2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Toyota Sequoia

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia, a continuation of its second generation, showcased a mature design that had remained largely unchanged since its last major overhaul in 2008. Its exterior maintained a classic appeal with a modestly sized grille, elegant wheel arches, and straight body lines, giving it a substantial presence. Despite its age, the Sequoia's interior was built with high-quality materials, ensuring durability and longevity, although it appeared somewhat dated compared to modern SUVs. The Nightshade Special Edition model, based on the Limited trim, demonstrated Toyota's efforts to keep the Sequoia relevant.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a more conservative exterior design, maintaining the same look as the 2022 model. Available in four trim levels in Canada, the Santa Fe offered a stylish yet understated appearance, with distinctive wide grilles and thin LED headlights. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, tested in the U.S., featured a dark blue Stormy Sea paint and a black leather interior. While the cabin was high-quality, it was somewhat dark and monotone, with Nappa leather seats providing comfort and style. The Santa Fe's interior offered a range of features, including heated and cooled front seats and a spacious cabin, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a robust 5.7-litre i-Force V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, providing a reliable and durable powertrain. The Sequoia's truck-based construction allowed for a payload capacity of up to 608 kilograms and a towing capacity of 3,221 kilograms. Despite its hefty weight of around 2,721.5 kilograms, the Sequoia offered a smooth and stable ride, with excellent off-road capabilities thanks to its body-on-frame construction and independent double-wishbone suspension.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and a turbocharged version delivering 281 horsepower. The turbocharged engine, available in the Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, provided a significant performance boost, with quick acceleration and smooth power delivery. The Santa Fe featured a drive-mode selector with four customizable modes, enhancing its versatility. While the turbocharged model offered impressive towing capabilities of up to 1,587 kilograms, the non-turbo version could tow 907 kilograms. The Santa Fe's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean, and the dual-clutch transmission performed well without any clunkiness.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia prioritized passenger comfort, offering spacious seating across all three rows with ample headroom and legroom. It featured three-zone climate control, a power moonroof, and heated front seats as standard. The Sequoia's cargo space was generous, with 535 litres behind the third row, expandable to 1,886 litres with the third row folded, and a massive 3,401 litres with both the second and third rows down. The interior provided ample storage options, including a large centre console and door pockets.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, designed as a two-row SUV, offered generous rear-seat legroom of 1,060 millimetres and competitive cargo space of 1,032 litres behind the second row. Folding the second row expanded the cargo area to 2,041 litres, with additional underfloor storage. The Santa Fe's interior featured an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and dual-zone climate control. Higher trims included a hands-free smart liftgate, ventilated front seats, and a head-up display. The panoramic sunroof and advanced features like Remote Smart Parking Assist added to the Santa Fe's appeal, although some drivers might find the seating position and centre console slightly restrictive.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia's infotainment system felt outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch TFT driver information screen. While Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, the system lacked the sophistication of modern digital dashboards. The Sequoia offered a 14-speaker JBL premium audio system on higher trims, but its technology under the hood lagged behind competitors, lacking turbocharged or electrified powertrains. However, the Sequoia featured LED exterior lighting and standard safety technologies like a rear backup camera and parking sonar.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in technology, offering 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 digital instrument cluster varied by trim, with the larger 12.3-inch display providing versatility. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with customizable settings and voice recognition capabilities. While the voice-recognition system had some limitations, the Santa Fe's technology package was comprehensive, offering advanced features and connectivity options.

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia lacked crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, but it was equipped with a range of standard safety features. The Toyota Safety Sense P suite included pre-collision systems, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The Sequoia also featured a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and Toyota's STAR safety system, which included stability control, traction control, and anti-lock brakes. A full complement of airbags and safety features ensured passenger protection.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe received top safety ratings, earning a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation from IIHS. It came with a comprehensive suite of ADAS, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and a rear-seat reminder system. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured Highway Driving Assist, enhancing adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe's safety features provided peace of mind, with reminders and alerts contributing to overall safety.