2023 Genesis GV80 vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Genesis GV80 presented a sophisticated and graceful exterior with its quad-lamp headlights and bold grille, embodying a stately presence at over 16 feet long. Standard 19-inch wheels were available, but the Prestige trim featured 22-inch alloy wheels, enhancing its elegant appearance. The rear design mirrored the front with four-part taillamps above dual exhausts, and the hands-free liftgate maintained a boxy shape, contributing to its elegant look, especially in the matte Brunswick Green paint. Inside, the dark green quilted leather seats complemented the metal and matte wood trim, while the center console featured three large dials for infotainment, transmission, and drive modes. The two-spoke steering wheel added a unique touch, though the 14.5-inch infotainment screen seemed awkwardly placed atop the dash. Despite this minor annoyance, the interior was spacious and luxurious, offering a pleasant environment.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe exhibited a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's recent models, yet it remained attractive. The five-passenger SUV was available in five trims: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy, with FWD standard and AWD optional. The Calligraphy AWD trim, tested in Stormy Sea paint with a black interior, had a base price of $42,600, with additional costs for AWD and other features bringing the total to $45,845. The Santa Fe's exterior featured wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights, while the interior, though high-quality, was dark and monotone. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable and attractive, with heated and cooled front seats standard in the Calligraphy trim. The Santa Fe's interior offered a high-quality look and feel, though the black-on-black color scheme could benefit from more visual contrast.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 offered AWD with a choice between a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, or a turbo 3.5-liter V6 delivering 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the GV80 wasn't particularly athletic or nimble, it excelled in highway driving, providing smooth power delivery and shifts. The electronically controlled suspension, combined with active noise cancellation, ensured a quiet and comfortable freeway commute. However, its acceleration to sixty in about five and a half seconds was slower compared to some competitors, and its handling felt less precise than its German rivals.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-liter engine, available in naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions. The SE, SEL, and XRT trims featured a naturally aspirated engine with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. The Limited and Calligraphy trims boasted a turbocharged engine with 281 hp and 311 pound-feet, mated to an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. The turbocharged Santa Fe offered a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and passing power, especially in Sport mode. The turbocharged engine provided brisk acceleration without undue noise or harshness, and the handling was smooth with minimal body lean. The Santa Fe's towing capacity was 2,000 pounds for non-turbo versions and 3,500 pounds for turbo models, with trailer brakes required for maximum capacity.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 compensated for its lack of driving excitement with numerous luxury features. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with ventilated front and rear seats available. The Ergo Motion driver's seat offered fatigue-reducing features, and the Nappa leather seats were sumptuous. A third row was optional, though legroom was limited to 30 inches. The GV80 featured Genesis puddle lamps, a proximity key, and a digital key. The tri-zone climate control system and optional 21-speaker stereo system enhanced comfort, while the suede headliner and panoramic glass roof added a touch of luxury. The GV80 offered ample cargo space, with 34.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 84 cubic feet with the seats folded. Its towing capacity was 6,000 pounds with trailer brakes.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, provided generous rear-seat legroom of 41.7 inches and competitive cargo space of 36.4 cubic feet behind the second row. Folding the second row expanded storage to 72.1 cubic feet, with additional underfloor storage. The Santa Fe's seat comfort was a highlight, with eight-way power driver's seats and heated front seats in SEL and higher trims. The Limited trim offered ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a power driver seat cushion extension. The Calligraphy trim featured a head-up display, premium trim, and ambient lighting. The panoramic sunroof spanned both rows, and the head-up display required menu navigation for adjustments. Some minor drawbacks included limited driver seat height adjustment and a wide center console that reduced leg and hip space.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, accompanied by a 12.3-inch 3D digital gauge cluster. The infotainment screen was slightly out of reach, and the dial control was cumbersome, though it offered a "clicky" feel and handwriting detection. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available but not wireless. The GV80 included wireless charging, four USB ports, a 12-volt outlet, and a 110-volt outlet. The remote smart parking assist allowed the vehicle to maneuver in and out of tight spaces without the driver inside, adding convenience.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, offering a 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in Limited and Calligraphy 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, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clearly marked icons and extensive customization options. Voice recognition capabilities were mixed, with some difficulty in recognizing commands for music and temperature changes. The system struggled to hear commands in quiet environments, requiring louder input.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard advanced driver aids, including forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. A standout feature was the video feed of the car's blind spot displayed in the digital gauge cluster. Highway Drive Assist used cameras, radar, and navigation to provide hands-on/eyes-up driving aid, with automatic lane changes and speed adjustments. The GV80 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating for crashworthiness from the IIHS, with "Superior" front crash prevention ratings.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a wide range of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Highway Driving Assist was standard on SEL and above, enhancing driving ease with adaptive cruise control and stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, with "Good" ratings in all crashworthiness tests. The Limited and Calligraphy trims featured superior projector-type headlights.