2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Volvo XC90

The 2022 Volvo XC90 represented a significant evolution from the brand's earlier boxy designs, maintaining its family-friendly and safety-oriented image while moving towards a more upscale, luxury class. After Volvo's acquisition by China's Zhejiang Geely Holding in 2010, the company developed new vehicle platforms, including the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) for the XC90, which debuted as a 2016 model. The 2022 XC90 featured a sleek and athletic profile, with a long roofline and pronounced wheel arches. Its design elements, such as the "Thor's Hammer" LED headlights, paid homage to its Swedish heritage. Inside, the XC90 boasted a "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury" aesthetic, with natural wood and metal trim, and options for Nappa leather or a tailored wool blend upholstery.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe's exterior styling was more conservative compared to some of Hyundai's recent designs, yet it remained an attractive SUV. The Santa Fe continued with the same look as the 2022 model, available in four trim levels in Canada, all with standard all-wheel drive. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, tested in the U.S., featured a distinctive wide grille and thin LED headlights. Inside, the Santa Fe's cabin was high-quality but dark in appearance, with options for beige or grey interiors to add visual contrast. The Nappa leather seats in the Calligraphy trim were comfortable and attractive, with standard heated and cooled front seats and heated second-row seats. The Santa Fe offered a spacious interior with ample rear-seat legroom and cargo space, thanks to its two-row configuration.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains: the T5 with a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine producing 250 horsepower, the T6 with a supercharged and turbocharged version delivering 316 hp, and the Recharge plug-in hybrid with a combined 455 hp. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The XC90's driving experience was smooth and agile, with minimal body roll and spirited acceleration, especially in the Recharge Inscription extended range model. Fuel efficiency varied, with the T5 achieving 10.1 L/100 km combined, the T6 at 10.8 L/100 km, and the Recharge offering an 8.8 L/100 km combined rating in hybrid mode.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-litre engine, available in naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions. The Preferred trim's engine produced 191 hp, while the turbocharged engine in the Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims delivered 281 hp. The turbocharged Santa Fe offered brisk acceleration with no discernible turbo lag, and its handling was smooth with minimal body lean. The Santa Fe's towing capacity varied, with the turbo version capable of towing up to 1,587 kg. The vehicle's drive-mode selector and paddle shifters added a touch of sportiness to the driving experience.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered six- and seven-passenger configurations, with easy access to the third row. However, the third row was best suited for children due to limited legroom. The XC90 provided up to 1,855 litres of cargo space with the second and third rows folded, and it could tow up to 2,250 kg. The interior was spacious and comfortable, with ample storage and a panoramic moonroof. The climate control system performed well, even in extreme weather conditions, and the vehicle was equipped with features like heated seats and a heated steering wheel.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered generous rear-seat legroom and cargo space, with 1,032 litres behind the second row and 2,041 litres with the seats folded. The Santa Fe's interior featured standard dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a hands-free smart liftgate in higher trims. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included advanced features like Remote Smart Parking Assist and a head-up display. The panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting added to the vehicle's appeal, though some drivers might find the seating position and centre console design slightly restrictive.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. While the system offered intuitive smartphone-like gestures, it was occasionally slow to respond. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, and the Advanced package included a head-up display and a 360-degree camera system. The XC90 also came with a Harman-Kardon audio system and multiple USB ports for device charging.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in technology, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, navigation, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with customizable settings and voice recognition capabilities. However, the voice-recognition system had mixed results, particularly in noisy environments.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 was renowned for its safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and Pilot Assist. The XC90 received top safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA, earning the Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe also offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, such as forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included Highway Driving Assist for enhanced driving ease. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from IIHS, with high marks in crashworthiness tests.