2024 Lexus TX vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid was reminiscent of a pair of "dad jeans"—practical and offering great value, yet lacking modern flair. Despite a refresh in 2021, its design appeared outdated compared to newer crossovers like the Hyundai Palisade or Kia Sorento. The Santa Fe's exterior featured a squared grille and flush-mounted headlights, but its overall silhouette seemed too soft for a contemporary SUV. Inside, the Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized function over form, with a centre console filled with physical buttons and knobs, making it easy to use but not particularly stylish. The vehicle's spacious interior comfortably seated five, with a large trunk compensating for the absence of a third row.

In contrast, the 2024 Lexus TX was based on the Toyota Grand Highlander but distinguished itself as a luxury SUV. Its upscale appearance was enhanced by 22-inch wheels, and its styling was more conservative than other Lexus models, appealing to those who found previous designs too bold. The TX offered a range of models, including the TX 350, TX 500h F Sport Performance, and TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid, with prices starting at $72,036. The TX 350, likely the most popular version, featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and standard AWD. Inside, the TX 350's cabin was luxurious, with premium materials and a dark interior that felt a bit too sombre despite the panoramic sunroof. The TX's interior was comfortable and well-equipped, though it lacked some expected features like a massage function for the front seats.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid delivered a balanced performance with its 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 44.2-kW electric motor, producing a combined 226 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It offered impressive fuel economy, with estimates of 7.1 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 7.9 on the highway, and 7.4 combined. The hybrid's power was managed through a six-speed automatic transmission, and its AWD system could distribute power between the front and rear wheels as needed. The Santa Fe Hybrid was not particularly quick but provided a quiet and comfortable ride, with good noise insulation and a compliant suspension that handled rough roads well.

The 2024 Lexus TX 350 was equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, generating 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. It accelerated to 100 km/h in about eight seconds, offering adequate performance for typical driving situations. The TX 350's fuel economy was rated at 10.3 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, slightly better than the previous RX L model. The TX 350's ride and handling were well-balanced, with a firm yet comfortable suspension and accurate steering. However, the brake pedal felt too soft, though it was easy to modulate for smooth stops.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid featured a shift-by-wire, push-button transmission, freeing up space below the centre stack. The centre stack itself was large, with well-labelled physical controls for climate and drive modes. Rear passengers enjoyed a panoramic sunroof, manual sunshades, and 1,035 millimetres of legroom. The Santa Fe Hybrid offered 1,032 litres of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 2,041 litres with the seats folded. Up front, the vehicle came with heated and ventilated front seats and an eight-way power driver's seat.

The 2024 Lexus TX addressed previous shortcomings in Lexus's three-row SUVs, offering a comfortable and spacious interior. The TX 350 test unit featured premium leather and artificial suede upholstery, with heated and ventilated front and second-row seats. The third-row seat was habitable for adults, with a stadium-style bottom cushion and large side windows. The TX provided 572 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 1,625 litres with the seats folded, and 2,746 litres with the second row down. The vehicle had numerous storage compartments, though some lacked lining, potentially causing noise and vibration.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid came with a 10.25-inch touchscreen with onboard navigation, Bluetooth, OTA map updates, and dynamic voice recognition. The infotainment system supported Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, though both required a wired connection. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard, providing a clear view of essential driving information. However, the 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was not available in Canada.

The 2024 Lexus TX featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a digital rearview mirror, with additional options like a head-up display and surround-view camera in the Executive packages. The Lexus Interface infotainment system included a 14-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Drive Connect subscription for cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The TX also offered free 10-year subscriptions to Service Connect and Safety Connect, and a three-year subscription to Remote Connect. The optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system provided impressive sound quality.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized safety with features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance, lane keep assist, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. It received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS. However, some advanced features like the surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor were not available in Canada.

The 2024 Lexus TX was equipped with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a safe exit assist system. The traffic jam assist system provided hands-free driving at low speeds on approved highways. Overall, the LSS+ 3.0 system was smooth and effective, though it slowed too dramatically when other vehicles cut in front.