Scouring through all the midsize SUVs available today can leave you confused, amazed, and flustered. There are so many options, including 3-row, 7-passenger options or 2-row, 5-passenger vehicles. Let’s start with the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, a 3-row model, and the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, a 2-row SUV. The Santa Fe is a bit larger than the Atlas Cross Sport to accommodate the extra seating.
Let’s see what these two SUVs have to offer.
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe
It’s a whole new world for the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe with its boxy new design. The new model is longer, taller, and wider than its predecessor, which allows for a bigger cabin.
The complete interior makeover features standard 3-row seats now, allowing capacity for seven. The exception is the Calligraphy trim, which features captain’s chairs in the second row, reducing seating to just six passengers. The cabin features its new Panoramic Curved Display, which integrates the digital gauge cluster and the infotainment screen into one cohesive display.
It’s powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, putting out 277 horsepower. A hybrid model and all-wheel drive (AWD) are available. Pricing starts at $35,345, including the destination fee.
Hyundai Santa Fe Highlights
Semi-autonomous: Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist combines various technologies, including adaptive cruise control and lane centering, to make highway driving safer and easier. It’s available in two versions, including Highway Driving Assist 2 on the Calligraphy models, adding functionality like lane-change assist.
Charge it: Using the expanded Hyundai Pay system, you can pay for parking or gas while remaining inside the vehicle. It keeps you from offering up your credit card in public view and can also help bypass card skimmers.
Class-leading warranty: Volkswagen has a pretty good warranty, but the Hyundai Santa Fe has best-in-class warranty coverage. It boasts a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, providing the owner with peace of mind.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Santa Fe models near you.
2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 2-row SUV takes the simple, clean look of its 3-row Atlas SUV sibling and gives it a more aggressive exterior with a smaller body.
Although a bit smaller, it retains most of the other benefits of its larger sibling, starting with the 269-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with available AWD. The new drivetrain is a significant step up from its predecessor, helping it keep pace with the competition.
The interior sees significant upgrades to the materials used and the addition of a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen. And while it features the sloping roof line typical of coupe-style SUVs, the cargo space and rear seating are still very generous. Pricing starts at $38,410, including the destination charge.
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Highlights
Safety technology: IQ.Drive driver-assistance tech features add safety and convenience to the Atlas Cross Sport. It has automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-centering, and more. It also earned a 5-Star crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Outstanding sound: The new cabin basically becomes a concert hall when you upgrade to the Harman Kardon Premium audio system. This 400-watt system delivers breathtaking sound through 12 speakers throughout the vehicle.
Digital Cockpit Pro: Standard in the Atlas Cross Sport, this customizable 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster displays vehicle data, music info, navigation maps, and more.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Atlas Cross Sport models near you.
Similarities
The Hyundai Santa Fe and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport feature powerful drivetrains, compelling exterior designs, and loads of safety and convenience technologies.
Conclusion
The Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two additional seats and powertrain options, is an impressive SUV, especially when one factors the new exterior design. However, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport’s upgraded powertrain and impressive looks cannot be ignored. It boils down to how many available seats you want. Of course, make sure to drive both vehicles to ensure you actually like them.
| 2024 HSanta Fe from Yunda | 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport | |
| Starting Price | $35,345 | $38,410 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 277 hp @ 5,800 rpm | 269 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 311 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 273 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Fuel Economy | 20 city/29 highway/24 combined mpg | 20 city/27 highway/23 combined mpg |
| Also Available | AWD/Hybrid | AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | N/A | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 7 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 inches | 117.3 inches |
| Overall Length | 190.2 inches | 195.6 inches |
| Width | 74.8 inches | 78.3 inches |
| Height | 67.7 inches | 68.1 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.9 feet | 40.0 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 41.1 inches | 39.4 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 40.6 inches | 37.8 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 37.7 inches | SO |
| Legroom, Front | 44.4 inches | 41.7 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 42.3 inches | 40.4 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 30.0 inches | SO |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 59.5 inches | 61.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 58.1 inches | 60.4 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 53.5 inches | SO |
| Cargo Volume | 14.6/40.5/79.6 cubic feet | N/A./40.3/77.8 cubic feet |
Tags: Hyundai Santa Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Comparison
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