2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E retained its distinctive and sharp styling, with an aggressive front fascia and a sloping crossover profile. The tri-bar tail lights, a hallmark of the Mustang nameplate, were refreshed to match the signature lighting of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang. The new Rally trim emerged as the top-of-the-line model, featuring unique styling cues such as LED fog lamps, a black roof, and Oxford White 19-inch wheels. The interior maintained a minimalist design with a large touchscreen and Ford Performance front seats, which were standard on the GT and Rally trims.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, introduced in 2024, showcased a chunky, boxy design with a long wheelbase and pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps. The rear design, however, suffered from mismatched proportions, with taillights positioned lower than ideal. Each trim offered specific wheel sizes, with the Calligraphy trim featuring 21-inch wheels. Inside, the Santa Fe provided seating for seven, except for the Calligraphy trim, which offered captain’s chairs. The interior boasted a dual-way center console and a two-level glove box with a UV-C sanitizer on upper trims. Despite some squeaks and rattles, the fit and finish were generally good.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a sporty driving experience with a firm ride and tight steering. The GT trim featured a MagneRide damping system and a Performance Upgrade package that increased torque to 700 lb-ft, maintaining 480 horsepower. This allowed for a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds. The Mach-E GT and Rally trims came with all-wheel drive, offering ranges of 280 and 265 miles, respectively. The Mach-E also benefited from faster DC fast-charging capabilities and access to Tesla Supercharger stations.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a standard 2.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The XRT trim, focused on off-road capabilities, featured AWD and 30-inch all-terrain tires. The Santa Fe Hybrid offered a combined 231 horsepower. While the Santa Fe felt stable in corners, it experienced noticeable turbo lag and occasional transmission delays. The XRT trim provided 8.3 inches of ground clearance and improved off-road geometry, but it was not designed for rugged rock crawling.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E excelled in interior space, offering 34.1 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 59.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The frunk added convenience with its drainable design. The Mach-E provided ample headroom and legroom, with power-adjustable seats and ActiveX seating surfaces standard across trims. Heated front seats were available on the base trim and standard on higher trims.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a hands-free liftgate, dual-zone climate control, and a dual-way center console. The XRT trim included heated front seats and a sunroof, while the Calligraphy trim added heated second-row seats and a premium audio system. The Santa Fe boasted the most third-row legroom in its class, with adjustable second-row seats. Cargo space reached 79.6 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The rear opening was widened to 50.2 inches, enhancing accessibility for larger items.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with the latest SYNC 4A infotainment software on a 15.5-inch touchscreen. The system included Ford’s Intelligent Range feature, providing real-time range updates. However, the interface could be improved for better user experience, particularly with navigation and drive mode functions.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with a digital gauge cluster on higher trims. Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, along with Amazon Music and a Wi-Fi hotspot on upper trims. The Santa Fe offered multiple USB-C ports, wireless charging, and a digital key feature. The Bluelink app provided remote connectivity and over-the-air updates.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered BlueCruise 1.3, a hands-free highway-driving assist software, with a 90-day trial. The Ford CoPilot 360 suite included advanced driver-assistance technologies such as blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. The Mach-E received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe provided a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims offered additional features like Highway Drive Assist and Blind-View Monitor. The Santa Fe received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Good rating from the IIHS, with some exceptions.