Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota Highlander
matthewhwolf
Member Posts: 2
Hello,
I'm interested in buying a used year 2010 - 2012 mid-sized SUV and I'm trying to decide between a Hyundai Santa Fe and a Toyota Highlander. I'm looking for it to have around 20K - 30K miles or so. I've noticed that the Highlander is about $5k more with this criteria ($25k vs $20k).
V6 vs V4 doesn't bother me so much. In fact I'm fine with a 4 cylinder because it gets the better gas mileage. I also don't care about a 3rd row.
My question is really about reliability. I currently have a 2003 Toyota Camry and the thing drives great and is a very reliable car. I'm worried about the Santa Fe not being as reliable as the Highlander. Also, if there is a problem with the car, is one cheaper to repair than the other?
Anyone have feedback on choosing between these models or perhaps can recommend a similar vehicle in this price range?
Thank you.
Comments
You sure see a lot of Santa Fe's around so people do like them. But as you've discovered, Toyota still enjoys a better reputation for reliability and commands a premium resale price for that rep.
The wrinkle is that most newer cars these days are pretty reliable, so you may wind up getting a better deal overall with the Hyundai. I don't know if parts or labor would be any cheaper with one vs. the other.
Getting service records would be a plus, and having your own mechanic do a pre-purchase inspection on any used car is cheap insurance.
Thanks Steve for the feedback.