Compare the2025 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Chevrolet Traverse’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Hyundai Santa Fe does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Traverse and the Santa Fe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Traverse is safer than the Hyundai Santa Fe:

	Traverse	Santa Fe
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	165	460
Neck Injury Risk	20.1%	28%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	273 lbs.
Neck Compression	2 lbs.	33 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	32/13 lbs.	290/423 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	234	369
Neck Compression	48 lbs.	140 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/266 lbs.	726/652 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Traverse is safer than the Hyundai Santa Fe:

	Traverse	Santa Fe
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	85 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	16 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Chevrolet Traverse is safer than the Santa Fe:

	Traverse	Santa Fe
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	55	89
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.47 in	.87 in
Shoulder Force	-156 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.34 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	7 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	915 lbs.	1227 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Force	-312 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.14 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

There are over 3 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Traverse has a standard 220-amp alternator. The Santa Fe’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Traverse first among midsize suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Santa Fe isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 13th.

Engine

The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 51 more horsepower (328 vs. 277) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 311) than the Santa Fe’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Traverse FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Fe (19.4 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Traverse AWD’s standard fuel tank has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Fe (21.7 vs. 17.7 gallons).

The Traverse has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Traverse’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Santa Fe are solid, not vented.

The Traverse stops much shorter than the Santa Fe:

	Traverse	Santa Fe
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Traverse has larger standard tires than the Santa Fe (255/65R18 vs. 235/60R18). The Traverse’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Santa Fe (275/45R22 vs. 255/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Traverse offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Santa Fe’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The Chevrolet Traverse’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Hyundai Santa Fe only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Traverse’s wheelbase is 10.2 inches longer than on the Santa Fe (121 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Traverse is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Santa Fe.

Chassis

The Traverse uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Traverse offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Santa Fe can only carry 7.

The Traverse has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Santa Fe (157 vs. 152).

The Traverse has 1.5 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 3.7 inches more rear hip room, 4.1 inches more rear shoulder room, .6 inches more third row headroom, 2.1 inches more third row legroom, 5.9 inches more third row hip room and 4.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Santa Fe.

Cargo Capacity

The Traverse’s cargo area provides more volume than the Santa Fe.

	Traverse	Santa Fe
Behind Third Seat	22.9 cubic feet	14.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	56.6 cubic feet	40.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	97.6 cubic feet	79.6 cubic feet

Both the Traverse and the Santa Fe offer second row automatic folding seats. The Traverse RS/High Country’s third row seats also fold up or down at the press of a switch. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Hyundai Santa Fe is limited to 4500 pounds. The Traverse offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The Traverse’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Santa Fe does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Traverse’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Santa Fe’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

The Traverse’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Proximity Key standard on the Santa Fe doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Traverse’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Santa Fe’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Traverse RS/High Country’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Santa Fe offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Traverse has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy.

The Traverse has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Santa Fe SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Traverse has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Santa Fe SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy offers wireless charging.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Chevrolet Traverse and the Hyundai Santa Fe, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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