The Nissan Pathfinder has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Santa Fe doesn't offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Pathfinder Platinum has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Santa Fe doesn't offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Pathfinder and the Santa Fe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Nissan Pathfinder is safer than the Hyundai Santa Fe:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Pathfinder is safer than the Hyundai Santa Fe:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Pathfinder is 1.9% to 3% less likely to roll over than the Santa Fe.

There are over 25 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Pathfinder's warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Pathfinder third among upper midsize SUVs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Santa Fe isn't in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Hyundai.

The Pathfinder's standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 7 more horsepower (284 vs. 277) than the Santa Fe's 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Pathfinder Rock Creek's standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 18 more horsepower (295 vs. 277) than the Santa Fe's 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine) is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe:

On the EPA test cycle the Pathfinder gets better mileage than the Santa Fe:

The Pathfinder has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it's removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Santa Fe doesn't offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Pathfinder, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Santa Fe.

For better stopping power the Pathfinder's brake rotors are larger than those on the Santa Fe:

The Pathfinder's standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Santa Fe are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Pathfinder has larger tires than the Santa Fe (255/60R18 vs. 235/60R18).

The Pathfinder has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle's integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Santa Fe doesn't offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Pathfinder's wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the Santa Fe (114.2 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pathfinder is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Santa Fe.

For greater off-road capability the Pathfinder has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe (7.1 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Pathfinder to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Pathfinder has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Santa Fe can only carry up to 7.

The Pathfinder has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear hip room, 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room, .1 inches more third row headroom, 4 inches more third row hip room and 4.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the Santa Fe.

The Pathfinder's cargo area provides more volume than the Santa Fe.

The Pathfinder's cargo area is larger than the Santa Fe's in almost every dimension:

A standard locking glovebox (which can't be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Pathfinder. The Santa Fe doesn't offer locking storage for small valuables.

Maximum trailer towing in the Hyundai Santa Fe is limited to 4500 pounds. The Pathfinder offers up to a 6000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Pathfinder's front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Santa Fe's standard passenger windows don't open or close automatically.

The Pathfinder's standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn't have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Santa Fe's standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Pathfinder has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won't have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Santa Fe SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy.

The Nissan Pathfinder has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the infotainment. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Hyundai charges extra for Homelink® on the Santa Fe.