Are you shopping around for a compact crossover SUV? Two solid options are the Hyundai Santa Fe and Mazda CX-5. See how they measure up in this 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs. 2022 Mazda CX-5 comparison. With its many advantages, the Santa Fe beats the CX-5. 

2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs. 2022 Mazda CX-5

For this 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs. 2022 Mazda CX-5 crossover SUV comparison, we evaluated several areas. This includes performance, efficiency, towing, off-road capabilities, safety, passenger and cargo space, interior features and technologies, warranty coverage, and price.

Santa Fe vs. CX-5: Performance and efficiency

On the performance front, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe has the advantage. It offers four powertrains: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (191 hp), a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (277 hp), a hybrid (226 hp), and a plug-in hybrid (260 hp). In comparison, the 2022 Mazda CX-5 offers two engine options: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (187 hp) and a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (250 hp).

For efficiency, the gas-powered Santa Fe gets an estimated fuel economy of up to 25 combined mpg, and the Santa Fe Hybrid has a gas mileage of 32 combined mpg. Also, the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid gets an estimated fuel efficiency of 76 MPGe when driving in electric-only mode and 33 combined mpg in hybrid mode. In comparison, the CX-5 gets an estimated fuel economy of up to 28 combined mpg.

Santa Fe vs. CX-5: Towing

Do you have some towing needs? The Santa Fe has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, compared to 2,000 pounds for the CX-5.

Santa Fe vs. CX-5: Off-road capabilities

While both the Santa Fe and CX-5 offer a traction-enhancing all-wheel drive system, the Santa Fe is better for off-road use. For one, it has higher ground clearance than the CX-5 (up to 8.2 inches vs. 7.5 inches). Also, unlike the CX-5, the Santa Fe offers an off-road-focused model with the Santa Fe XRT trim, which has features like skid plates and roof cross rails.

Santa Fe vs. CX-5: Safety

The Santa Fe and CX-5 are both very safe vehicles. Both crossover SUVs earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, which is the highest IIHS safety rating.

Santa Fe vs. CX-5: Passenger and cargo space

The Santa Fe is slightly bigger than the CX-5, resulting in more passenger and storage space. It has a total passenger volume of 111.5 cu-ft and a maximum cargo capacity of 72.1 cu-ft. In comparison, the CX-5 has a total passenger volume of 103.6 cu-ft and a maximum cargo capacity of 59.6 cu-ft. 

Santa Fe vs. CX-5: Interior features and technologies

The CX-5 has the advantage for interior features and technologies. Overall, the interior of the CX-5 is more upscale than the Santa Fe. Also, unlike the Santa Fe, the CX-5 offers a Wi-Fi hotspot and woodgrain interior trim.

Santa Fe vs. CX-5: Warranty coverage

For warranty coverage, the Santa Fe has the backing of a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. In comparison, the CX-5 has a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Santa Fe vs. CX-5: Price

Which crossover SUV costs more: the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe or the 2022 CX-5? The starting prices of the 2022 Santa Fe range from $27,200 MSRP for the SE trim up to $45,510 MSRP for the Limited Plug-In Hybrid trim. In comparison, the starting prices of the 2022 CX-5 range from $25,900 MSRP for the 2.5 S trim up to $38,650 MSRP for the 2.5 S Turbo Signature trim.

2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs. 2022 Mazda CX-5: Which crossover SUV is better?

As you can see in our 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs. 2022 Mazda CX-5 comparison, the 2022 Santa Fe has most of the advantages. This includes advantages for performance, hybrid efficiency, towing, off-road capabilities, safety, passenger and cargo space, and warranty coverage. Conversely, advantages for the CX-5 include gas-engine efficiency, interior features and technologies, and a lower price.