Hyundai Santa Fe HEV vs. the competition

The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) is now available in the Philippine market. It is touted as a full-size crossover capable of offering a combination of style, comfort, and efficient mobility. 

On the outside, the vehicle received a futuristic but boxy design. Its front fascia and LED exterior lighting elements feature plenty of H-pattern details, while its side section boasts an assertive stance enhanced by beefy wheel arches and an expansive greenhouse. 

The all-new HEV trim received the same niceties that are available for the internal combustion-powered calligraphy variant. Its front cabin and its interior door cards are mostly clad in soft, supple leather, and it also features a dual-zone automatic climate control system, electronically adjustable second-row seats, a sunroof, a six-piece speaker system, a power tailgate, and rain-sensing wipers, among others. 

The Hyundai hybrid model also has no shortage of tech, thanks to its 12.3-inch  infotainment screen and a similarly sized digital gauge cluster. The aforementioned central head unit offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while a dual-pad wireless smartphone charger makes keeping devices topped up easy. 

In terms of safety, the Santa Fe comes standard with adaptive cruise control, lane following assist, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear occupant alert, autonomous emergency braking, and 360-degree view monitor, among others. 

For its powertrain, the aforementioned variant of the Santa Fe uses a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-4 engine paired with a lithium-ion battery and a permanent synchronous motor. The said hybrid system can produce a combined output of 231 horsepower (hp) and 367 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque.

Gear shifting for the hybrid Santa Fe is done through a six-speed automatic gearbox. Besides its peppy powertrain, the Santa Fe HEV features the South Korean brand’s e-Dynamic drive system, which uses the vehicle's electric motor to ensure stability and optimal traction. 

The Hyundai Santa Fe HEV is priced at P3.33 million. 

So what are the Santa Fe HEV’s rivals in the Philippine market? Let’s find out. 

Mazda CX-90 Hybrid

Another hybrid-powered three-row crossover rivalling the Santa Fe HEV is the Mazda CX-90 HEV. 

The CX-90 HEV's engine is a 3.2-liter engine combined with a 48-volt hybrid system. Together, the powertrain can produce 280 hp and 450 Nm of torque. It also uses an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. 

Style-wise, the CX-90 has a slick exterior equipped with full LED lighting. Its smooth sides don’t get many character lines, but most of its body has minute amounts of chrome trim. 

Inside, the CX-90 gets a plush three-row seating arrangement along with a well-equipped dashboard. On the aforementioned part of the vehicle is a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, 10.4-inch heads-up display, and a 12.3-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Other interior features of the CX-90 HEV include a 12-piece Bost sound system, a wireless charging pad, second-row captain seats, and a dual-zone climate control system, among others. 

Safety aboard the hybrid trim of the CX-90 is handled by an array of advanced driver-assist features (ADAS), such as blind-spot monitoring, driver attention alert, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, high beam control, and lane departure warning. 

Pricing for the Mazda CX-90 HEV is set at P3.78 million. 

Honda CR-V RS eHEV

Honda’s entry into the mid-size hybrid segment, meanwhile, is the CR-V RS eHEV. 

In terms of appearance, the hybrid version of the CR-V leans towards a sportier look thanks to its array of RS-specific parts. Otherwise, it boasts a pair of LED exterior lighting fixtures, blacked-out exterior pieces, rain-sensing wipers, a power tailgate, and a panoramic sunroof. 

Inside, the CR-V RS eHEV has a two-row arrangement with enough space for up to five occupants. It's second is a bench-type seat and most of the vehicle's cabin are clad in soft-touch surfaces. 

Everyone inside the Honda crossover is kept cool by a dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system. It is also kitted out with a wireless smartphone charger, a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, and a nine-inch infotainment screen.

The aforementioned infotainment display supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and is likewise equipped with a 12-piece Bose sound system. 

For safety, the Honda hybrid crossover is equipped with adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, high beam control, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, road departure mitigation, and a lead car departure notification system. 

The CR-V RS eHEV's powerplant is a 2.0-liter gasoline engine paired with an electronic continuously variable transmission. The engine, together with an electric motor, produces 181 hp and 335 Nm of torque. 

Pricing for the Honda CR-V RS eHEV is set at P2.59 million. 

Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Plug-in Hybrid

Next up on the list of mid-size hybrid crossovers is the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV). 

At the most, the aforementioned Tiggo 8 Pro trim’s turbocharged 1.5-liter hybrid system can put out 315 hp and 545 Nm of torque. It uses a dedicated hybrid transmission, and it has a pure-electric driving range of 75 kilometers. Plus, Chery says charging the vehicle’s battery to full only takes three hours. 

Where styling is concerned, the said model assumes the typical look and stance of a modern crossover. It has a wide grille, attractive-looking LED lighting elements, and black plastic claddings. 

It also comes with plenty of exterior driving amenities, such as a pair of power-folding side mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, and a power tailgate. 

Maintaining a cool and comfortable interior for the Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV is a dual-zone automatic climate control system. Occupants also get to use leather-clad seats, while the driver is provided with a 12.3-inch high-definition digital gauge cluster. 

Paired to the said digital driver’s display is a similarly sized center console infotainment system equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has a wireless mobile phone charger and a set of eight Sony speakers. 

For safety, the Chery model received several ADAS features, including autonomous emergency braking, front collision warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, lane departure warning, and rear-cross traffic assist, among others. 

In the Philippines, the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV is priced at P2.698 million. 

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