SUV Comparison: 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe versus 2021 Toyota Venza

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Brian Harper: Living in the ‘burbs north of Toronto, I have become acutely aware of the number of SUVs and crossovers that have inundated my neighbourhood. Quite simply, they overwhelm the streets like dandelions on a front lawn. Stopped at a red light, I might see eight or 10 of them zip by before I spot an actual car. It’s a cultural shift in buyer preference more than 30 years in the making. That said, their dominance continues to amaze me.

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Which brings me to a not-so-hypothetical question, Renita. Assuming you have $50,000 or so to plunk down on a crossover, what’s your preference? I’m a Baby Boomer empty-nester, you’re a Millennial mom of three youngsters (for which you have my utmost respect). With our different needs and expectations, can we find common ground? The powers-that-be have tasked us with a comparison of the Toyota Venza Limited — a resurrected nameplate and now sporting a hybrid drivetrain — and the Hyundai Santa Fe Ultimate Calligraphy, a conventional and respected mid-sized model thoroughly refreshed for 2021 and given a new topline trim level. Thoughts?

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Renita Naraine: Not-so-hypothetically, if I had $50k (minus the cost of diapers), a mid-sized SUV wouldn’t be my first choice of vehicle. That said, five or six years down the road, when there are no more car seats to tether into place, I’ve got a pretty good idea of which of these two SUVs I might choose. Though both vehicles have some pretty cool features, and both seem to grow on you after a few drives, my first impression — strictly based on looks, as shallow as it may be — is that the more beautiful of the two is definitely the Santa Fe, and not just because of its vibrant colour. It looks boxier (in a good way) and, at first glance, looks like it’ll fit a lot more groceries than the Venza.

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I think the Venza looks like a typical SUV that you would see on the road today, nothing too fancy or flashy; just average-looking. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not hating on it for being average, but there’s just something about the Santa Fe that has my attention, far more than the Venza. Dimensionally speaking, the Venza is only 45 mm shorter than the Santa Fe, as well as 45 mm skinnier. It seems like an insignificant amount and, from the outside, it’s almost unnoticeable to the human eye, but I found that 45 mm made a huge difference on the inside.

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BH: Funny, from a styling standpoint, I find the good-looking Santa Fe the more conventional of the two, the Venza’s lower and more swept-back roofline giving it a sportier vibe. Keep in mind that the original Venza (2008 to 2015), which was far more popular in Canada than the U.S., split the difference between station wagon and sport-ute. The new model more or less carries on the tradition. But to your point regarding interior room, the Santa Fe is the family-friendly crossover of the two, there being 4,188 litres of passenger volume versus 2,696 litres for the Venza. The roominess carries over to the cargo area, with a commodious 1,032 litres behind the rear seats for the Hyundai, versus 813 litres for the Toyota.

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And keeping on the subject, did the Venza’s cabin seem rather tech-oriented to you – almost Tesla-like considering its large 12.3-inch touchscreen, 10-inch head-up display and hybrid icons in the dash panel – which shouldn’t be overly surprising considering the powertrain? Meanwhile, the Santa Fe, in its topline Calligraphy trim, impressed with a fine level of creature comforts and conveniences, these luxury touches standing it in good stead amongst much higher-priced models.

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RN: Speaking of cargo space, I managed to fit an open stroller into the trunk of the Santa Fe — there’s absolutely no reason to do that, but parents of young kids can attest to that meaning there’s a pretty awesome amount of space behind the back seats.

The Venza’s cabin did seem pretty techy, which I’m not a huge fan of — touchscreens are annoying while driving. Give me physical buttons! I want to be able to feel the click, so I know I actually did something. That said, the Santa Fe has over 30 buttons in its centre console, and while seemingly overwhelming at first, I think it’s very intuitive. The screen in the Santa Fe is like an added bonus, as I think it should be. The Hyundai also has a really amazing head-up display — it’s like seeing the perfect summary on the back of a book — that has all the info you need right in front of you, including the speed limit, your actual speed, directions (if you’ve entered a location into the built-in GPS) and, of course, there’s a simple option in the menu to turn it all off. Unfortunately, for me, that feature wasn’t as easily found on the Venza. However, it does get back a few extra points for its Star Gaze panoramic roof, which turns opaque at the touch of a button. What do you think?

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BH: Gimmicky, but a clever one. I do have a follow-up to my question about preferences when it comes to $50K mid-sized crossovers: conventional gasoline engine or hybrid powertrain? Hyundai completely changed over the Santa Fe’s engine lineup for 2021, with two new turbo four-cylinder engines and a hybrid model (which wasn’t available for testing). The Calligraphy tester has the larger of the turbo-fours, a 2.5-litre mill that generates 277 hp and 311 lb-ft and is mated to a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic. While not class-leading it’s nonetheless a strong engine, with good mid-range and plenty of passing power.

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The Venza setup comprises a 2.5L four-cylinder engine and three electric motors, the combination developing 219 net hp. If that sounds familiar, it’s the same powertrain as in the RAV4 Hybrid (though not the 302-hp Prime). One of the electric motors powers the rear wheels, while the engine and the other two motors work the fronts, hence all-wheel-drive. And while 219 hp might not seem particularly powerful for a 1,775-kg crossover, the electric motors generate maximum torque at zero rpm, meaning initial throttle response is strong. I have to admit, having spent 40-plus years burning up more than my fair share of gasoline as an avid gearhead writer, sacrificing power and better acceleration for superior fuel economy is easy penance.

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RN: You’ve thrown a lot of numbers at me, and my mom brain wasn’t quite ready. To answer your question, the obvious choice, for me — in this comparison — would be the hybrid powertrain. For nearly the same amount of money — $47,690 for the tested Venza Limited; and $47,499 for the Santa Fe Ultimate Calligraphy — I’d be saving quite a bit on fuel if I chose the hybrid. The Venza averages 6.1 L/100 km, while the Santa Fe averages 9.9 L/100 km, and climbing all the way up to 11.0 L/100 km for city driving. Yes, there is a hybrid version of the Santa Fe that is also a couple thousand less than both of these compared models and averages 7.4 L/100 km, and would still give me the desired trunk space, but unfortunately, that’s not a part of this comparison.

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The logical answer should be and is the hybrid powertrain, but my heart is with the Santa Fe’s cargo space, despite its ghastly gassy needs. Of course, this is all hypothetical; I’m allowed to think with my heart and not my brain, right? Nevertheless, I shall ask you the same question: Assuming you have $50,000 to throw at one of these crossovers, what’s your preference?

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BH: I fully support your conclusion, Renita. If I had a bunch of kids I had to schlep hither and yon, the Santa Fe would be the logical choice. And the Calligraphy is the Santa Fe at its poshest. Truly if you removed all of its badges, it would be easy to think you’re in a luxury brand vehicle. But, as I said at the start, my wife and I are empty-nesters; the Hyundai’s size and power are simply not needed. And as I have mentioned before in other reviews of hybrid vehicles, they are a smart answer to people interested in better fuel economy and lower emissions but who do not yet want to commit to full EV technology. The Venza Limited has a sporty look, a minimalist cabin, parsimonious fuel economy (5.9 L/100 km in the city, 6.4 L/100 km on the highway) and a great safety rating. It requires more effort to like than the Santa Fe, but it makes more sense to me.

RN: I respect that decision wholeheartedly. The Venza isn’t a terrible choice, and I do wish the hybrid version of the Santa Fe was available to drive — we might have had an entirely different review.

So, we may not have ended with a mutual winner for this segment, but that’s okay — to each their own. There’s always next time!