Hyundai Santa Fe vs Volkswagen Taos: Specs Compared
Also searched as Volkswagen Taos vs Hyundai Santa Fe specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 36 mpg combined versus 31 mpg for the Volkswagen Taos, a 5 mpg advantage and costs about $300 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Hyundai Santa Fe leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2027
Hyundai Santa Fe
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 90 configurations
2022–2027
Volkswagen Taos
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 12 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Hyundai Santa Fe | Volkswagen Taos |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 36 mpg ✓ | 31 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 37 mpg ✓ | 28 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 36 mpg | 36 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $1,700 ✓ | $2,000 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 111 g/mi ✓ | 286 g/mi |
| Engines offered | SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, 1.6, SIDI; PHEV | SIDI |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S8), Automatic (AM-S6), Automatic (AM-S8) | Automatic (S8), Automatic (AM-S7), Automatic 7-spd |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular, Regular Gas and Electricity | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2027 | 2022–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 90 | 12 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Hyundai Santa Fe vs Volkswagen Taos dimensions and size
The Hyundai Santa Fe is 14.2 inches longer than the Volkswagen Taos on a wheelbase 4.7 inches longer, and 1,011.9 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Hyundai Santa Fe (2026) | Volkswagen Taos (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 190.2 in | 176 in | 14.2 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 74.8 in | 72.8 in | 2 in |
| Height | 67.7 in | 64.6 in | 3.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 110.6 in | 105.9 in | 4.7 in |
| Curb weight | 4,442 lbs | 3,430 lbs | 1,012 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 Volkswagen Taos: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Hyundai Santa Fe burns about $1,700 of fuel annually against $2,000 for the Volkswagen Taos. That $300 yearly gap compounds to roughly $1,500 over five years and $2,400 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 Hyundai Santa Fe is the stronger commuter at 37 mpg city, while the Volkswagen Taos 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 Volkswagen Taos with 1 (SIDI). Across 90 recorded Hyundai Santa Fe configurations and 12 for the Volkswagen Taos, 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 Volkswagen Taos with Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, All-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 2WD 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 286 g/mile for the Volkswagen Taos. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
Santa Fe vs Taos: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Hyundai Santa Fe or the Volkswagen Taos?
The Hyundai Santa Fe is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 36 mpg combined versus 31 mpg for the Volkswagen Taos, a 5 mpg advantage and costs about $300 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Hyundai Santa Fe runs about $1,700 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,000 for the Volkswagen Taos — a difference of roughly $300 per year.
What engines do the Santa Fe and Taos offer?
Hyundai Santa Fe: SIDI & PFI, SIDI; Hybrid, 1.6, SIDI; PHEV. Volkswagen Taos: SIDI.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Hyundai Santa Fe as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the Volkswagen Taos as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Santa Fe comparisons
More Taos comparisons
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