2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's recent models. While it maintained an attractive appearance, it lacked the standout looks of other vehicles in the brand's lineup. This design approach was set to change with the upcoming 2024 redesign. For the 2023 model year, the Santa Fe continued with the same look as the 2022 version, available in four trim levels in Canada, all featuring standard all-wheel drive. The U.S.-spec Ultimate Calligraphy trim, tested in a deep Stormy Sea paint, showcased a wide grille and thin LED headlights, giving it a distinctive front-end look. Inside, the test vehicle featured a black interior with Nappa leather seats, offering comfort and a high-quality feel, though the dark, monotone appearance could benefit from a lighter interior option for visual contrast.

The 2023 Ford Escape, meanwhile, embraced a more European design language, moving away from the blocky exterior of its predecessors. A 2023 refresh introduced a more traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar and the Ford blue oval logo. As one of the smallest vehicles in Ford's lineup, the Escape offered a sleek design with 19-inch wheels and body-colour mirror caps. Inside, the ST-Line Elite trim featured diamond-stitched leather upholstery, which, while visually appealing, felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver's seat allowed for easy customization. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced.

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, available in the Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, provided a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and no discernible turbo lag. The Santa Fe featured a drive-mode selector with four customizable modes and push-button gears, adding a touch of sportiness. The turbocharged version could tow up to 1,587 kg, while the non-turbo variant had a towing capacity of 907 kg.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered two engine options as well. The 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine produced 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, while the 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine delivered 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The latter was available exclusively with all-wheel drive and provided better acceleration and passing power. Despite the impressive output, the Escape's suspension remained soft and compliant, and the transmission lacked performance tuning. The brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the steering inputs were well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness found in some competitors.

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 seats expanded the cargo area to 2,041 litres. The Santa Fe featured an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and dual-zone climate control. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included advanced features like a hands-free smart liftgate, Remote Smart Parking Assist, and a head-up display. However, the wide centre console limited driver leg and hip space, and the driver's seat height adjustment could push the driver uncomfortably close to the steering wheel.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided comfortable seating with excellent ergonomics. The cargo space, at 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the seats folded, was slightly less than some competitors. The Escape offered good headroom in the back seat, and the front-seat backs were padded to maximize space for tall passengers. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. However, the Escape's cargo and passenger space fell short of segment leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

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 in the top trims. The Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system offered clear graphics and logical home screen icons, though voice-recognition capabilities were mixed, struggling with certain commands and requiring shouting at times.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look and offered easy navigation between applications. Sync 4 included a static "Home" button for quick access to the main hub. While the system was occasionally slow to respond, it provided a comprehensive feature set, including a wi-fi hotspot and optional Bang & Olufsen audio system.

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 for semi-autonomous driving. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation from the IIHS, with high ratings in crashworthiness tests.

The 2023 Ford Escape also offered a robust set of safety features through its Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but did not earn a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera.