2023 Dodge Durango vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's other models, yet it remained an attractive SUV. Its styling was characterized by wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights, which provided a distinctive look. The interior of the Santa Fe, particularly in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, featured a high-quality, albeit dark, black leather finish. The Nappa leather seats were both comfortable and visually appealing, with heated and cooled front seats as standard. The second row also offered seat heaters, enhancing passenger comfort.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Durango maintained a clean, almost car-like styling, avoiding the trend of oversized grilles. Its slim design, with forward-leaning headlights and a large lower air intake, gave it a strong presence. The SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models had unique styling features, such as a Viper-like hood and distinctive wheels. The interior, while not as distinctive as the exterior, offered a pleasant environment with materials suited to various price points. The Durango Citadel added luxury with Nappa leather upholstery and heated and ventilated front seats, while the SRT Hellcat test car featured bold red leather upholstery.

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 hp and 311 pound-feet. 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 towing capacity of up to 1,587 kg (3,500 pounds) with the turbo engine.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine producing up to 295 hp and 260 pound-feet of torque. The 5.7-litre Hemi V8, standard on the R/T trim, delivered 360 hp and 390 pound-feet of torque. The SRT 392 model featured a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 with 475 hp and 475 pound-feet, achieving 0-100 km/h in about 4.5 seconds. The SRT Hellcat model, with a 6.2-litre supercharged V8, produced 710 hp and 645 pound-feet, reaching 0-100 km/h in roughly 3.5 seconds. The Durango's performance was impressive, with adaptive-damping suspension and Brembo brakes ensuring power was manageable.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered ample rear-seat legroom of 1,060 millimetres and a competitive cargo space of 1,032 litres behind the second row. Folding the second row expanded storage to 2,041 litres. The Santa Fe's interior featured an eight-way power driver's seat, dual-zone climate control, 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 reduced driver leg and hip space.

The 2023 Dodge Durango was available in seven-seat or six-seat configurations, with headroom and legroom comparable to other three-row midsize SUVs. Cargo space was 487 litres with all seats in place, expanding to 1,226 litres with the third row folded, and 2,409 litres behind the first row. The Durango offered generous small-item storage, with a large wireless charging pad and USB ports. Towing capacity was a strong point, with V6 models towing up to 2,812 kg (6,200 pounds) and V8 models up to 3,946 kg (8,700 pounds).

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, featuring 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 infotainment system was user-friendly, with customizable settings. Voice recognition was effective for navigation but struggled with music requests and temperature changes. Safety-related ADAS included forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto on lower trims, while higher trims featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity. The Uconnect 5 system was responsive and easy to use, with unique features for SRT models. The Performance Pages app provided performance data, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on higher trims.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. It received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS, with high ratings in crashworthiness tests.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed results in IIHS crash tests, with a "Good" rating in moderate front overlap and side tests but a "Marginal" score in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA awarded it a four-star overall safety rating, with five stars in the side crash test. Standard driver-assist tech was limited, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert included on all trims.