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Suv Showdown: Ford Explorer Vs Hyundai Santa Fe – Which One Reigns Supreme?

Mike has spent over 15 years working in the automotive industry and is a lifelong Ford truck guy. He currently drives a 2018 Ford F-150 Lariat that he enjoys customizing on the weekends. As editor of wheelsgeeks.com, Mike focuses on sharing his passion for Blue Oval vehicles through reviews, how-to...

What To Know

  • The Explorer gets up to 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, while the Santa Fe gets up to 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
  • The Explorer offers more power and cargo space, while the Santa Fe has a lower price and a longer warranty.
  • The Santa Fe comes with a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, while the Explorer comes with a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The Ford Explorer and Hyundai Santa Fe are two of the most popular midsize SUVs on the market. Both offer a spacious interior, plenty of cargo space, and a comfortable ride. But which one is the better choice for you? To help you decide, we’ve compared the two SUVs in several key areas.

Performance and Fuel Efficiency

The Ford Explorer and Hyundai Santa Fe offer a variety of engine options, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. The Explorer comes standard with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. Both SUVs are available with a V6 engine, and the Explorer is also available with a hybrid powertrain.

The Explorer gets slightly better fuel economy than the Santa Fe. The Explorer gets up to 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, while the Santa Fe gets up to 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

Interior and Cargo Space

The Ford Explorer and Hyundai Santa Fe both have spacious interiors with plenty of room for passengers and cargo. The Explorer has a slightly larger interior than the Santa Fe, with 156 cubic feet of passenger space and 87.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row of seats. The Santa Fe has 152 cubic feet of passenger space and 72.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row of seats.

Both SUVs offer a variety of features to keep you and your passengers comfortable, including heated and ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a premium audio system.

Safety and Technology

The Ford Explorer and Hyundai Santa Fe both come standard with a suite of safety features, including airbags, anti-lock brakes, and traction control. The Explorer also comes standard with a blind-spot monitoring system, lane-departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. The Santa Fe comes standard with a rearview camera, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.

Both SUVs offer a variety of technology features, including a touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth connectivity, and a navigation system. The Explorer’s infotainment system is slightly more user-friendly than the Santa Fe‘s, but the Santa Fe’s navigation system is more comprehensive.

Price and Warranty

The Ford Explorer has a starting price of $36,670, while the Hyundai Santa Fe has a starting price of $28,150. The Explorer comes with a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Santa Fe comes with a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Which One Should You Choose?

The Ford Explorer and Hyundai Santa Fe are both excellent midsize SUVs. The Explorer offers more power and cargo space, while the Santa Fe has a lower price and a longer warranty. Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.

The Verdict: Ford Explorer or Hyundai Santa Fe?

The Ford Explorer and Hyundai Santa Fe are both excellent choices for midsize SUV shoppers. The Explorer offers more power and cargo space, while the Santa Fe has a lower price and a longer warranty. Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.

Quick Answers to Your FAQs

Q: Which SUV has more horsepower, the Ford Explorer or the Hyundai Santa Fe?

A: The Ford Explorer has more horsepower than the Hyundai Santa Fe. The Explorer’s turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine produces 300 horsepower, while the Santa Fe’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces 191 horsepower.

Q: Which SUV has a longer warranty, the Ford Explorer or the Hyundai Santa Fe?

A: The Hyundai Santa Fe has a longer warranty than the Ford Explorer. The Santa Fe comes with a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, while the Explorer comes with a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Q: Which SUV gets better gas mileage, the Ford Explorer or the Hyundai Santa Fe?

A: The Ford Explorer gets slightly better gas mileage than the Hyundai Santa Fe. The Explorer gets up to 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, while the Santa Fe gets up to 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

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Mike Sullivan

Mike has spent over 15 years working in the automotive industry and is a lifelong Ford truck guy. He currently drives a 2018 Ford F-150 Lariat that he enjoys customizing on the weekends. As editor of wheelsgeeks.com, Mike focuses on sharing his passion for Blue Oval vehicles through reviews, how-to guides and industry news updates. When he's not writing about Ford, you can find Mike cheering on his favorite NFL team at the local pub on game days.
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