The midsize SUV segment is competitive, with many entrants featuring potent powertrains, comfortable interiors, and cutting-edge technology. The Hyundai SANTA FE and the Honda CR-V are two models that stand head and shoulders above the rest. Both offer spacious interiors with robust powertrain options delivering class-leading fuel economy while cruising in Olympia, Washington. How do these formidable family haulers compare in 2025, and which is better, the Honda CR-V or the Hyundai SANTA FE? Join us as our Titus-Will Hyundai team pits the 2025 iterations up against each other to see how they stack up in important areas.
Design and Aesthetics: Side by Side Look
The 2025 Hyundai SANTA FE retains the boxy Land Rover-inspired exterior body style we’ve come to know and love from previous model years. It carries over some styling elements from its predecessor, including LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, and standard 18-inch alloy wheels. The only notable update is the addition of Atlantis Blue to the existing exterior paint color palette.
Like its competitor, the Honda CR-V’s exterior design and styling remain unchanged for 2025. It still features the sporty design of the previous model, including a gloss-black grille that dominates the front fascia and gloss-black alloy wheels. Noteworthy design features include low-beam LED headlights and signature vertically oriented LED taillights.
While the 2025 Hyundai SANTA FE and the 2025 Honda CR-V both go to great lengths to deliver plush interiors, the former ultimately wins on the passenger comfort front thanks to its spacious cabin and three rows of seating. The SANTA FE provides generous headroom across all three rows, with the front row offering 41.1 inches, while the second and third rows provide 40.6 inches and 37.7 inches, respectively. By comparison, the CR-V offers 40.0 inches of headroom in the front row and 38.2 inches in the rear.
The SANTA FE’s passenger comfort is enhanced by more legroom than the Honda CR-V. The Hyundai SANTA FE has a maximum legroom of 44.4 inches in the front row, 42.3 inches in the second row, and 30.0 inches in the third row, while the CR-V provides 41.3 inches in the front row and 41.0 inches in the rear.
Interior Space Comparison: Hyundai SANTA FE vs. Honda CR-V
| Feature | 2025 Hyundai SANTA FE | 2025 Honda CR-V |
|---|---|---|
| Headroom (Front) | 41.1 in | 40.0 in |
| Headroom (Second Row) | 40.6 in | 38.2 in |
| Headroom (Third Row) | 37.7 in | — |
| Legroom (Front) | 44.4 in | 41.3 in |
| Legroom (Second Row) | 42.3 in | 41.0 in |
| Legroom (Third Row) | 30.0 in | — |
| Seating Capacity | Up to 7 | 5 |
Both models are outfitted with exciting in-cabin amenities to maximize passenger comfort. Among the standard and available features offered in the Hyundai SANTA FE, depending on trim, are leather-upholstered seating surfaces, heated and ventilated front seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The 2025 Honda CR-V includes several similar comfort features, both standard and optional, such as leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob.
Performance and Efficiency
The 2025 Hyundai SANTA FE and the Honda CR-V both offer compelling engine choices, including hybrid options, to accommodate various driving preferences. Nonhybrid SANTA FEs are powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission system, delivers smooth gear shifts. Front-wheel Drive (FWD) is standard across the lineup, while HTRAC all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional.
Hybrid SANTA FE models run on a hybrid setup comprising a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 44.2-kW electric motor and a 1.49-kWh battery. This setup produces a combined 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. Like their nonhybrid siblings, the hybrid models have the option of FWD or AWD with a six-speed automatic transmission instead of the eight-speed transmission in the gas models.
| Specification | 2025 Hyundai SANTA FE | 2025 Honda CR-V |
|---|---|---|
| Gas Engine | 2.5L Turbo I4 | 1.5L Turbo I4 |
| Gas Horsepower | 277 hp | 190 hp |
| Gas Torque | 311 lb-ft | 179 lb-ft |
| Hybrid Power | 231 hp / 271 lb-ft | 204 hp / 247 lb-ft |
| Transmission (Gas) | 8-Speed Dual Clutch | CVT |
| Transmission (Hybrid) | 6-Speed Automatic | E-CVT |
| MPG (City / Hwy / Comb) | 20 / 29 / 24 | 28 / 34 / 30 |
The 2025 Honda CR-V is also available with a gas or hybrid engine option. The base engine is a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four that generates 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque. CR-V hybrid variants utilize a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine paired with two electric motors and a high-voltage battery, delivering a combined 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque.
They both offer excellent fuel economy, but the Honda has a slight edge over the Hyundai. Gas engine, FWD SANTA FE models get an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined. The same configuration CR-V achieves 28 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined.
Safety and Technology
The new Hyundai SANTA FE and the Honda CR-V both offer advanced safety and infotainment to transform the most mundane drives into fun-filled adventures. The centerpiece of the 2025 SANTA FE’s safety technology is Hyundai Smart Sense, which includes many driver-assistance systems designed to improve driver alertness and reduce fatigue. They include highway driving assist, remote smart parking assist, lane following assist, blind-spot collision warning, lane-keep assist, and smart cruise control with stop and go.
The 2025 Honda CR-V offers similar technologies in its Honda Sensing suite. Notable driver-assistance features in this package include adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-keep assist, road departure mitigation, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and a collision-mitigation braking system.
On the infotainment front, the SANTA FE boasts a 12.3-inch infotainment display with wireless smartphone integration. Other exciting connectivity features include dynamic voice recognition, HD Radio, Sirius XM, and a 12-speaker BOSE premium audio system. The all-new Honda CR-V doesn’t disappoint either with its 9-inch color touch screen, wireless phone charger, Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless Bluetooth capability.
Test-Drive a 2025 Hyundai SANTA FE at Titus-Will Hyundai
If you’re still unsure which of these two popular crossover SUVs you should go for, consider getting firsthand experience with both of them to help you make an informed decision. Schedule a free test-drive of the 2025 Hyundai SANTA FE and see for yourself why it’s a top pick for many families in Olympia, Washington.
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