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Looking for a new Hyundai SUV? You’ve likely come across the 2025 Hyundai Tucson and the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe by now, but like many shoppers, you may be unsure which one is the better choice for you. Do you want more power, or is space more important? Which tech and safety features come standard on which vehicle? Is one better for towing larger payloads than the other? If you’re shopping for a new SUV near Olathe, Overland Park, Lenexa, or Kansas City, chances are you’re comparing the 2025 Hyundai Tucson and the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. At McCarthy Hyundai of Olathe, we help drivers find the perfect Hyundai SUV based on their lifestyle, family size, and performance needs. Below, we break down the key differences to help you decide which model is right for you. Hyundai Santa Fe Vs. Hyundai Tucson: Size The first and most notable difference between the Santa Fe and the Tucson is their size. The Hyundai Santa Fe is a midsize SUV (and is at the top of the list for best midsize SUV), while the Tucson is a small-but-mighty compact SUV. The Tucson seats up to five (5) passengers, making it an attractive option for new or smaller families. Stepping things up, the Santa Fe can seat between six (6) and seven (7) passengers (depending on the seating configuration you choose), making it an ideal midsize SUV for larger families or those who want a bit more space. The interior dimensions of the Santa Fe and Tucson are: Santa Fe Max cargo space: 79.6 cubic feet Max passenger volume: 152 cubic feet Tucson Max cargo space: 80.3 cubic feet Max passenger volume 108.2 As you can see from the numbers above, the Tucson has a tad more cargo space due to its design, but the Santa Fe has a massive lead in passenger volume, meaning more room is dedicated to the comfort of riders than storage. Hyundai Santa Fe Vs. Hyundai Tucson: Performance As you may expect from the size difference, the base engines available in the Tucson and Santa Fe differ. The Tucson comes standard with a 2.5L, 4-cylinder engine that delivers 187 horsepower. The Santa Fe, on the other hand. Also has a 2.5L engine, but it’s a turbocharged 4-cylinder that pumps out 277 horsepower. Their maximum towing capacities reflect their engine sizes. The Tucson can haul 2,000 lbs., while the Santa Fe can tow up to 4,500 lbs. Front-wheel drive comes standard on all five trims of the Tucson, while the Santa Fe has front-wheel drive standard on all but one trim, the Santa Fe XRT. However, all-wheel drive is available on all trims. Hyundai Santa Fe Vs. Hyundai Tucson: Interior and Tech The Tucson entry trims come with cloth seating, while the entry-level trim of the Santa Fe, the SE, comes with YES Essentials® stain-resistant cloth seats. To get to H-Tex® trimmed seats in the Tucson, you’ll have to choose the SEL Convenience Package. To get heated and ventilated leather seating, you’ll need to choose the Limited trim of both vehicles. Regardless of the trim you choose, both the Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe come standard with a 12.3” infotainment touchscreen with Wireless Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay® and available dynamic voice recognition. For those who like to feel the wind in their hair, only the Santa Fe has an available sunroof. A hands-free power liftgate is standard on all trims of the Santa Fe, while it’s an available feature on the Tucson. Hyundai Santa Fe Vs. Hyundai Tucson: Safety Both the Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe come with Hyundai SafetySense, the safety and driver assistance suite that protects you and your passengers while driving in and around Kansas City, Olathe, and Overland Park. While some driver assistance features are only available on higher-level trims of either vehicle, standard safety features include: Blind-spot warnings Lane keeping assist Safe exit warning Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian (FCA-Ped), Cyclist, and Junction Turning Detection Electronic stability control And more. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Santa Fe four stars overall for safety, and the Tucson received five stars overall. Test Drive a New Hyundai Today Still unsure of whether you should choose the Hyundai Tucson or Santa Fe? The best way to decide is to head down to our Olathe Hyundai dealership and test drive both vehicles to see which feels right. Our team is ready and excited to help you determine your wants and needs from your next Hyundai vehicle and guide you to the perfect fit. Contact us today to learn more about our Hyundai specials and to schedule a test drive, or schedule a test drive online. Frequently Asked Questions About Hyundai Santa Fe vs Tucson 1. Which is bigger, the Hyundai Santa Fe or Tucson? The Hyundai Santa Fe is larger. It is a midsize SUV with available third-row seating, while the Tucson is a compact SUV with seating for five. 2. Which Hyundai SUV has better towing capacity? The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offers more towing power, with up to 4,500 lbs when properly equipped. The Tucson can tow up to 2,000 lbs. 3. Is the Hyundai Tucson or Santa Fe better for families? The Santa Fe is better for larger families because it offers seating for six or seven passengers. The Tucson is ideal for smaller families or commuters. 4. Do both SUVs come with Hyundai SafetySense? Yes, both the 2025 Tucson and Santa Fe come standard with Hyundai SafetySense driver assistance features. 5. Where can I test drive a Hyundai Santa Fe or Tucson near Kansas City? You can test drive both SUVs at McCarthy Hyundai of Olathe, conveniently located at 683 North Rawhide Drive in Olathe, KS.

The playing field is thick with competition for who makes the best small and midsize SUVs these days. Sometimes, the market for sporty small SUVs can even feel downright bloated. Is there such a thing as too many options? Some say there is. After all, buying an SUV for the family is no minor commitment. So, how do you know you’re making the right choice? In the race for best compact SUV, Hyundai has clearly and consistently been a favorite for casual drivers and professional critics alike. Could there be a contender? How about this, Greater Kansas City: we’re putting our money where our mouths are. We’re gonna give the 2023 Hyundai Tucson, and pit it against its stiffest competition on the market: the Kia Sportage. 2023 Hyundai Tucson vs. Kia Sportage: the Similarities Right away, the savviest among readers might be cocking their heads in confusion. Aren’t Hyundai and Kia under the same corporate umbrella? Aren’t the Tucson and Sportage built using nearly identical powertrains and platforms? Wait, they’re even made in the same country! What gives? It’s true that Hyundai and Kia are two sides of the exact same coin, generally speaking which is exactly why we figured they’re the perfect candidates for some friendly competition. There can be no denying that both are world-class family SUVs in their own right. Base Engine, Transmission, and Drivetrains Both SUVs come standard with front-wheel drive, with the option to upgrade to the sturdier all-wheel drive. Likewise, the ICE (internal combustion engine) of both the Tucson and the Sportage is a 2.5L inline 4-cylinder both of which put out 187 horsepower. Some find these engines a tad underpowered, but these gas station friendly motors will have most people smiling when the time comes to check your bank account. Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid If draining your funds at the pump is your main concern, the Tucson and Sportage also offer hybrid and PHEV engines. For the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, you’re looking at a 1.6L Turbocharged 4-cylinder in both SUVs. It’s worth noting, however, that both of these options eschew front-wheel drive entirely; because of the way hybrid motors generally work, AWD is the only option available. Fuel Economy Considering the nearly identical design and dimensions, it should come as no surprise that both get pretty much the same mileage across the board, so long as they’re equipped with the same powertrain. 2023 Hyundai Tucson 2023 Kia Sportage ICE (FWD) 25 city/32 highway/28 combined 25 city/32 highway/28 combined ICE (AWD) 23 city/28 highway/25 combined 23 city/28 highway/25 combined Hybrid 38 city/38 highway/38 combined 38 city/38 highway/38 combined Plug-in Hybrid 33 miles all-electric 34 miles all-electric 2023 Hyundai Tucson vs. Kia Sportage: the Differences Remember a minute ago, when we said Hyundai and Kia are two sides of the same coin? Well, we wanna be clear: don’t leave your decision up to chance, because there are some key differences in the compact SUV rankings. Safety Regarding general safety ratings, both compact sport utility vehicles received high marks. When you take a closer look, though, one comes out the clear winner. The IIHS is perhaps the most trusted standard for safety and crash test ratings, and they’ve already evaluated the 2023 models. They use a four-tier rating system for crashworthiness, with Poor being the lowest rating, then Marginal, then Acceptable, then Good as the highest rating. For 2023, the Kia Sportage was given a Good rating in all but one: headlights. In this category, they were given a Poor rating for their base headlamps. The Sportage was given a Top Safety Pick award, which is indeed impressive, but it actually isn’t the highest honor they hand out. The Hyundai Tucson, on the other hand, was granted the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, earning almost perfect marks across all crash categories tested, meaning the Tucson is the undeniable winner for safest small SUV. Driver Assistance Features Once again, it’s a close call. Both Hyundai Smartsense and Kia Drive Wise include multiple ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) features, including: Front Collision Warning Lane Keeping Assist Lane Departure Warning Lane Following Assist Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Rear Cross Traffic Avoidance This list and more almost places both SUVs neck-and-neck, but with the newest iteration of Hyundai SmartSense, higher trim levels offer a more impressive and complete list of ADAS features, including a Remote Smart Parking Assist in the higher-end Limited trim. For this reason, the Tucson has the edge again. Remember: if you’re looking for a Hyundai Tucson near Kansas City, be sure to do a bit of research beforehand so you can let your sales specialist know which features you can’t live without. Or, ask about placing an order for your perfect Hyundai. Ride Quality Many critics and initial test drivers have pointed out that, while they may share much of the same DNA, both SUVs feel markedly different. The Sportage, for its part, seems to want to live up to its name—it tends to cater to a marginally sportier market. That may seem like praise for Kia, but in practice, its reportedly underwhelming engine isn’t exactly tailor made for off-roading. Outdoorsy types and avid campers will likely have more luck with a more capable vehicle. The Tucson, meanwhile, is generally described as somewhat more carlike, with a lower profile and more manageable level of bulk. Basically, this translates to a more universal level of comfort regardless of driving experience, which makes the Hyundai Tucson a better car for teen drivers to cut their teeth on. Interior Passenger and Cargo Space In terms of total passenger space, both plucky SUVs are, you probably guess it, pretty close to identical, with the Tucson being just a bit roomier: 2023 Hyundai Tucson 2023 Kia Sportage Head Room (Front/Rear) 40.1in/39.5in 39.6in/39.4in Leg Room (Front/Rear) 41.4in/41.3in 41.4in/41.3in Shoulder Room (Front/Rear) 57.6in/56.0in 57.5in/55.6in Hip Room (Front/Rear) 54.5in/53.9in 54.8in/53.4in With such minor differences in passenger volume, most consumers will likely barely notice a difference, if at all. What they will probably notice is the difference in cargo space. With the rear seats folded down, the Tucson gets an impressive 80.3 cubic feet, compared to the Sportage, which comes in at 74.1 cubic feet—that’s over six less cubes available for grocery missions, road trips, playdates, and any number of other family activities. Warranty Coverage Hyundai and Kia are both well-known to reign supreme when it comes to warranty coverage. Industry-leading perks include: 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Coverage 5-year/60,000-mile Bumper-to-Bumper Coverage While it’s true that these are some of the longest terms in the game, Kia falls behind when you examine the finer points. They offer: 5-year/100,000-mile Anti Perforation 5-year/60,000-mile 24-Hour Roadside Assistance No Complementary Maintenance Meanwhile, Hyundai pulls ahead pretty quickly. They offer: 7-year/Unlimited mile Anti-Perforation 5-year/Unlimited mile 24-Hour Roadside Assistance 3-year/36,000-mile Complementary Maintenance Turns out, Hyundai really does have America’s Best Warranty, making the Tucson one of the most reliable midsize SUVs on the market today. Once Again, Hyundai Beats Kia In the contest for the best small-to-midsize SUV, Kia puts up one heck of a fight, but the 2023 Hyundai Tucson once again proves that it has that extra something that makes all the difference. If you’re curious about whether it’s the right SUV for your family, load up the kids and come on out to McCarthy Olathe Hyundai at 681 North Rawhide Drive. Give us a call at (913) 324-7200, and ask about our new vehicle specials! Drivers throughout Olathe, Shawnee, Gardner, and the greater Kansas City metro choose McCarthy Hyundai of Olathe for competitive pricing, Hyundai specials, and one of the largest selections of new Hyundai SUVs in the area. If you’re searching for the safest and most versatile small SUV for your family, our team is here to help. Frequently Asked Questions About Tucson vs Sportage 1. Is the Hyundai Tucson safer than the Kia Sportage? Yes. The 2023 Hyundai Tucson earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, while the Kia Sportage received Top Safety Pick but not the “Plus” designation. 2. Which SUV has more cargo space? The Hyundai Tucson offers more cargo room with up to 80.3 cubic feet compared to the Sportage’s 74.1 cubic feet. 3. Does the Hyundai Tucson get better gas mileage? Fuel economy is nearly identical across comparable trims and powertrains, including hybrid options. 4. Which SUV has the better warranty? Hyundai offers additional benefits like 3-year/36,000-mile complimentary maintenance and unlimited-mile roadside assistance, giving it an edge over Kia. 5. Where can I test drive a Hyundai Tucson near Kansas City? You can test drive the 2023 Hyundai Tucson at McCarthy Hyundai of Olathe, located at 681 North Rawhide Drive in Olathe, KS.