Shoppers have no shortage of options when looking for a new midsize SUV. Do you want three rows of seats or two? Do you prefer a sporty or rugged aesthetic? Gas or hybrid? These questions highlight the differences between two desirable midsize SUVs; the Hyundai Santa Fe and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.
Let’s take a closer look at these SUVs and see which is a better fit for you.
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe doesn’t look quite like anything else on the market, including within Hyundai’s own lineup. Its distinctly boxy shape gives way to a spacious and high-tech interior with surprisingly roomy three-row seating. Affordable pricing, good fuel economy, and class-leading warranties make this stylish SUV an outstanding value proposition.
Hyundai Santa Fe Highlights
3-row seating: The Hyundai Santa Fe has more seats and a lower starting price than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The standard version of the Atlas is a roomy 3-row SUV, but there’s a bigger price gap between the 3-row Atlas and the Santa Fe. The extra seating in the Hyundai enhances its everyday versatility.
Hybrid option: The Hyundai Santa Fe is available with a hybrid powertrain that’s much more efficient than the sole engine option in the Atlas Cross Sport. The Santa Fe Hybrid returns up to 36 combined mpg and can go over 600 miles on a full tank of gas.
Class-leading warranty: The Hyundai Santa Fe has unbeatable warranty coverage, boasting a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. This gives the owner a little extra peace of mind.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Santa Fe models for sale near you.
2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is a practical midsize SUV with a little European flair in both how it looks and how it drives. In typical VW fashion, the Atlas Cross Sport has a little more interior class and driving athleticism than most of its competition. It’s also one of the only SUVs outside of expensive luxury brands that drives home the “SUV coupe” aesthetic with a sleek, sloping roof line, in contrast to the decidedly boxy Hyundai Santa Fe.
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Highlights
Upscale interior: The Volkswagen Atlas has a sophisticated and comfortable cabin that’s thoughtfully designed. It gets pretty luxurious in its upper trims by adding features like Vienna leather seating, massaging front seats, and Harman Kardon premium audio.
Sporty exterior: Maybe you’re not into the rugged trend that’s sweeping the SUV world. The VW Atlas Cross Sport displays a sportier look with its raked roofline and available R-Line styling, adding a more aggressive aesthetic.
Euro driving manners: Although the Hyundai Santa Fe’s engine has more power and torque than the turbocharged mill in the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, we think the VW is a little more entertaining to drive. It handles well for an SUV this size, living up to the brand’s reputation for a refined European driving experience.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Atlas Cross Sport models for sale near you.
Similarities
These are both midsize SUVs that use a turbocharged 4-cylinder as their base engine. They also both have standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD).
Pricing
New 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$35,795 |
$33,922 |
|||
$38,295 |
$36,292 |
|||
$42,445 |
$40,373 |
|||
$45,195 |
$43,021 |
|||
$48,345 |
$46,063 |
New 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$38,615 |
$36,695 |
|||
$40,515 |
$38,282 |
|||
$42,720 |
$40,425 |
|||
$44,620 |
$42,232 |
|||
$48,615 |
$46,193 |
|||
$50,565 |
$48,097 |
|||
$53,620 |
$51,105 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles and New 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe | 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Towing Capacity | 3,500 pounds | 2,000 pounds |
| 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 | automatic, 8-speed dct w/shiftronic | automatic, 8-speed w/tiptronic |
| Fuel Economy | 20 city/29 highway/24 combined mpg | 20 city/26 highway/23 combined mpg |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | Not rated | 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 | N/A |
| Legroom, Front | 44.4 inches | 41.7 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 42.3 inches | 40.4 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 30.0 inches | N/A |
| 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 | N/A |
| Cargo Behind Last Seat | 14.6 feet | 40.3 feet |
| Cargo Behind Second Seat | 40.5 feet | N/A |
| Cargo With All Seats Down | 79.6 feet | N/A |
Specification table reflects the typical configuration of vehicles shown.
Conclusion
More interior space (with more seats), a stronger and more efficient base engine, a lower starting price, and better warranty coverage add up to a win for the Hyundai Santa Fe in this comparison. There’s a lot to love about the VW Atlas Cross Sport if you like the idea of a stylish European SUV that’s more affordable than a luxury SUV, but for families looking for bang for the buck, the Hyundai Santa Fe is hard to beat.
