2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Acura MDX

The 2022 Acura MDX was a pioneer in the three-row luxury crossover SUV category, offering a spacious interior that belied its compact exterior appearance. This new generation was built on a dedicated platform, distinct from the Honda Pilot, with enhanced proportions including a longer wheelbase, wider body, and increased dash-to-axle distance, which added to its elegant design. The MDX featured standard Jewel Eye LED headlights and larger wheels, contributing to a sportier and more modern exterior. Built in East Liberty, Ohio, the MDX showcased high craftsmanship and quality. Inside, the MDX's cabin was modernized with a layered dashboard, authentic materials like natural wood and real leather, and a unique gear selection system. The 12.3-inch infotainment screen, although not a touchscreen, was strategically placed for safety. The MDX offered a comfortable front row with a wide range of adjustments and a beefy steering wheel with redundant controls.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, in contrast, maintained a more conservative exterior styling compared to some of Hyundai's recent designs. Available in four trims in Canada, the Santa Fe featured a wide upper and lower grille and thin LED headlights, giving it a distinctive look. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, tested in the U.S., boasted a rich Stormy Sea paint and a black interior with Nappa leather seats. The cabin, while high-quality, was dark and monotone, with beige or grey interiors available for more visual contrast. The Santa Fe's seats were comfortable, with heated and cooled front seats standard in the Calligraphy trim. The SUV offered a smooth ride with minimal body lean during cornering, and the turbocharged engine provided brisk acceleration without undue noise. The Santa Fe's performance was commendable, rivaling other SUVs in its price range.

The 2022 Acura MDX was equipped with a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. It featured a new 10-speed automatic transmission and Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), standard in Canada. The SH-AWD system offered torque vectoring, enhancing cornering feel and control. The MDX's suspension was upgraded to a double-wishbone setup in the front and revised multi-link suspension in the rear, improving ride quality. The vehicle's overall stiffness and rigidity were enhanced, providing a solid ride feel. The MDX offered five drive modes, allowing drivers to tailor performance to their preferences. During test drives, the MDX impressed with its handling and performance, feeling closer to the benchmark Audi Q7.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre engine with 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged version with 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged engine, available in the Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, provided immediate acceleration and passing power, especially in Sport mode. The Santa Fe featured a drive-mode selector with four customizable modes and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The turbocharged Santa Fe offered a significant performance boost over the non-turbo version, with smooth handling and minimal body lean. The vehicle's towing capacity varied, with the turbo version capable of towing up to 1,587 kg with trailer brakes.

The 2022 Acura MDX, as a three-row SUV, offered versatile seating and cargo configurations. The first two rows provided comfortable seating, with the second row featuring a removable centre section and sliding capability to balance legroom. The third row was best suited for smaller passengers. The MDX offered between 461 and 512 litres of luggage space behind the third row, expandable to 2,690 litres with the second and third rows folded. The power tailgate featured a "Walk Away Close" function and hands-free access. Interior lighting was customizable with 27 themes, enhancing the cabin's ambiance.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered ample rear-seat legroom and cargo space. The rear seat provided 1,060 millimetres of legroom, and cargo space behind the second row was 1,032 litres, expandable to 2,041 litres with the seats folded. The Santa Fe featured an eight-way power driver's seat, dual-zone climate control, and a hands-free smart liftgate in the top trims. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included advanced features like Remote Smart Parking Assist and a head-up display. The panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting added to the vehicle's appeal, though some drivers found the seating position and centre console design slightly restrictive.

The 2022 Acura MDX offered advanced technology features, including the ELS Studio 3D Premium Audio System with 16 speakers and 710 watts of amplification in the A-Spec and Platinum Elite trims. The 12.3-inch infotainment system and Acura Precision Cockpit digital instrument panel were standard, along with Amazon Alexa integration, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Qi-compatible wireless charging. The MDX also featured a head-up display, CabinTalk interior PA system, and a WiFi hotspot.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system in the top trims. The digital instrument cluster varied by trim, with the larger 12.3-inch display in the Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims. The Santa Fe's infotainment system offered extensive customization options, though voice-recognition capabilities were mixed. Wireless device charging was available in the top trims.

The 2022 Acura MDX received a "Top Safety Pick +" rating from the IIHS, with top marks in every category. The vehicle featured a higher percentage of high-strength steel and an advanced safety structure. The front end was redesigned for pedestrian safety, and the low-speed braking control system enhanced safety in city driving. The AcuraWatch suite of safety features was standard, including collision mitigation emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and more.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe also received top safety ratings, with a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS. The Santa Fe featured a comprehensive suite of ADAS, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and more. The Highway Driving Assist system was standard on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, enhancing driving ease.