2022 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer was offered in 2LT, 3LT, Premier, and RS trim levels. Most trims came with a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the option of front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The RS trim, however, included a V6 engine and a more sophisticated twin-clutch AWD system for better performance on low-traction surfaces. The Blazer saw minimal changes for 2022, with the Premier trim receiving revised bumper and bodyside trim and redesigned wheels. New packages like the Enhanced Convenience Package and Trailering Package were introduced, and two-tone paint options became available for the LT and RS trims. Pricing ranged from $33,400 to $41,100, excluding a $1,195 destination charge. Our test vehicle, a Blazer RS with optional AWD and several packages, totaled $49,000.

The Blazer's design drew inspiration from the Camaro, featuring a sporty and appealing look, especially with 20-inch wheels. However, the black trim on the rear bumper gave it an unfinished appearance. Inside, the Camaro influence continued with an 8-inch touchscreen display, large round air vents, and a strip of climate buttons. While the interior had plenty of hard plastic, the red interior accents in the RS trim added a touch of sophistication. The test vehicle's color scheme, with Cherry Red Tintcoat exterior and matching red interior accents, was particularly striking.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe continued with the same look and feel as the 2022 model, featuring a conservative yet attractive exterior design. The five-passenger SUV was available in SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy trims, with FWD standard and AWD optional. Our test vehicle was a top-of-the-line Calligraphy AWD trim in Stormy Sea paint with a black-on-black interior, priced at $45,845, including destination charges.

The Santa Fe's exterior was characterized by its wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights. Inside, the Calligraphy trim featured a high-quality black leather interior, though it was somewhat dark and monotone. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable and attractive, with heated and cooled front seats and heated second-row seats. The cabin offered a high level of comfort and convenience, with features like dual-zone climate control, a hands-free smart liftgate, and a panoramic sunroof. However, the wide center console limited driver leg and hip space, and the driver's seat height adjustment pushed the driver closer to the steering wheel.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer came with a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Blazer RS featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, also mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 engine was available on the 3LT and Premier trims but only the RS had the dual-clutch AWD system. The V6 engine could tow up to 4,500 pounds, 1,000 pounds more than the base engine. The Blazer RS offered a firm and sporty driving experience, though the V6 engine was loud and unrefined. The SUV's handling was decent, but the suspension and transmission performance were less satisfying on winding roads. The Blazer RS averaged 20.5 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA rating of 21 mpg.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a 2.5-liter engine in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions. The SE, SEL, and XRT trims had a naturally aspirated engine with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Limited and Calligraphy trims featured a turbocharged engine with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine provided immediate acceleration and passing power, with no discernible turbo lag. The Santa Fe's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering. The turbocharged engine's performance was impressive, and the dual-clutch transmission operated smoothly without low-gear clunkiness. The Santa Fe's towing capacity was 2,000 pounds for the non-turbo version and 3,500 pounds for the turbo version, with trailer brakes required for maximum capacity.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer offered a reasonably comfortable and useful interior. The RS test vehicle featured black leather upholstery with red perforations, power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel with heating. The front seats were flat and accommodating but lacked thigh support. The Blazer had dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air vents, and USB ports. The rear seat was spacious and could slide forward and back to adjust cargo or passenger space. The Blazer's storage space included a large glove compartment, a bin under the center armrest, and door panel shelves. The cargo area measured 30.5 cubic feet, expanding to 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, which was small for a midsize SUV.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe benefited from not having a third row, providing more rear-seat legroom and cargo space. The rear seat offered 41.7 inches of legroom, and the cargo area measured 36.4 cubic feet, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The Santa Fe's interior featured comfortable seats, with the SEL and higher trims offering an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats. The Limited trim added ventilated front seats, a power passenger seat, heated rear seats, and a hands-free smart liftgate. The Calligraphy trim included a head-up display, premium trim, a microfiber headliner, and ambient lighting. The panoramic sunroof and head-up display were notable features, though the driver's seat height adjustment and wide center console were minor drawbacks.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's infotainment system was user-friendly, with an 8-inch touchscreen display, physical controls for volume and tuning, and easy-to-navigate menus. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with an upgraded system offering satellite radio, connected navigation, and enhanced voice recognition. The Blazer also had wireless smartphone charging, an 8-speaker Bose audio system, rear parking sensors, a high-resolution reversing camera, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror. The infotainment system was easy to use, and the voice recognition and navigation systems were fast and accurate.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. The base SE trim had an 8-inch display audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, voice recognition, wireless device charging, and Bluelink connected services. The Limited and Calligraphy trims included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was customizable and user-friendly, though the voice recognition system had mixed results. The Santa Fe also had advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and more.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional safety features included a rear-seat reminder system, Teen Driver technology, a vibrating Safety Alert Seat, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and LED headlights. The Blazer's safety features worked well, and the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance were effective. However, the Blazer did not receive a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS due to its headlights.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction-turning detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, driver monitoring, a safe-exit system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Highway Driving Assist was standard on SEL and above trims. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, with high ratings in all crashworthiness tests and better headlights in higher trims.