Compare the2025 Toyota Crown SigniaVS 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

The Toyota Crown Signia has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Crown Signia has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Crown Signia has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Crown Signia. But it costs extra on the Santa Fe Hybrid.

Both the Crown Signia and the Santa Fe Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

There are over 47 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Crown Signia’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 13th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 11th.

The Crown Signia’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 9 more horsepower (240 vs. 231) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Crown Signia gets better mileage than the Santa Fe Hybrid:

The Crown Signia has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Crown Signia’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 Hybrid are solid, not vented.

The Crown Signia XLE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Santa Fe SEL Hybrid’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crown Signia XLE has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Santa Fe SEL Hybrid. The Crown Signia Limited’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Santa Fe Hybrid Limited/Calligraphy.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Crown Signia’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the Santa Fe Hybrid (112.2 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

The Toyota Crown Signia may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 350 pounds less than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.

The Crown Signia has a much larger cargo volume than the Santa Fe Hybrid with its rear seat up (25.8 vs. 14.6 cubic feet).

The Crown Signia’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (2700 vs. 2000 pounds).

The Crown Signia’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Santa Fe Hybrid’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Crown Signia the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Santa Fe Hybrid can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Crown Signia’s standard Smart Key System 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Crown Signia’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Santa Fe Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Crown Signia 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 Hybrid Limited/Calligraphy.