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Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota 4Runner

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2026 Toyota 4Runner — two rivals compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Hyundai Santa Fe

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS3 – 3Tie: 3 categories each
Toyota 4Runner

2026 Toyota 4Runner

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The Hyundai Santa Fe is more fuel-efficient: 36 vs 23 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $1,050 a year less in fuel for the Hyundai Santa Fe (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Toyota 4Runner is the bigger car, about 5 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Toyota 4Runner has had fewer recall campaigns (38 vs 48).

The two cars

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (1.6L 4-cyl turbo and 2.5L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 190 inches long and 75 inches wide on a 111-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,442 lb.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner is a standard SUV offered with a 2.4L 4-cyl turbo engine, including a hybrid version and part-time 4-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive. It measures about 195 inches long and 78 inches wide on a 112-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,870 lb (4dr SUV).

Buying used? The 2024 Santa Fe and the 2024 4Runner have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2017 Santa Fe and the 2015 4Runner.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl turbo
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

36 MPG
Best combined MPG
23 MPG
37 city
City / highway MPG (best)
23 city
$1,850
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$2,900

Performance & space

–
Horsepower (most powerful)
278 hp
–
Seats (most)
5
190.2 in
Length
194.9 in
74.8 in
Width
78 in
67.7 in
Height
73.2 in
4,442 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
4,870 lb

Safety & reliability

13
Driver-assist features standard
11
4
Recalls (2026)
2
48
Recalls, all years since 2005
38
58
Owner complaints (latest year)
7

Interest

17,462
Wikipedia views, 30 days
25,095

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2024
2017
Year to avoid
2015

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Hyundai Santa Fe if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (36 vs 23 MPG)
  • You want something easier to park (5 in shorter)
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech

Choose the Toyota 4Runner if…

  • You want more room (5 in longer)
  • You put reliability history first (38 vs 48 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 36 MPG combined — 19% better than the average 2026 small SUV (30.2 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Toyota 4Runner

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 23 MPG combined — 15% better than the average 2026 standard SUV (20 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe specs →Full 2026 Toyota 4Runner specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →