2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's more daring models. Despite its understated appearance, it remained an attractive SUV, with its wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights providing a distinctive touch. The interior of the Santa Fe, particularly in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, featured a high-quality look with black leather seats, although the dark, monotone appearance could benefit from a lighter interior option for visual contrast. The Nappa leather seats were both comfortable and appealing, with standard heated and cooled front seats and heated second-row seats enhancing the overall comfort.

In contrast, the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, while not as futuristic as some competitors, maintained an attractive and restrained design. Its chunky front end gave the impression of a smaller grille, a refreshing change in an industry dominated by aggressive front fascias. The Equinox's interior, particularly in the Premier trim, featured handsome two-tone leather upholstery and standard heated front seats. However, the interior design felt somewhat dated, with a small touchscreen and basic driver-information display. Despite this, the Equinox was practical and user-friendly, with a traditional PRNDL shift lever and ample storage space.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged version delivering 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine, paired with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission, provided a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and passing power, especially in Sport mode. The Santa Fe's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering, and it offered a comfortable ride in Comfort mode. The turbocharged version could tow up to 1,587 kg, while the non-turbo version had a towing capacity of 907 kg.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox was powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. While it handled low-speed acceleration adequately, it struggled to deliver strong performance at higher speeds. The Equinox's six-speed automatic transmission, with fewer gears than some competitors, contributed to a noisy powertrain. The AWD system required manual engagement, but the Equinox's braking and suspension systems were well-engineered, providing smooth handling and a comfortable ride.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered generous rear-seat legroom of 1,060 millimetres and a competitive cargo space of 1,032 litres behind the second row. Folding down the rear seats expanded the cargo capacity to 2,041 litres. The Santa Fe's interior featured standard dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a hands-free smart liftgate on higher trims. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included advanced features like Remote Smart Parking Assist and a head-up display. However, the wide centre console slightly compromised driver leg and hip space.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox provided 847 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,809 litres with the seats folded down. While not the largest in its class, the Equinox offered ample passenger space, with good headroom and legroom for taller occupants. The interior featured plenty of storage options, including cup holders and a centre console bin. The Premier trim came with a nearly silent power liftgate, and a panoramic sunroof was available on most trims.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen featuring navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system on higher trims. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with customizable settings and efficient voice recognition for navigation and weather commands. However, it struggled with music requests and temperature adjustments.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox featured a smaller 8-inch touchscreen on the Premier trim, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The infotainment system was simple yet effective, with quick response times and good voice recognition. The Premier trim included a wireless charging pad, and a Bose audio system was available as an option.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added Highway Driving Assist. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS, with high marks in crashworthiness tests.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox also offered a range of standard safety features, such as automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance. However, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were optional on most trims. The Equinox received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but scored poorly in some IIHS crash tests.