2022 Porsche Macan vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2022 Porsche Macan retained much of its original design from its 2015 debut, despite undergoing several updates over the years. The latest model featured a refreshed exterior with larger standard wheels and a new centre console with haptic touch controls, enhancing both its aesthetic appeal and functionality. The Macan lineup in Canada included four models: the base Macan, Macan T, Macan S, and Macan GTS, with the Macan S adopting the previous GTS model’s twin-turbo V6 engine. Our test vehicle, a Macan S, showcased a sophisticated Volcano Gray exterior with 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, embodying Porsche's tradition of combining elegance with performance. Inside, the Macan's cabin exuded a sporty and upscale vibe, highlighted by red leather, gloss black trim, and silver metallic accents, drawing inspiration from other Porsche models.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's recent models. Despite its understated appearance, the Santa Fe remained an attractive SUV, with its wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights providing a distinctive look. The Canadian market offered the Santa Fe in four trims: Preferred, Urban, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy, all equipped with standard all-wheel drive. Our test vehicle, an Ultimate Calligraphy trim, featured a Stormy Sea paint finish and a black interior with Nappa leather seats, offering a high-quality yet somewhat monotone cabin experience. The Santa Fe's interior boasted comfort and convenience features such as heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, and a panoramic sunroof, enhancing its appeal as a family-friendly SUV.

The 2022 Porsche Macan offered a range of powertrains, with the base Macan and Macan T featuring a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 261 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The Macan GTS inherited the 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 from the previous Macan Turbo, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Our Macan S test vehicle was equipped with a twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6 engine, generating 375 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to accelerate to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package. All Macans came with a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and a fully variable all-wheel-drive system. The Macan S also featured larger 20-inch wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management, and optional performance upgrades, providing an exhilarating driving experience with precise handling and impressive stability.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque in the Preferred trim, and a turbocharged version producing 281 hp and 311 lb-ft in the Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims. The turbocharged engine was paired with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission, providing brisk acceleration and smooth power delivery. The Santa Fe featured a drive-mode selector with Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience to their preferences. While the turbocharged Santa Fe offered a significant performance boost over the non-turbo version, it maintained a smooth and comfortable ride, with minimal body lean during cornering. The Santa Fe's towing capacity ranged from 907 kg for the non-turbo version to 1,587 kg for the turbo model, making it a versatile choice for families.

The 2022 Porsche Macan provided a comfortable experience for the driver and front-seat passenger, with optional 14-way power-adjustable front seats offering heating and ventilation. However, the rear seats were cramped, especially for taller passengers, though they were easy to access and offered decent comfort. The Macan's redesigned centre console featured haptic touch controls, which, while modern, required drivers to look away from the road to operate. Cargo space was limited, with 488 litres available behind the rear seats, expandable to 1,503 litres with the rear seats folded down.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in interior space and comfort, offering generous rear-seat legroom of 1,060 millimetres and a competitive cargo capacity of 1,032 litres behind the second row. Folding down the rear seats expanded the cargo space to 2,041 litres, with additional underfloor storage available. The Santa Fe's interior featured standard dual-zone climate control, rear window sunshades, and a hands-free smart liftgate on higher trims. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included premium features such as a head-up display, ambient lighting, and Remote Smart Parking Assist, enhancing its appeal as a family-friendly SUV.

The 2022 Porsche Macan was equipped with a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, known as Porsche Communication Management (PCM). This system included wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and connected services. While the user experience was generally intuitive, the voice recognition system was less reliable compared to competitors. The Macan offered a standard 10-speaker sound system, with optional upgrades to a Bose or Burmester audio system.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, featuring a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system on higher trims. The Santa Fe's infotainment system offered extensive customization options, though voice recognition capabilities were mixed. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless device charging, and advanced driver assistance systems, providing a comprehensive technology package for drivers.

The 2022 Porsche Macan came standard with lane-departure warning and a reversing camera, with optional safety features including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. While these systems performed as expected, the Macan lacked more advanced driving assistance technologies. The Macan also offered optional parking assistance features, such as a surround-view camera and Park Assist system.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured Highway Driving Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe received top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, earning a five-star overall rating and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation, respectively.