2023 Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV vs Toyota RAV4 Prime Plug In Hybrid Compare

MODEL COMPARISON

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV vs 2023 RAV4 Prime

If you are looking for a green machine that can take care of your needs, you are likely to have the 2023 Santa Fe PHEV and RAV4 Prime on your short list. Here’s what you need to know about these two rivals.

VIEW INVENTORY

9 Ways Santa Fe PHEV Appeals to RAV4 Prime Shoppers

These two rivals are quite similar on paper. They both offer good hybrid fuel efficiency, an electric range for daily commutes, and ample performance. Hyundai offers standard HTRAC all wheel drive while Toyota offers its own AWD system.

The real question, then, is which one really suits your lifestyle? In this comparison, we’ll look at different types of shoppers and see how each hybrid electric vehicle stacks up.

Santa Fe PHEV Price Comparison

Since it is much bigger, you’d expect the Santa Fe PHEV price to be much higher than the smaller Toyota plug in hybrid. Instead the Hyundai actually shaves about $220 off the initial MSRP. So the shopper can pay less to get a 108-cu ft cabin instead of a 98-cu ft cabin. That’s ten extra cubic feet of wiggle room.

2023 Santa Fe PHEV MSRP: $42,011

2023 RAV4 Prime SE MSRP: $42,340

The fancy Limited is priced close to the less fancy RAV4 Prime XSE top trim. However, as you will read in this review, the Santa FE PHEV Limited earns its slightly higher price tag by providing a truly upscale cabin, more technology, and that spaciousness already discussed.

2023 RAV4 Prime XSE MSRP: $46,210

2023 Santa Fe PHEV Limited MSRP: $47,370
Value Packaging

Kelley Blue Book has awarded its 2023 Best Buy to the entire Santa Fe lineup. Consumer Guide has put it on the 2023 Best Buy list as well. US News and World Report declared the Santa Fe as its 2023 Best 2-row SUV for the Money and named the Santa Fe Hybrid as a finalist for the same award.

For the new model year, the Santa Fe PHEV picked up more standards including a bigger touchscreen with built-in navigation. The difference shows on the dash where the RAV4 Prime has a 9-inch touchscreen, and the Santa Fe Plug In Hybrid has a 10.25-inch touchscreen.

Plus, only the Santa Fe PHEV has a standard wireless charger. You’ll have to pay more if you want that on a RAV4 Prime.
SUV Reputation

For some shoppers, the vehicle’s reputation is the starting point for deciding whether to test drive. As such, it is significant that Hyundai was named Best SUV Brand from US News and World Report in 2022 and 2023!

The rankings certainly show that the Santa Fe SUV is a critical success. It is one of 11 Hyundais to earn a spot on the MotorTrend Ultimate Car Rankings. The Santa Fe SUV sits at #2 for midsize SUVs.

Ranked in the top three of 22 midsize SUVs, the Santa Fe is clearly well liked by the critics at US News and World Report. The RAV4 is ranked at #8 among 19 compact SUVs at the same website.

Plus Santa Fe SUVs earned the best score in the midsize class in the 2022 JD Power Dependability study. When all of this is considered, the Hyundai definitely has a good reputation that stands up to anything the RAV4 Prime may have to offer.

Distinctive Design

Motor Trend has singled out Hyundai for its visual sophistication. The 2023 Santa Fe PHEV certainly represents that sophistication through distinctive design cues inside and out.

Top quality materials ensure that all style components look good now. Excellent fit and finish will help them look good in the future. Limited trims are especially elegant with leather upholstery and other luxury materials you won’t find on any RAV4 Prime.

It is these qualities that make the midsize Santa Fe the choice of stylistas who want something fashionable and beautiful as well as smart and long-lasting.
Big Rig

For some, the SUV size is the most important aspect. Therefore, it’s important to note that the Santa Fe is a midsize while the RAV4 is more of a compact SUV. So, despite the similar price tags, the Santa Fe Plug In Hybrid has lots more room for friends and family.

Compared to the RAV4 Prime, it has a longer wheelbase, a longer body, a bigger interior volume, and an extra 10 cubes of passenger volume. This translates into one of the biggest back seats you’ll find today in 2-row SUVs today. Furthermore, the Hyundai plug in hybrid easily has a larger cargo hold and overall cargo area than the Toyota plug in hybrid.

True Utility

Any SUV should be able to handle a big family’s luggage. Or it may need to haul a college kid’s stuff for dorm move-in day. Or it may need to accommodate camping gear, sports equipment or any number of other large hauls. To meet any and all of these needs, the Santa FE PHEV is definitely the better buy.

A 36.5 cubic-foot cargo hold beats the RAV4 Prime by 3 cubic feet. Folding the second row, you can expand that to 72.1 cubic feet. That’s a 9 cubic foot advantage over its Toyota rival. Power-fold second-row seats are only available on the Hyundai.
Parenting Features

How do plug in hybrid SUVs help parents? Only Hyundai has an awesome quiet mode for the audio system. Another excellent parenting feature is Hyundai stain resistant cloth. It wipes up fast, and it is unlikely to retain odors.

Other Hyundai parenting features include a safe exit assist. This tries to prevent children from stepping out in traffic. A rear-seat alert reminds the driver to check for passengers and pets before departing. With BlueLink integration, Limited owners can be kept informed via smartphone.

Limited editions add side-window sunshades to shelter kids from the Arizona sun. You won’t find these on a RAV4 Prime. A panoramic sunroof can provide sky views to entertain children and add to the feeling of spaciousness.

Advanced Technology

While the RAV4 Prime has good technology, the Santa Fe PHEV is better. Both have adaptive cruise control, but Hyundai’s navigation-enabled curve control is even better.

A forward collision system with pedestrian watch and an autobrake is good. Cyclist awareness and junction turning assist make the Hyundai Santa Fe autobrake even more useful. The rear cross traffic assist is a better tool with an autobrake.

Highway Driving Assist, combining smart cruise control with lane keeping assist, is standard only on the Hyundai. The plug in hybrid Limited pulls ahead with its Remote Smart Parking Assist. The keyfob is your ticket to parking the vehicle remotely.

Speaking of keys, the Hyundai Digital Key allows owners to use a smartphone to signal their presence. The vehicle recognizes the Digital Key, and the owner can open the doors and use Push Button Start without needing the physical key.
Ownership Costs

Some SUV shoppers are looking for the best combination of SUV price and cost to own. The Santa Fe Plug In Hybrid has excellent EPA estimates of 76 mpg combined. It can go 30 miles on its electric range. These factors should assure you that your Santa Fe PHEV will keep your costs down.

Bumper-to-bumper coverage is limited to three years by Toyota. Instead Hyundai covers your purchase for up to five years.

Toyota hybrid powertrain coverage is limited to five years with ten-year coverage for the hybrid battery. Instead Hyundai covers the powertrain with its electric motors and hybrid components for up to ten years. That’s up to 100,000 miles where the Santa Fe driver enjoys true peace of mind.

Conclusion

With so much to recommend it, the Santa Fe PHEV seems a better choice over the RAV4 Prime. This is especially true when you consider the price, spaciousness, and packaging.

The next step in your comparison is a test drive of the 2023 Santa Fe PHEV. You’ll find the Santa Fe Lineup waiting for your inspection at your North Scottsdale Hyundai dealer.