2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in five trims, presented a robust and boxy design with a long wheelbase and a distinctive flat hood. Its pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps aligned with Hyundai's design language, offering a modern touch. The SUV's color palette included vibrant options like Terracotta Orange and Atlantis Blue, providing a refreshing break from the typical greys and whites. However, the rear design suffered from mismatched proportions, with taillights positioned lower than ideal, affecting the overall visual balance. Each trim featured specific wheel designs, ranging from 18 to 21 inches, with the XRT trim adding off-road enhancements like chrome and black trim.

Inside, the Santa Fe accommodated seven passengers, except for the Calligraphy trim, which offered captain’s chairs in the second row. Interior materials varied from basic cloth to luxurious Nappa leather, depending on the trim. While the fit and finish appeared commendable, some dashboard squeaks and rattles were noted. The inclusion of physical HVAC dials was appreciated, though the fan speed controls were less intuitive. Overall, the Santa Fe's design and interior offered a mix of practicality and style, albeit with minor drawbacks.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, encountered in a rental scenario, featured a black-on-black color scheme that was less than ideal for a tropical climate. Despite this, the Wrangler's design, rooted in its military heritage, evoked a sense of American freedom and adventure. The Wrangler was available in multiple trims, including the powerful Rubicon 392 with a 470-horsepower V8 engine. Our Sport S model, priced at $49,175, included options like a black hardtop and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, emphasizing function over form.

Inside, the Wrangler's interior was utilitarian, with a focus on durability. The cloth upholstery and metallic accents provided a touch of class, while the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system offered modern connectivity. Despite its rugged appeal, the Wrangler's ride was rough, and its handling traits were less refined compared to other vehicles. However, its off-road capabilities and iconic design made it a popular choice for those seeking adventure.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a standard 2.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 277 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft of torque. Available in both FWD and AWD, the Santa Fe offered an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Santa Fe Hybrid, a separate model, combined a 1.6-liter engine with an electric motor, delivering 231 horsepower. The Santa Fe's handling was stable, with firm brakes and responsive steering, though turbo lag and occasional transmission delays were noted. The XRT trim, with its 30-inch all-terrain tires and 8.3 inches of ground clearance, enhanced off-road capabilities, though it wasn't suited for extreme terrains.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine produced 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, offering better fuel efficiency and performance at higher elevations. During testing in Hawaii, the Wrangler averaged 19.2 mpg, with its four-wheel drive and high ground clearance proving advantageous for the terrain. Despite its off-road prowess, the Wrangler's ride was rough, and its handling was less refined, with a concerning three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a range of features across its trims, from a hands-free liftgate and dual-zone climate control in the base SE trim to heated seats and a premium audio system in the Calligraphy trim. The Santa Fe excelled in interior space, with the most third-row legroom in its class and adjustable second-row seats. Cargo space was generous, with up to 79.6 cubic feet available when the second and third rows were folded. The widened rear opening facilitated easy loading, and most trims could tow up to 3,500 pounds, with the XRT trim capable of towing 4,500 pounds.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. Inside, the front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and heated options available. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, though taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. Cargo access was cumbersome, requiring the tailgate and rear window to be opened separately. Despite these challenges, the Wrangler offered a reasonable 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with the top trims also featuring a digital gauge cluster. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with additional features like Amazon Music and a Wi-Fi hotspot available on higher trims. Charging options included multiple USB-C ports and wireless charging. The Santa Fe also offered a digital key and a fingerprint scanner for added security. Bluelink app connectivity provided remote access and monitoring features, with over-the-air updates ensuring the latest software.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport S trim included an eight-speaker stereo, with a premium sound system optional. Jeep Connect offered navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and off-road navigation capabilities. The touchscreen remained clear and usable even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display and features like passive entry and remote engine start. Rear parking sensors were available in the Active Safety Group package.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and forward-collision avoidance assist. Higher trims added features like rear parking collision avoidance and Highway Drive Assist. The Santa Fe received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Good rating from the IIHS, with some exceptions in headlight and LATCH categories.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler included standard side curtain airbags and optional advanced driver assistance systems. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on most trims, while forward collision warning required the Sahara trim. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated the Wrangler Good for side-impact protection but Marginal for small overlap frontal-impact tests.