2022 Subaru Forester vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2022 Subaru Forester was available in several trims, including the base, Convenience, Touring, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Premier. It started at an MSRP of $29,495, with the Premier trim reaching $40,595, plus a $1,800 destination charge. The Forester Wilderness, new for 2022, featured a rugged design with white paint and a dark grey interior with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, priced at $38,995, including destination. The Wilderness trim added a suspension lift and higher ride height, giving it 22.9 centimetres of ground clearance. However, the oversized cladding and matte-black hood decal were not universally appealing. Inside, the Forester emphasized functionality with a mix of hard plastic and soft surfaces, creating a cabin that felt well-constructed but somewhat dated. The 8-inch Starlink infotainment system was user-friendly, though the presence of three display screens was less than ideal.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe maintained a conservative yet attractive exterior design, with a wide upper and lower grille and thin LED headlights as distinctive elements. Available in four trims in Canada—Preferred, Urban, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy—the Santa Fe offered standard all-wheel drive. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, tested in the U.S., featured Stormy Sea paint and a black interior with Nappa leather seats. The cabin was high-quality but dark, with beige or grey interiors available for contrast. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included heated and cooled front seats, heated second-row seats, and a range of comfort features. The Santa Fe's interior was spacious, with a panoramic sunroof and a head-up display, though the wide centre console slightly reduced driver leg space.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive, with the Wilderness model offering a 25% increase in initial torque supply. This allowed the Wilderness to double its towing capacity to 1,360 kilograms. The Forester's fuel consumption was rated at 9.0 litres per 100 kilometres, with the test drive averaging 9.1 L/100 km. The Forester excelled in various driving environments, including off-road conditions, thanks to its dual-function X-Mode system and re-tuned suspension. However, the lack of a turbocharger limited its engine power, especially at higher altitudes.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a choice between a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre engine with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged version with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine, available in the Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, provided immediate acceleration and passing power, with no discernible turbo lag. The Santa Fe featured a drive-mode selector with Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes, and the turbocharged version could tow up to 1,587 kilograms. The test drive revealed smooth handling and brisk acceleration, with no low-speed clunkiness from the dual-clutch transmission. However, the Santa Fe was not tested off-road or for towing during the evaluation.

The 2022 Subaru Forester prioritized functionality, with easy entry and exit due to tall seating hip points. The StarTex upholstery was water-resistant, and the Wilderness trim included all-weather floor mats and a rubber cargo mat. The Forester's roof rails accommodated a dynamic load of 100 kilograms and a static load of 362 kilograms, suitable for a three-person roof tent. The interior offered high comfort levels, with excellent visibility and rear air conditioning vents. Cargo space measured 818 litres without the panoramic sunroof and 762 litres with it, expanding to 2,101 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, provided ample rear-seat legroom of 1,060 millimetres and a competitive cargo space of 1,032 litres behind the second row. Folding the second row increased storage to 2,041 litres, with an underfloor storage compartment available. The Santa Fe's interior featured an eight-way power driver's seat, dual-zone climate control, and a hands-free smart liftgate in higher trims. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included a panoramic sunroof, head-up display, and Remote Smart Parking Assist. However, the driver's seat height adjustment could push the driver uncomfortably close to the steering wheel, and the wide centre console slightly reduced leg space.

The 2022 Subaru Forester came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and Starlink connected services. Higher trims featured an 8-inch screen with navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system. The Wilderness trim included a 180-degree forward-view camera for off-roading. The navigation system was helpful, though a breadcrumb function would have been beneficial for off-road navigation.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in technology, with a 4.2-inch colour LCD 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. Wireless device charging and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system were available in higher trims. The infotainment system was customizable, though voice recognition had mixed results, particularly in remote locations.

The 2022 Subaru Forester introduced the EyeSight 4.0 safety system, offering improved accuracy and smoother operation. It included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. The Forester also featured a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It earned a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and was expected to retain its "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included Highway Driving Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, with high marks in all crashworthiness tests.