The 2020 Ford Explorer and Hyundai Santa Fe have a lot to offer, especially if you’re shopping for a midsize crossover with plenty of power, impressive towing capabilities, and modern creature comforts. But which crossover should you choose? Jones Ford’s comparison guide breaks down the pros and cons of each option.
Thriftiest Price Tag: 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
The 2020 Santa Fe is an excellent choice to save money on the upfront costs of a brand new crossover. With a starting price of just $26,275, buying this Hyundai crossover may mean a smaller monthly payment.
The 2020 Explorer, on the other hand, is a little bit more expensive. Ford’s newly redesigned midsize crossover starts at $32,765. As we’ll see, however, it gives you a lot for your money.
Modern Cruising: 2020 Ford Explorer
When it comes to modern, family-friendly comfort, the 2020 Ford Explorer is by far our first choice. That’s because the seats maintain their comfort throughout entire road trips, and the ride almost always feels nice and smooth. High-end features, like leather seating and heated seats, are also available.
And every Explorer is nicely stocked with the latest in on-road technology. You get to take a Wi-Fi hotspot, an 8-inch touch screen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity with you wherever you go. Finally, standard safety aids include blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure mitigation, and pre-collision detection with pedestrian warning, all of which help you avoid making careless mistakes.
Inside, the 2020 Santa Fe will impress you with its high-quality materials. Seating is roomy and the ride is comfortable. We also like its smart infotainment system, which also comes standard with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity.
So why is this Hyundai crossover in second place? First of all, compared to the Explorer, which seats seven passengers, the Santa Fe only offers room for five. Also, the Santa Fe doesn’t come standard with the same range of driver safety aids. If you want blind-spot monitoring or rear-cross traffic alert on your Santa Fe, you’re going to need to upgrade to at least the mid-grade SEL trim level.
Towing Capacity: 2020 Ford Explorer
When you’re aching to head into the wilderness with your boat or camper, the Explorer will give you the ultimate towing experience. With the right equipment and the 3.0-liter V6 engine, Ford’s midsize crossover tows up to 5,600 pounds.
The Hyundai Santa Fe isn’t quite as capable, maxing out at 3,500 pounds. And shoppers should keep in mind that only models with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine can manage maximum loads.
Power & Performance: 2020 Ford Explorer
The Explorer delivers both more power and better fuel economy than the Santa Fe, making it our pick in this all-important category. For the speediest ride, choose the Explorer ST, the line’s performance-based crossover. Under its hood, a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 sends you speeding into traffic with 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. Then there’s the thriftiest powertrain, the 3.3-liter V6 hybrid, which is rated for 28 mpg combined (27 city/29 highway mpg). This hybrid powertrain will also impress you with its speedy performance; it kicks up dust with a combined output of 318 horses.
With the Santa Fe, there are also a couple of engines to choose from. While it’s not as fast as the Explorer, its speediest engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter that makes 235 horses and 260 pound-feet of torque. The base engine, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, is the thriftier option, earning up to 25 mpg combined (22/29 mpg).
The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe might cost less, but the 2020 Ford Explorer has more of what you want in a daily driver. That includes an excellent list of standard features, premium power, modern fuel economy, and robust towing capabilities. To check out everything Ford’s midsize crossover SUV has to offer, visit us at Jones Ford, your North Charleston Ford dealership.