What is the best year for a Hyundai Santa Fe?

Avoid 2013-2014 (604 and 492 complaints) and especially 2017 (929 complaints), which coincides with the Theta II engine recall era. The 2021 Santa Fe (158 complaints, 10/10 safety, 5 severe) is the strongest mature used pick. The current generation is consistent: 2024 (121, 8/10, 11 severe) and 2025 (112, 8/10, 6 severe) are solid options for buyers wanting newer.

How much does Hyundai Santa Fe insurance cost?

Santa Fe insurance averages about $2,430/year — roughly $203/month.

Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or Toyota RAV4 cheaper to maintain?

The RAV4 is cheaper to maintain by $86/year — $429 versus $515 for the Santa Fe. Note the RAV4 is a compact SUV while the Santa Fe is a midsize, so they serve somewhat different buyers. Both carry the same reliability score and major repair probability (10%); the Santa Fe has a slightly lower repair frequency (24% vs. 26%). The cost gap is real, but so is the size difference.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Hyundai Santa Fe?

Major repair probability of 10% and repair frequency of 24% are both well below midsize segment averages. Extended warranty isn't needed for 2021 and newer. For used models in the 2013-2014 and 2017 range, the documented engine recall history makes coverage worth taking seriously.

Is the Honda CR-V expensive to maintain?

The CR-V averages $407/year in maintenance costs — $114 below the compact segment average of $521. Its 9/10 reliability score and 9% major repair probability are both better than the class averages of 8 and 11% respectively. Repair frequency of 30% matches the segment average, but the combination of low cost per visit and a below-average major-repair risk makes it the strongest long-term ownership value in the compact class.

What is the best year for a Honda CR-V?

The 2022 CR-V is the strongest used buy. It sits at the mature end of the fifth generation — after Honda resolved the early oil dilution complaints that plagued 2017–2019 models — with just 216 complaints and only 8 severe issues on record. The 2020–2022 range is generally clean. Strongly avoid the 2017–2018 model years; they generated over 1,700 and 2,000 complaints respectively, driven by a well-documented 1.5T engine oil dilution problem.

How much does Honda CR-V insurance cost?

The CR-V averages about $1,951/year to insure — roughly $163/month. That's among the lower rates in the compact SUV class, reflecting its strong safety scores and moderate repair costs. Actual rates vary by trim, model year, and driver profile, but the CR-V is consistently a favorable quote for buyers prioritizing low total cost of ownership.

Is the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 cheaper to maintain?

The CR-V and RAV4 are nearly identical in maintenance cost — $407/year versus $429/year — a difference of about $22 annually. Over five years that's roughly $110, which is negligible. The CR-V holds a slight reliability edge (9 vs. 8) and a lower major repair probability (9% vs. 10%), but both are among the most cost-efficient compact SUVs you can buy.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Honda CR-V?

For most buyers, no. The CR-V's 9% major repair probability is below the compact class average, and its 9/10 reliability score means you're statistically unlikely to need expensive unscheduled repairs. The exception: if you're buying a used 2017–2019 model, coverage is worth taking seriously given the documented engine issues from that generation. For 2020 and newer, self-insuring is the smarter financial move.

Hyundai Santa Fe vs Honda CR-V

Two midsize SUVs compared on the numbers that matter — maintenance cost, reliability, and insurance.

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Hyundai Santa Fe if its specific features or size suit your needs better.

Buy the Honda CR-V — lower 5-year cost and better reliability.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Hyundai Santa Fe	Honda CR-V
Annual maintenance	$515	$407winner
5-year total cost	$2,575	$2,035winner
Reliability score	8 / 10	9 / 10winner
Major repair risk (5yr)	10%	9%winner
Cargo space	—	76.5 cu ft
Starting price (new)	$35,050	$33,500winner
Best years to buy	2011, 2018	2013, 2014, 2015

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Hyundai Santa Fe	Honda CR-V
RepairPal score	8 / 10	9 / 10winner
NHTSA complaints / 100k	251.5	186winner
Years to avoid	2017, 2019, 2023	2017, 2018, 2019
Value retained · 3 yr	72.5%	86.7%winner
Value retained · 5 yr	54.4%	71.1%winner
Value retained · 7 yr	42%	58%winner

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Hyundai Santa Fe	Honda CR-V
Engine	45.2%	19.3%winner
Electrical	5.1%winner	8.7%
ADAS	8.8%winner	16.6%
Brakes	5.7%	4.0%winner
Steering	4.5%winner	11.6%
Fuel system	2.0%winner	8.1%
Tires/Wheels	2.3%	2.0%winner
Glass/Windows	2.9%winner	3.4%
Airbags	2.1%winner	8.1%
Lighting	1.2%	—winner
Seatbelt	—winner	1.0%

One major repair on either model can run $1,500–4,000. A warranty caps your exposure, especially on known problem years.

// INSURANCE

Which is cheaper to insure?

	Hyundai Santa Fe	Honda CR-V
Avg annual premium	$2,430	$1,951winner

// FULL MODEL PAGES

GAS

Hyundai Santa Fe

$515/yr maint · 8 reliability

Full model page

GAS

Honda CR-V

$407/yr maint · 9 reliability

Full model page

// FAQ

Common questions

The Santa Fe averages $515/year in maintenance — $58 below the midsize segment average of $573. Repair frequency of 24% is well below the class average of 40%. Major repair probability of 10% is well below the 13% norm. Reliability score of 8 is above the midsize average of 7. It outperforms the segment average on every ownership-cost metric.

How we calculated this. Maintenance costs and reliability scores from RepairPal. Complaints and recalls from NHTSA. Fuel economy from the EPA. Insurance averages from CarEdge. Pricing from KBB. Depreciation from iSeeCars. Full methodology →