2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs. 2025 Ford Edge

The midsize SUV market has two major players vying for your attention: the 2025 Ford Edge and the freshly redesigned 2025 Hyundai SANTA FE. If you live in Virginia Beach or the surrounding areas, choosing between the two can be a challenge. The SANTA FE has received a complete makeover for 2025, featuring a boxy look and standard third-row seating that set it apart from its rival. At Checkered Flag Hyundai World, we’ve explored what makes each SUV unique and why the SANTA FE might offer you better value for money.

Vehicles Overview

Both SUVs have built solid reputations, but they’re aimed at different drivers. You might find the Ford Edge perfect if you’re a professional or part of a smaller family that appreciates a sporty feel and tech features. If you have a larger family or love weekend adventures, the redesigned SANTA FE is made for you — its fresh look and added features give it an immediate edge in this face-off.

Design and Interior

The 2025 SANTA FE looks completely different from its previous model. Hyundai opted for a bold, boxy design with a Land Rover-esque flair that turns heads wherever you go. The lighting is striking, and the aggressive front grille commands attention. The Ford Edge isn’t unattractive, but it plays it safe with a more typical SUV shape that blends in rather than stands out.

In terms of dimensions, the SANTA FE measures 190.2 inches in length, 74.8 inches in width, and between 67.7 and 69.7 inches in height, all built on a 110.8-inch wheelbase. The Edge is a bit shorter at 188.8 inches long but features a longer 112.2-inch wheelbase, which might give you a smoother ride on rough roads.

You’ll appreciate the comfortable interiors in both SUVs. However, the SANTA FE pulls ahead with its standard third-row seating, increasing its capacity from five to seven passengers, as compared to the Edge’s limit of five. The SANTA FE offers 151 cubic feet of passenger space with generous legroom — 44.4 inches in front, 41.5 inches in the middle, and 30 inches in the back.

If you need extra cargo space, both vehicles provide about 39.2 cubic feet behind the second row, but when you fold the seats down, the SANTA FE expands to 79.6 cubic feet versus the Edge’s 72.1 cubic feet.

Performance and Efficiency

Both SUVs have some muscle under the hood, though the SANTA FE gives you more options. The standard motor in the 2025 SANTA FE is a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder that cranks out a robust 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. That gives you rather more power than the Edge’s 2.0-liter turbo four, which musters 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The SANTA FE accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, while the Edge takes roughly 8.3 seconds to reach the same speed.

When it comes to gas mileage, the SANTA FE more than holds its own, either with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Here’s a comparison of the fuel economy stats between models:

• SANTA FE FWD: 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined
• SANTA FE AWD: 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined
• Edge AWD: 21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined
• SANTA FE Hybrid FWD: 36 mpg in the city, 35 mpg highway, and 36 mpg combined
• SANTA FE Hybrid AWD: 35 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 34 mpg combined

If you’re tired of frequent fill-ups, those Hyundai hybrids might just seal the deal for you.

Technology and Features

The dashboard of the SANTA FE houses a 12.3-inch touch-screen system with sharp graphics that respond instantly to your touch and a matching 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster that gives your cockpit a futuristic feel. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also come standard, so no more fumbling with cables. The Edge fights back with its SYNC 4 system and a big touch screen (though Ford hasn’t released the exact dimensions for the 2025 model yet).

The SANTA FE comes loaded with innovative features. With Hyundai Digital Key 2, you can use your phone as your key — so if you forget your fob, you’re still ready to drive. One standout feature is Remote Smart Parking Assist: press a button on your key and watch your SANTA FE park itself while you stand outside.

Both SUVs offer robust safety tech, such as adaptive cruise control and automatic braking, but the SANTA FE goes further with its blind-spot monitor, which displays a live camera feed on your dash when you signal. Plus, with Advanced Rear Occupant Alert to help you remember your little ones and Safe Exit Assist to prevent doors from opening into traffic, you have plenty of reasons to lean toward the Hyundai.

Pricing and Value

Hyundai’s SANTA FE lineup offers unbeatable value, with five trim levels — SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy — to match your luxury-to-budget balance. The SANTA FE starts at an attractive $34,300, significantly undercutting the Edge’s $38,365 base price. The Ford Edge also offers five trim levels: SE, SEL, ST-LINE, Titanium, and ST.

Over five years, ownership costs come to about $48,799 for the SANTA FE compared to $49,331 for the Edge (roughly $0.65 per mile versus $0.66). The real winner is Hyundai’s warranty: a five-year/60,000 miles bumper-to-bumper warranty, a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and five years of unlimited-mile roadside assistance — far exceeding Ford’s three-year/36,000-mile basic and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage.

Experience the 2025 SANTA FE at Checkered Flag Hyundai World

The 2025 Hyundai SANTA FE outshines the 2025 Ford Edge. With its bold design, efficient engine options (especially the hybrids), unbeatable warranty, and advanced tech, the SANTA FE is hard to beat.

Visit us at Checkered Flag Hyundai World in Virginia Beach to take a test-drive and experience the 2025 SANTA FE’s innovative features and spacious cabin for yourself. Our team will help you compare trims, hybrid versus gas models, and current deals. Why just read about it when you could drive one home today?