Real-World Test: Petrol vs Diesel vs Hybrid, Surprising Results! (Highway & Urban Driving)

Back-to-back comparison on the same route of three Hyundai Santa Fe SUVs: one with the petrol V6, one with turbo diesel and one with turbo hybrid. Which saves the most money?

Will you save money by spending more on a hybrid SUV over a traditional petrol engine or a diesel? The answer will depend on how much the upgrade costs at the time of purchase.

For today’s example, we take three examples of the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV on the same driving loop experiencing urban and highway driving, with three engines:
Petrol V6
Diesel four-cylinder for $3500 more than the V6
Hybrid petrol for $6500 more than the V6

The results may surprise you.

Time codes:
0:00 - Hybrids are popular
0:07 - Santa Fe engine prices
0:28 - Rules of the test
1:27 - Test route
1:58 - Scientific data
2:10 - Highway driving
3:30 - Claimed fuel economy
5:30 - Performance testing
5:47 - Chatter
6:20 - Urban driving
7:07 - Results: highway fuel economy
7:47 - Results: urban fuel economy
8:35 - Our independence
8:52 - Petrol V6 still impressive
9:10 - Diesel good for highway driving
9:30 - Hybrid is best to drive
9:45 - How long until break even?
10:20 - Future CO2 emissions taxes?
10:45 - Official CO2 ratings
11:28 - Feedback requested

As always, we don’t accept advertising from car manufacturers, and we’re powered by Budget Direct.

Chasing Cars is Australia's most independent source of new car reviews, car industry news, comparisons and car guides. We give you a critical look at every new car you should consider!

[chasingcars]

Some interesting results, I'm sure you'll agree! Which engine would you choose?
(P.S.: unlike mobile phones, it's lawful to use a two-way radio while driving in our jurisdiction.)

[bradnewman]

A comparison of servicing costs over the warranty period for each variant also factors into the running cost and would be helpful in the comparison.

[leonpmuyt]

I have a Niro hybrid, and I can say that driving a hybrid requires a different style of driving and you learn how to eke the most out of the EV mode and how to trigger it. For example, you get it up to speed, set the cruise control, tap the brake, hit resume, voila, ev mode until you climb to steep of a hill for you to continue without the petrol assistance. If you accelerate at a gradual pace, you can do all urban speeds 90% or more on battery. Most efficient motorway speed, is about 90kph. Not 110, unless you are going on a slight downhill, where it is eve all the way and regenerating at the same time.

Great test though guys. Two thumbs up.

[acde]

It is worth to take note that these three models have different transmissions, and that makes a lot of difference.

[andyz]

To eliminate the driver factor, each of you should take turns to drive 3 cars. Good job 👏

[katydorjee]

This is what I love about your reviews, making more like real life scenarios with multiple cars. Thank you

[paulysewad]

One of the best reviews & comparison line ups I have seen in a few years, well done.

[pd]

I have a 2022 diesel Santa Fe and the main reason that I bought it is because I love the way it drives. The hybrid was not available at the time of purchase. I drive a mainly freeway 200km round trip to Melbourne about once a fortnight when I often see average 5.3litres per 100km on the trip computer. The car is also used for usual domestic purposes i.e. short trips <10kms. I averaged 7.1 l/100km over the first 10, 000 kms and I am happy with that.All in all it's great car, very under rated in my view. Loved the review especially the comments ref. emissions tax which will undoubtedly come in some shape or form. This country lags well behind others in this regard as it does with roadworthiness especially as our cars are on the road much longer than those in Northern Europe.

[dodgycam]

My 2022 Santa Fe Highlander Diesel has just clocked up 31k with a mix of 50/50, City/Highway driving and over that distance I'm averaging 6.66 l/100km calculated at the pump. Love the torque of the diesel engine!

[Druze_Tito]

WOW, the video quality is on another level. Great job!

[reyshify]

Exceptional review. I can’t recall a review quite like this in comparing apples for apples. Fantastic job to the team. And also a fellow Budget direct customer insuring my 2014 v6 Jeep grand Cherokee 😅

[fatmanchew]

I'd never buy a brand new hybrid because the depreciation is too much but I found a 2021 Toyota Venza hybrid for almost half the price ($22k USD) of a brand new 2022 Venza ($40k) and I am glad I purchased it. Im able to get 40-50 MPG when I drive vs 23-27 on my wife's Tuscon. Also having the AWD standard and extra torque makes the ride so much more fun to drive.

[itsame]

Excellent video with appreciated high resolution graphics. Just like being there! The testing was well covered and you introduced a topic I had not considered being the tax on CO2 emisions. Thanks from NZ

[WhoWeAre]

Great video! More real world tests like these are needed to substantiate car manufacturer’s claims of fuel economy/efficiency.

[MrMichaelBCurtis]

One other important issue is the battery replacement, the hybrid taking an average 6 years to break even gets pushed out further when you have to replace batteries, while it might be 10 years out, it is a significant issue, then also what is the period most people keep cars, if you keep a car for 5 years, you will never break even on a hybrid, I know i have done the math and 6 years is actually one of the better ranges of time, it is worse for some other cars. Lastly, your 6k difference might be higher. When the car is out the door after tax and fees and dealer premiums, it might be much more than a 6k difference, that might be worth considering. Some hybrids have a 5k premium due to the lack of availability, in this case that would push the break even to 11 years.

[Neilbirkett]

What you guys didn’t cover and you should have, is the hybrid requires more expensive servicing costs. It requires servicing every 10000kms and the services are more expensive than the others. We’re talking $2k more servicing costs over the course of 75000kms

[peterachilles]

Great video but I think you missed "Service cost and Resale Value". I think the diesel might come up as the most economical option as they usually hold their value better as they get older.

[darthmelbius]

I can confirm that the Santa Fe Hybrid consumes 6.9l/100kms in mixed driving. Mine now has 2700kms on the clock and I've not reset the trip counter from day one to see the consumption over extended time. Yes urban and some highway gives the best figures. Long road trips on highways and the consumption does go up as the EV mode is not strong enough to maintain 100km/h. It will happily coast along on EV at 80km/h.

[hedydd]

I’ve the Kia Sorento version in AWD diesel eight speed DCT form and my figures really impress me by being with a whisker of my CRV twin turbo 1.6 150hp AWD nine speed auto. My Sorento’s average over 7000 miles is 7.34 l/100kms and I often get 6.73 on longer easy journeys. To put it into perspective that is compared to the 9.5l/100kms that I used to get from a 1977 Ford Fiesta 1.3S with 66hp which weighed around 850kgs or nearly a third of the Hyundai/Kia models we are currently concerned with. No air-con, no safety equipment, no power anything.
The main benefit I find with the diesel is that I can fill up from my own home fuel station at any time that is convenient to me and that I get the best part of 1000kms range between refills if driven long distance at the legal speed limits.

[angelitosimon]

Best comparison video I have seen in YouTube, great work guys!