2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold statement with its imposing size and distinctive design elements. Its massive grille, LED daytime running lights, and taillights were scaled to match its grand proportions, reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. The front end, with its tall hood and locomotive-like appearance, set it apart from other GM full-size SUVs. The Escalade offered different styling cues for its "sport" and "luxury" models, with the former featuring darkened trim and a mesh grille. Despite sharing its body-on-frame architecture with other GM SUVs and trucks, the Escalade maintained its luxury appeal, although its interior design lacked a cohesive theme. While it boasted leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof, some materials appeared less premium, with noticeable plastic elements.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's recent models. While not as striking, it remained an attractive SUV, with its wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights providing a unique look. The Santa Fe was available in four trims in Canada, all featuring standard all-wheel drive. Our test vehicle, the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, showcased a dark blue Stormy Sea paint and a black interior with Nappa leather seats. The cabin, though high-quality, was dark and monotone, prompting a recommendation for a beige or grey interior for visual contrast. The Santa Fe's seats were comfortable, with heated and cooled front seats standard in the Calligraphy trim, and the second row also featuring seat heaters.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrain options, both shared with other GM SUVs and trucks. The standard 6.2-litre gasoline V8 delivered 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, while the optional Duramax 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six diesel engine produced 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel-drive in Canada. The diesel engine, despite its lower horsepower, provided smooth power delivery and a lower torque peak, making it effective for city driving. However, the Escalade's ride was unsettled, with its body-on-frame construction and 22-inch wheels contributing to a less luxurious experience compared to unibody SUVs.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-litre engine, available in naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions. The Preferred trim's naturally aspirated engine produced 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, while the turbocharged engine in the Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims offered 281 hp and 311 pound-feet. The turbocharged engine provided immediate acceleration and passing power, with no noticeable turbo lag. The Santa Fe's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering. The turbocharged version could tow up to 1,587 kg, while the non-turbo version had a towing capacity of 907 kg. The Santa Fe's performance, ride, and handling were commendable for its price point.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with other GM full-size SUVs, resulting in a spacious cabin. It offered the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs, with second-row captain’s chairs and a power split-folding third-row bench seat as standard. The Escalade excelled in cargo space, offering 722 litres with all seats in place, 2,064 litres with the third-row seats folded, and 3,426 litres with all rear seats folded. However, the raised centre console limited storage space, and the front seats lacked the luxury feel expected in a high-end vehicle.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, provided ample rear-seat legroom and cargo space. It offered 1,060 millimetres of rear-seat legroom and 1,032 litres of cargo space behind the second row. Folding the second row increased storage space to 2,041 litres. The Santa Fe's seats were comfortable, with an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats as standard. Higher trims included features like a hands-free smart liftgate, ventilated front seats, and a head-up display. The panoramic sunroof and head-up display were notable features, though the wide centre console slightly reduced driver leg and hip space.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade featured a 38-inch curved OLED display, comprising three screens: a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch screen for trip-computer functions. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot. The display integrated well with the dashboard, and the touchscreen's icons were arranged for functionality. However, the radio station carousel format was awkward to use while driving, and the rotary controller felt like an afterthought. The Escalade's OLED screens provided excellent resolution for the 360-degree camera system, and it offered advanced tech features like night vision and an augmented-reality navigation system.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch colour LCD multi-information display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. All trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clearly marked icons and extensive customization options. Voice-recognition capabilities were mixed, with some difficulty in recognizing commands for music and temperature changes. However, the system efficiently handled navigation-related tasks.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came with standard driver-assistance technology, including cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Super Cruise, a sophisticated driver-assist system, was available as an option, offering hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways. However, safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available for this model year.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Highway Driving Assist was standard on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, enhancing adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, with high marks in crashworthiness tests.