2021 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2021 Nissan Murano

Back in 2021, the Hyundai Santa Fe stood out as an SUV that offered extraordinary value for its price. Many new vehicles at the time appeared pricier than they should have been, leaving potential buyers in disbelief over the cost versus what they were getting. However, the Santa Fe defied this trend. After spending some time with this five-passenger midsize SUV—observing its exterior, experiencing its interior materials, using its controls, and driving it—the puzzlement shifted to wondering why it didn't cost more.

The 2021 Santa Fe came with a choice of two new gasoline engines and a new gas-electric hybrid powertrain. Gas trims included SE, SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy, while hybrids came in Blue, SEL Premium, and Limited trims. Its pricing ranged between $26,850 and $39,950 MSRP, with front-wheel drive standard on gas models and all-wheel drive costing an additional $1,700. Hybrids came with standard AWD. Interestingly, while the hybrid models were imported from South Korea, the other versions were manufactured in Montgomery, Alabama. A plug-in hybrid variant was set to debut in 2022.

The most striking external update was its redesigned front end, featuring new running lights, a revamped grille, and a new bumper. Different trim levels sported unique combinations of wheels, grilles, and headlights, lending each a distinct character.

Internally, the Santa Fe saw a significant uptick in luxury with new colors, patterns, and textures. It introduced a new bridge-style center console, which offered storage beneath and housed electronic transmission controls, drivetrain settings, climate controls, and stereo controls. A 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel further enhanced its technological and upscale aura.

Meanwhile, the exterior design of the 2021 Nissan Murano did not raise as many eyebrows. Several years prior, it boasted a progressive design with L-shaped LED headlights and an aggressively contoured front end. However, by 2021, these elements were more common in automotive design. The Murano's cabin design had always leaned towards conservatism, and it worked well given its identity as a comfort-oriented SUV rather than a sports or groundbreaking electric car. Therefore, the interior was practical, with all controls accessible, minimizing any learning curve for drivers.

The Murano offered trims such as S, SV, SL, and Platinum, with the base S model coming with 18-inch alloy wheels, manual front seats, dual-zone climate control, four USB ports, push-button start, remote keyless entry, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and an 8-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Upgrading to the SV trim added power-adjustable front seats, adaptive cruise control, remote start, fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, black roof rails, heated side mirrors, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

The SL trim added even further with 20-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, ambient cabin lighting, a Bose premium stereo system, and integrated navigation.

The top-end Platinum trim distinguished itself with a dual-panel panoramic moonroof, semi-aniline premium leather with Prima-Tex protection, dark wood interior accents, and ventilated front seats.

The 2021 Santa Fe offered three new powertrain options. SE and SEL trims were equipped with a standard 191-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Santa Fe Hybrids featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, a starter/generator, an electric drive motor, and a six-speed automatic transmission, producing a combined output of 226 horsepower. The hybrid's electric motor also delivered a robust 195 pound-feet of torque as soon as the accelerator was pressed, with peak torque from the gas engine also measuring 195 lb-ft, though it arrived at 4,000 rpm.

For those seeking more power, the Limited and Calligraphy trims sported a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine similar to that found in the Hyundai Sonata N Line sedan. This potent engine produced 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, coupled with an eight-speed wet-plate dual-clutch transmission known for its quick and smooth shifts.

Hyundai offered driving modes including Normal, Sport, and Smart. While the transmission hesitated to downshift in Smart mode in the interest of fuel efficiency, this wasn't unexpected. The 2021 Santa Fe Calligraphy, with its turbo 2.5-liter engine, upgraded structural rigidity, improved braking system, and heightened refinement, delivered remarkable performance, blending quick acceleration, solid feel, impressive body control, a smooth ride, good noise insulation, and athletic handling.

Interestingly, according to the EPA, the turbocharged engine shared fuel-efficiency ratings with the standard engine, achieving 24 mpg in combined driving with AWD. On our test loop, which primarily involved Smart mode driving, we averaged about 22.4 mpg.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Murano featured a singular powertrain option: a 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque, channeled through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with standard front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive.

The V6 engine offered strong low-speed acceleration, making it agile around town with a satisfactory initial push. However, the CVT mellowed out its power at higher speeds, leading to noticeable delays when attempting high-speed overtakes.

The Murano prioritized a comfort-first ride but wasn't as unresponsive as its CVT at higher speeds. It boasted refined driving characteristics, smoothly handling corners and absorbing road bumps with ease, making it an excellent choice for commuting and road trips.

However, the Murano's towing capacity was a weak point, maxing out at 1,500 pounds when properly equipped, which was lower than many midsize and even some compact SUVs.

In terms of interior space and functionality, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe was geared towards families who favored passenger room over additional seating rows. All trims featured dual-zone automatic climate control with Clean Air ionization. Lower trims used stain-resistant fabric, while leather upholstery became available at the SEL level and standard in the Limited trim. The Calligraphy trim elevated the interior luxury to new heights with a suede-like headliner, quilted, stitched, and supple premium Nappa leather, giving you a taste of luxury at an accessible price.

Comfort was a hallmark of Hyundai. Starting with the SEL trim, each Santa Fe included an eight-way power driver’s seat, with an eight-way power passenger seat available. Higher trims featured a separate thigh support adjuster and heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel—all controllable via a smartphone app for pre-drive heating or cooling.

The rear seat offered ample legroom and comfort, supplemented by air-conditioning vents, quick-charge USB ports, a power outlet, and rear side-window sunshades. However, even though a third-row seat was unavailable, the sliding rear bench seat added flexibility for cargo space when needed.

The cargo area offered 36.4 cubic feet of space behind the second-row seats, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down. This was substantial, although surprisingly less than the new 2022 Hyundai Tucson, a compact crossover.

Conversely, the Nissan Murano provided 32.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up, expanding to 67 cubic feet with the seats folded. Though this fell short compared to many competitors, including the more spacious Santa Fe and the much roomier Honda Passport, it compensated with ease-of-use. Its traditional shifter and well-placed trays and cubbies made it user-friendly, accommodating all the small items that life necessitates.

Additionally, the Murano focused on its two-row layout, offering generous headroom and legroom in both rows and partial reclining functionality for the second-row seats.

Technologically, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy was loaded with features, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a crystal-clear surround-view camera system, and an 8.5-inch color head-up display (HUD) providing extensive data such as blind-spot warnings. It came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, whereas the larger 10.25-inch screen required wired connections but included upgraded voice-recognition technology and enhanced Blue Link connected services. A 12-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system, featuring Clari-Fi digital music restoration, was also available.

Blue Link—a free subscription for three years—offered features like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smartwatch compatibility, automatic emergency assistance, car-finding capability, and geofencing alerts. Blue Link also facilitated remote engine start, climate control adjustments, and seat heating or ventilation activation, ensuring comfortable conditions before you got inside.

Features like WiFi hotspot availability were absent, but Hyundai included Digital Key and Remote Smart Parking Assist technology. Digital Key allowed Android users to control and drive the SUV with their phones. Remote Smart Parking Assist enabled the vehicle to park itself using the keyfob when needed.

On the other hand, the 2021 Nissan Murano came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system offering a practical menu layout complemented by physical buttons and dials for ease of use. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Upgraded tech options included an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and integrated navigation.

Safety features were robust on the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. Calligraphy trim came with forward-collision warning (detecting pedestrians, cyclists, and potential junction turns), Safe Exit Assist, blind-spot view monitoring, Highway Driving Assist, and a rear-occupant alert system. The SUV earned a “Top Safety Pick” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with the LED projector headlights.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Nissan Murano came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Additional standard features incorporated forward automatic emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), forward collision warning, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Optional advanced safety included a surround-view parking monitor, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and parking sensors.