output of 194 horsepower. The hybrid's acceleration was smoother and quicker than the gas-only Crosstrek, although it didn't feel significantly faster on the highway. The Crosstrek Hybrid utilized two motor-generators for engine start/stop functions and regenerative braking. During testing, it achieved 31 mpg, slightly below the EPA's estimate of 36 mpg combined. Subaru's AWD system, combined with the X-Mode traction management system, provided capable performance on variable terrain, although the steering feel remained light and somewhat disconnected.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid featured a shift-by-wire, push-button transmission, freeing up space below the center stack. However, the center stack itself was massive, with limited storage space. Rear passengers enjoyed 40.8 inches of legroom, and the vehicle offered 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet when folded. The Santa Fe Hybrid's interior included heated and ventilated front seats with real leather upholstery, and the SEL Premium trim received H-Tex leatherette upholstery.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid improved upon its predecessors by offering more cargo space, with 18.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 50.6 cubic feet when folded. The gas tank remained a generous 16.6 gallons, allowing for an impressive range. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed 36.7 inches of legroom, and the front featured a small tray with a wireless charging pad and two cupholders. Despite limited storage, the Crosstrek Hybrid provided a comfortable and spacious interior.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid came equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, offering Over-The-Air map updates and dynamic voice recognition. The infotainment system supported Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, although both required a wired connection. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster provided essential driving information, and the Limited trim featured a 12-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen, but its software was slow and laggy compared to competitors. While wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, the touchscreen's reliance on digital controls for essential functions was frustrating. The Crosstrek Limited Hybrid included a Harman Kardon stereo and a configurable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, although it couldn't display Google Maps from phone projections.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized safety with features like a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor, enhancing visibility and awareness. Standard safety equipment included adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance, and blind-spot collision avoidance. 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 faced challenges in safety ratings, with the 2025 model scoring only Marginal in the IIHS's moderate overlap front crash test. However, the NHTSA awarded it five stars in overall safety. Subaru's EyeSight Advanced Driver Assistance Systems included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and pre-collision braking, although it lacked a semi-autonomous driving system.