Compare the2025 Jeep WranglerVS 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Wrangler have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

Both the Wrangler and the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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

The Wrangler has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai With 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Jeep higher than Hyundai.

The Wrangler’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (270 vs. 261) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 258) than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Wrangler’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 24 more horsepower (285 vs. 261) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 258) than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Wrangler 4xe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 114 more horsepower (375 vs. 261) and 212 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 258) than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition’s standard 6.4 V8 produces 209 more horsepower (470 vs. 261) and 212 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 258) than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Jeep Wrangler is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid (automatics tested):

As tested in Car and Driver the Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition 6.4 V8 is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid (base engine) (automatics tested):

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s fuel efficiency. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

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

The Wrangler 4Xe’s standard fuel tank has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid (17.2 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Wrangler 4-door’s standard fuel tank has 9.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid (21.5 vs. 12.4 gallons).

The Wrangler offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

An eight-speed automatic is available on the Jeep Wrangler, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid.

The Wrangler Rubicon 392’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer launch control.

The 4Xe/Wrangler Rubicon Xtreme 35/Rubicon 392’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 Plug-In Hybrid are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Wrangler has larger standard tires than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid (245/75R17 vs. 235/55R19). The Wrangler 4-door Rubicon 392/Xteme 35’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid (315/70R17 vs. 235/55R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Wrangler 4Xe has standard 20-inch wheels. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Wrangler has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Wrangler has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Wrangler Rubicon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Wrangler 4-door’s wheelbase is 9.5 inches longer than on the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid (118.4 inches vs. 108.9 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Wrangler 2-door’s turning circle is 4.7 feet tighter than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s (32.7 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Wrangler 2-door has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid (9.7 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Wrangler to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Wrangler Rubicon 4-door Xtreme 35’s minimum ground clearance is 4.7 inches higher than on the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid (12.9 vs. 8.2 inches).

The Jeep Wrangler may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid.

The Wrangler 4-door has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat folded (72.4 vs. 72.1 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox and standard locking center console (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Wrangler. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Wrangler’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the left swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Maximum trailer towing in the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid is limited to 2000 pounds. The Wrangler 4-door offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Wrangler can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Wrangler can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The engine in the Wrangler is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Wrangler Automatic offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Wrangler’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 Plug-In Hybrid does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Wrangler’s 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 Plug-In Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Jeep Wrangler JL comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid isn’t available as a soft top.

Motor Trend selected the Wrangler as their 2019 Sport Utility of the Year. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has never been chosen.

The Jeep Wrangler outsold the Hyundai Santa Fe by 19% during 2023.