Hyundai Santa Fe vs Jeep Cherokee: Specs Compared
Also searched as Jeep Cherokee vs Hyundai Santa Fe specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Jeep Cherokee is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 37 mpg combined versus 36 mpg for the Hyundai Santa Fe, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $50 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Jeep Cherokee leads in 3. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2027
Hyundai Santa Fe
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 90 configurations
2015–2026
Jeep Cherokee
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 79 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Hyundai Santa Fe | Jeep Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 36 mpg | 37 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 37 mpg | 39 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 36 mpg ✓ | 35 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $1,700 | $1,650 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 111 g/mi ✓ | 241 g/mi |
| Engines offered | SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, 1.6, SIDI; PHEV | Hybrid, 2.4, SIDI, 3.2 |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S8), Automatic (AM-S6), Automatic (AM-S8) | Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic 9-spd |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular, Regular Gas and Electricity | Regular, Gasoline or E85, Midgrade |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2027 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 90 | 79 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Hyundai Santa Fe vs Jeep Cherokee dimensions and size
The Hyundai Santa Fe is 2 inches longer than the Jeep Cherokee on a wheelbase 2.4 inches shorter, and 147.7 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Hyundai Santa Fe (2026) | Jeep Cherokee (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 190.2 in | 188.2 in | 2 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 74.8 in | 74.8 in | identical |
| Height | 67.7 in | 67.3 in | 0.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 110.6 in | 113 in | 2.4 in |
| Curb weight | 4,442 lbs | 4,295 lbs | 148 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Hyundai Santa Fe vs Jeep Cherokee: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Jeep Cherokee burns about $1,650 of fuel annually against $1,700 for the Hyundai Santa Fe. That $50 yearly gap compounds to roughly $250 over five years and $400 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Jeep Cherokee is the stronger commuter at 39 mpg city, while the Hyundai Santa Fe pulls ahead on the interstate at 36 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the Hyundai Santa Fe is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, 1.6), the Jeep Cherokee with 4 (Hybrid, 2.4, SIDI). Across 90 recorded Hyundai Santa Fe configurations and 79 for the Jeep Cherokee, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the Hyundai Santa Fe is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Jeep Cherokee with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Hyundai Santa Fe emits 111 g/mile of CO2 versus 241 g/mile for the Jeep Cherokee. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
Santa Fe vs Cherokee: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Hyundai Santa Fe or the Jeep Cherokee?
The Jeep Cherokee is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 37 mpg combined versus 36 mpg for the Hyundai Santa Fe, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $50 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Jeep Cherokee runs about $1,650 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $1,700 for the Hyundai Santa Fe — a difference of roughly $50 per year.
What engines do the Santa Fe and Cherokee offer?
Hyundai Santa Fe: SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, 1.6, SIDI; PHEV. Jeep Cherokee: Hybrid, 2.4, SIDI, 3.2.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
Yes — the EPA classifies both the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Jeep Cherokee as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they compete directly.
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