Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vs Honda CR-V Hybrid: More Space

Guess the body style of the most popular non-truck in the United States in 2025. If your answer is a crossover, then you’re right. It’s the Toyota RAV4, which was sold in both non-hybrid and hybrid versions until this year, when it went all-in on hybrids. Following closely behind is the Honda CR-V, which is also offered in both hybrid and non-hybrid versions. The CR-V also stands out for its excellent interior space, but if that’s all you’re looking for, then let us steer you to an alternative.

On a spec-for-spec basis, this hybrid SUV we’re about to mention may not match the hybrid CR-V, but you’ll still be surprised by the amount of standard kit you get for your money. Additionally, this hybrid SUV drives comfortably and confidently, as it offers one strength over the hybrid CR-V besides space.

The CR-V Hybrid Showcases Honda’s Packaging Excellence

Lyndon Conrad Bell/TopSpeed

But before we talk about the hybrid SUV that offers more space than the CR-V Hybrid, we first have to explore what makes Honda’s electrified compact SUV a standout.

Excellent Space Utilization

Lyndon Conrad Bell | TopSpeed

Among America’s top two best-selling compact crossover SUVs, the CR-V has always trumped the RAV4 due to its excellent space utilization. Not that the RAV4 is cramped, mind you. It is still spacious, as the new, all-hybrid model offers a total interior volume (the combination of passenger and cargo volume with the seats up) of 136.7 cubic feet. The CR-V, however, goes that extra mile in offering even more interior space at 142.8 cubic feet.

Those numbers are backed by real-world experience, because with a passenger volume of 104 cubic feet, it trumps the RAV4’s 98.9 cubic feet. You’ll immediately notice the extra legroom that the hybrid CR-V offers, along with the slightly more airy interior due to its more upright design. Where the CR-V hybrid takes a slight penalty for me is with cargo capacity. Sure, it is likewise more spacious than the RAV4’s, but the hybrid battery of the CR-V is inelegantly placed without any housing underneath the cargo area. This is unlike the RAV4, which has its hybrid battery integrated underneath the rear seats. Oh, and because of that, the CR-V Hybrid doesn’t have a spare tire either.

It Also Offers A Sporty Drive

Lyndon Conrad Bell | TopSpeed

But if there’s one aspect that I love the most about the CR-V Hybrid, that would be its added sporty driving feel. Through its quick-ratio steering that gives an illusion of sharpness, combined with its good body control that balances handling with ride comfort, the CR-V, in general, has a degree of athleticism. The Mazda CX-5 is still the vehicle to go to if you’re truly looking for the sportiest in its segment, but the CR-V can still hold its own really well.

And then the hybrid version also adds to its sporty driving feel. That’s because its single-ratio clutch-based direct-drive transmission, which Honda just calls an e-CVT for simplicity’s sake, is imbued with Linear Shift Control. This basically adds simulated gear shifts through engine sounds, thus avoiding the rubber band throttle feel of traditional CVTs. The K20 2.0-liter i-VTEC engine sounds good, too. Though if there’s one area of improvement for the CR-V Hybrid, that would be road and wind noise suppression. It isn’t raucous by any means, but next to its most serene rivals, the CR-V Hybrid lets in more road and wind noise than most competitors.

For Similar Money, Consider The Midsize Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

Craig Cole | TopSpeed

But if space is all you’re after, why not consider the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid? For similar money, you essentially get a three-row SUV from a higher-sized class. Here’s what you get out of the Santa Fe Hybrid for similar money.

More Space For Up To Seven

Craig Cole | TopSpeed

Being an SUV in a higher size class, the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid offers excellent value relative to the amount of space you get. If the CR-V Hybrid already offers 142.8 cubic feet of cabin space, you’ll be even more impressed with the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 165.6 cubic feet of passenger volume. You also have third-row seating, so that’s added flexibility for you, while higher trims such as Limited and Calligraphy (which are easily more costly than the CR-V Hybrid, though) feature posh captain’s chairs with power adjustment (as shown). Speaking of which, even in passenger volume, the Santa Fe Hybrid dwarfs the CR-V, as it offers 151 cubic feet of passenger space in either six or seven seats.

And that space isn’t just great for passengers, mind you, because the Santa Fe Hybrid also offers plenty of storage all around the cabin. It begins with the dual-hinged center console bin, which you can open from the front or the back. The dashboard features a shelf, while there are upper and lower glove boxes to store items. For the Limited and Calligraphy trims, you even get the benefit of a 110-volt outlet, dual wireless charging pads on the center console, and sunshades for the second-row passengers.

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Starts At $36,400

Craig Cole | TopSpeed

But if you don’t need the most luxurious version of the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, may we steer you to the base SE variant? Sure, it may get a simpler 4.2-inch multi-information display and a segment-type digital gauge cluster, along with cloth seats, but you’ll no doubt get a much bigger vehicle for a similar amount of money as a base CR-V Hybrid Sport. In fact, a CR-V Hybrid Sport costs $35,630, while the Santa Fe Hybrid SE costs $36,400.

Base Trim Engine

1.6L Smartstream I4 Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

6-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

178 HP @5500 RPM

Base Trim Torque

195 lb.-ft. @ 1500 RPM

Base Trim Battery Type

Lithium ion (Li-ion)

Make

Hyundai

Model

Santa Fe Hybrid

Segment

Midsize SUV

For this money, the Santa Fe Hybrid SE still gets full LED headlights and taillights, 18-inch wheels, the 12.3-inch connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) touchscreen, a powered hands-free tailgate, and even most of the Hyundai SmartSense suite of advanced driver assistance, such as Smart Cruise Control, Lane Following Assist, Blind Spot Collision Warning, and Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, just to name a few.

Isaac Atienza | TopSpeed

If you want a posh Santa Fe Hybrid, you’ll at least have to spend $45,700 or $48,700 for the Limited or Calligraphy, respectively. For reference, a top-spec CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring is $42,550. These two variants come with 20-inch wheels, and the Calligraphy features black multi-spoke wheels. The Calligraphy also features black exterior trim and the clever C-pillar-concealed exterior grab handles. Moving inside, these top two trims will give you genuine leather upholstery, which gets upgraded to Nappa Leather in the case of the Calligraphy. Both variants also get a Bose sound system, while a head-up display is exclusive to the Calligraphy.

How The Santa Fe Hybrid Drives

Isaac Atienza | TopSpeed

Thankfully, I’ve already been able to comprehensively review the Santa Fe Hybrid in Calligraphy form, so if you’re in the market for this three-row hybrid SUV, here’s what you need to know about it.

The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has a very solid chassis, giving it what I feel is a European car-like level of rigidity. The refinement levels are great, too. Heck, it’s even more serene than the CR-V Hybrid, which I always felt had more road noise than all of its competitors. High-speed stability is what the Santa Fe Hybrid is great at, though in terms of ride quality, the CR-V Hybrid is the slightly better offering for me.

It’s not what you’d call firm or uncomfortable, mind you. In fact, the Santa Fe is comfortable, though I tend to feel a bit more shakes underneath the chassis when encountering smaller bumps—probably due to the 20-inch wheels of the Calligraphy variant, or perhaps the CR-V really does have a very long travel suspension, enabling it to absorb bigger imperfections with ease. The steering is also light and focused more on stability rather than outright agility. It is reasonably precise, but with its minimal (not completely numb) feel, the Santa Fe Hybrid isn’t what you’d consider sporty.

Linear Hybrid System

Isaac Atienza | TopSpeed

But where the Santa Fe Hybrid truly stands out for me is with its hybrid system. Honda makes use of a series-parallel hybrid, while in the Santa Fe Hybrid, it features Hyundai Motor Group’s (HMG) parallel hybrid system. It consists of a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder whose electric motor is sandwiched between the turbo engine and the six-speed automatic. With this parallel arrangement and use of a traditional automatic, HMG doesn’t need any simulated gear programming for its hybrid system. For those looking for the most linear driving experience, this is it.

The parallel hybrid system also works really well, blending pure electric and hybrid operation seamlessly. Though a small turbo engine doesn’t necessarily provide the most linear power delivery, the electric motors fill in the gaps in the turbo engine’s power band and also the power interruption during gear changes. It must be noted that this is also the same hybrid system used in the smaller and lighter Tucson and Sportage, which makes those vehicles feel quick, but in the Santa Fe Hybrid’s use case, power is just right. It’s not slow, but it isn’t blisteringly quick, either.

Hyundai

What you’ll also appreciate with this hybrid system is its responsiveness and 34 MPG mixed city and highway fuel efficiency in the case of this all-wheel drive (AWD) model I drove, while front-wheel drive (FWD) models are even more efficient at 36 MPG. These figures bode well versus the soon-to-be-discontinued Highlander Hybrid with standard AWD, which can do 35 MPG. Of course, with the CR-V Hybrid being a lighter and smaller car, FWD versions can do a combined 40 MPG, while AWD versions achieve a combined 37 MPG or 35 MPG with the rugged AWD TrailSport variant.

Sources: Hyundai, Honda