Toyota RAV4 vs Hyundai Santa Fe

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai Santa Fe Discontinued model
Toyota RAV4 in South Africa

Toyota RAV4

2.5 HEV GR-S CVT Hybrid CVT Current
ZAR 941,800 ex-showroom
⚡ 137 kW 🔧 221 Nm ⛽ 21.3 km/l
VS
Hyundai Santa Fe in South Africa

Hyundai Santa Fe

2.2D 4WD Executive Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Discontinued model
ZAR 899,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 147 kW 🔧 440 Nm ⛽ 13.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota RAV4 vs Hyundai Santa Fe: the short answer

RAV4 and Santa Fe are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Recorded price context RAV4: current from ZAR 610,000 · Santa Fe: last listed from ZAR 899,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification RAV4 Santa Fe
Maximum Power RAV4137 kW @ 6000 rpm Santa Fe147 kW @ 3800 rpm
Maximum Torque RAV4221 Nm Santa Fe440 Nm @ 1750 rpm
Engine Size RAV42500 cc Santa Fe2199 cc
Combined Fuel Economy RAV421.3 km/l Santa Fe13.8 km/l
Ground Clearance RAV4186 mm Santa Fe188 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Evidence for Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2D 4WD Executive

Source type: Hagalu catalogue record

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

RAV4

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

Santa Fe

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

RAV4

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Santa Fe

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec RAV4 Santa Fe
Model Introduced Year 2026 2001
Generation All-new sixth-generation RAV4 introduced in South Africa in July 2026 Fifth generation Santa Fe on Hyundai's i-GMP platform; 'Sensuous Sportiness' design with distinctive parametric LED lighting signature
Facelift History Full model change for 2026 with HEV, PHEV and GR-Sport derivatives Fifth generation launched in SA in 2022; significant styling and interior quality upgrade; distinctive boxy design language with vertical lighting
Facelift Launched Since Full model change for 2026 with HEV, PHEV and GR-Sport derivatives 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current South African 2026 specification Not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status published Not confirmed
Segment SUV Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 1725-1740 kg 1980 kg
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Spec RAV4 Santa Fe
Length 4645 mm 4830 mm
Width 1880 mm 1900 mm
Height 1680 mm 1750 mm
Wheelbase 2690 mm 2815 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 186 mm 188 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 l 67 l
Boot/Cargo Space 732 l 703 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2230 kg Not confirmed
Towing Capacity 1000 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.6 m Not confirmed
Kerb Weight - 1980 kg

In depth: how these cars differ

This RAV4 and Santa Fe comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: RAV4 50 vs Santa Fe 74.

Efficiency index: RAV4 84 vs Santa Fe 55.

Safety-equipment index: RAV4 93 vs Santa Fe 98.

Practicality index: RAV4 71 vs Santa Fe 89.

Ownership-cover index: RAV4 not separately scored vs Santa Fe 65.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Santa Fe leads by 5 points

RAV4 and Santa Fe are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 78 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 89% source coverage
78
#1 Evidence leader

Santa Fe

89% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Efficiency 55
Performance 74
Efficiency 55
Safety 98
Practicality 89
Ownership 65
Leads by 5 points
73
#2

RAV4

61% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Performance 50
Performance 50
Efficiency 84
Safety 93
Practicality 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Santa Fe +24 Efficiency RAV4 +29 Safety Santa Fe +5 Practicality Santa Fe +18

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Santa Fe

Performance 74/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 89/100
Ownership 65/100

RAV4

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 84/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 71/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Hyundai Santa Fe leads the specification evidence index with 78 pts vs 73 pts for RAV4

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Santa Fe leads. However, RAV4 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

RAV4 vs Santa Fe questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.