Who Doesn’t Want to Buy Smarter? How the 2025 Santa Fe Outsmarts the 2025 Highlander

Drivers looking for an SUV that blends rugged capability, modern styling, everyday versatility, and cutting-edge technologies often find themselves at a crossroads, choosing between the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe and the 2025 Toyota Highlander. Both are well-respected, but one clearly stands out, and your search for the Hyundai Santa Fe for sale in Knoxville means you’re one step closer to the answer. 

The 2025 Santa Fe stands out in the segment, outshining the 2025 Highlander in terms of value, comfort, technology, and performance. As you shop for the perfect SUV to complement your life in East Tennessee, it’s crucial to see how the Santa Fe stacks up against its biggest rival. Here’s a closer look at why the Santa Fe is the smarter buy for drivers who demand and deserve more from their SUV. 

It’s a Far Better Value

Who doesn’t want to get more for their money? Toyota’s reputation for building long-lasting vehicles is undeniable, but the automaker asks drivers to pay a premium. The 2025 Highlander starts at a MSRP of $40,320, making the 2025 Santa Fe far more appealing at a starting MSRP of $34,300.^[a] But, does Hyundai keep the Santa Fe’s price affordable by sparsely equipping its entry-level trim? 

The 2025 Highlander LE sets the baseline, rolling off Toyota’s production line with an eight-inch touchscreen, LED lighting, and the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ suite. The Highlander LE loses its appeal when compared with the Santa Fe SE, which is significantly more affordable and better equipped. For example, the entry-level trim features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, LED lighting, three rows of plush seating, and an impressive lineup of safety and driver-assist technologies. 

The Big Picture

The 2025 Highlander’s higher starting price sets expectations for the rest of the trim family, making top-tier trims comparably priced with luxury brands. Alternatively, the 2025 Santa Fe’s modest starting price reflects Hyundai’s efforts to make the value-rich SUV accessible to more drivers. As a result, Knoxville drivers get far more for their investment across the Santa Fe’s diverse trim lineup. 

It’s More Engaging to Drive

As three-row SUVs, the 2025 Santa Fe and 2025 Highlander have significant footprints to comfortably accommodate passengers and cargo. While most three-row SUVs are sluggish to drive, Hyundai and Toyota do more to make the Santa Fe and Highlander responsive and engaging. As expected, Hyundai gains an advantage that makes the 2025 Santa Fe more appealing and adept at navigating the diverse Knoxville landscape. 

The 2025 Highlander rolls off Toyota’s production line with a 2.4L turbocharged inline-four under the hood. The engine produces 264 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, but Hyundai ups the ante. The 2025 Santa Fe is powered by a 2.5L turbocharged inline-four engine that produces 277 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, providing more on-demand power in any situation. The higher output makes the Santa Fe more engaging to drive, but the benefits don’t stop there. 

Toyota and Hyundai offer their three-row SUVs with hybrid powertrains. The 2025 Highlander HEV is powered by a 2.5L inline-four hybrid engine and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. While the eCVT is renowned for its smooth gear changes and efficiency, CVTs are notorious for being more prone to issues, with their complex design making them more expensive to repair. Hyundai offers a more reliable solution, equipping the 2025 Santa Fe HEV with a 1.6L turbocharged inline-four hybrid powertrain and smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission that produces 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of near-instant torque. 

The Big Picture

The 2025 Santa Fe offers slightly more hp and torque than the 2025 Highlander. This output makes a significant difference when you consider the build quality. While both models are built with high-strength frames and premium suspensions, the Highlander offers a stiffer ride quality. Alternatively, the Santa Fe feels smoother and more responsive, whether navigating city streets or cruising at highway speeds. 

It’s Modern in Every Way Imaginable 

Toyota is known for building reliable cars, trucks, and SUVs, but the automaker is also notorious for being slow to update its models with modern styling and innovative features. The 2025 Highlander follows suit, at least compared to the 2025 Santa Fe and its many world-first features. 

The 2025 Highlander rolls off the production line with a standard eight-inch display, with top-tier trims adding a 12.3-inch touchscreen that complements a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Its three-row layout provides ample space, but amenities and conveniences are limited. For example, upgrades include a panoramic moonroof, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row seats. It’s a traditional layout that doesn’t make a lasting impression. 

The 2025 Santa Fe tells a vastly different story, from its bold exterior styling and terrace-like liftgate to its upscale interior. The SUV outshines its Toyota rival in every imaginable way, starting with its first-in-class panoramic curved display incorporating a standard 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Smartphone integration is seamless, with a dual, wireless charging system ensuring your devices stay charged wherever the road leads. 

Hyundai goes above and beyond to ensure the 2025 Santa Fe makes your life easier. Knoxville drivers will appreciate the spacious three-row layout, with the fully foldable second and third-row seats transforming the rear liftgate into a terrace. You can add the Relaxation Comfort seat with a leg rest for your co-pilot, power reclining, and heated captain’s chairs for the second row. The unique design is a world-first, thanks to its cushion-angle adjustment, and complements another world-first feature—a bilateral multi-console storage space accessible to you and your passengers in the backseat. 

The Big Picture

Toyota errs on the side of caution and tradition with the 2025 Highlander, a practical SUV that offers everything expected of the brand. While there’s nothing wrong with this approach, Hyundai’s ingenuity shines in the 2025 Santa Fe. The SUV returns to the lineup as a modern powerhouse, incorporating many world-first features that improve and enhance your experience. Moreover, these features offer tangible value, making the 2025 Santa Fe’s affordable price tag far more appealing. 

Shop Smart With Hyundai, Drive Happy in the Santa Fe

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offers Knoxville-area drivers far more where it counts—more value for your money, more engaging performance, and more modern details than the 2025 Toyota Highlander. While Toyota relies on its tradition of practicality, Hyundai thinks outside the box, proving the risk is worth the reward with the stunning and feature-rich 2025 Santa Fe. Yet, the perks don’t end there. 

With Hyundai’s industry-leading warranty coverage, the 2025 Santa Fe solidifies its fate as the smarter investment. Hyundai stands behind the Santa Fe with America’s best warranty, providing peace of mind for 10 years or 100,000 miles. With complimentary maintenance included, Santa Fe owners can get the most from their investment, mile after mile. 

Now, the question is, where will the 2025 Santa Fe take you? How will it complement your life and enhance your time behind the wheel? There’s only one way to answer that, and it starts by exploring the Santa Fe firsthand with a team dedicated to delivering the world-class experience you deserve. 

^[a] MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.

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