Compare the2025 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

Both the Traverse and the Santa Fe Hybrid 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.

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 Hybrid:

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.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Traverse first among midsize suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Santa Fe Hybrid 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.

The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 97 more horsepower (328 vs. 231) and 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 271) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Chevrolet Traverse is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid:

Both the Traverse and Santa Fe Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Traverse has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Traverse FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Fe Hybrid (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 Hybrid (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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Chevrolet Traverse, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Santa Fe Hybrid.

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 Hybrid are solid, not vented.

The Traverse stops shorter than the Santa Fe Hybrid:

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

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Traverse offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Santa Fe Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 20-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 Hybrid only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Traverse has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Santa Fe Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

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

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Traverse is 3 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Santa Fe Hybrid.

For greater off-road capability the Traverse Z71 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe Hybrid (7.8 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Traverse to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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 Hybrid doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

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

The Traverse has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Santa Fe Hybrid (157 vs. 151).

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 Hybrid.

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

Both the Traverse and the Santa Fe Hybrid 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

Maximum trailer towing in the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is limited to 2000 pounds. The Traverse offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

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 Hybrid has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature 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 Hybrid’s standard power windows’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

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 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 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 Hybrid’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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid Limited/Calligraphy.

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