2024 Acura MDX vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's more adventurous 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 cabin could benefit from a lighter colour scheme for visual contrast. The Nappa leather seats were both comfortable and stylish, with standard heated and cooled front seats and heated second-row seats enhancing the overall comfort.

In contrast, the 2024 Acura MDX boasted a striking exterior with a large shield grille, rakish headlights, and a modern, refined presence. Inside, the MDX was high-tech but busy, with a centre console filled with controls that could be overwhelming. The Type S Ultra trim, which was reviewed, included luxurious features such as massaging front seats and a 25-speaker ELS sound system. The perforated leather upholstery was exceptionally comfortable, and the massaging seats provided a refreshing experience on long drives. Despite its busy interior, the MDX offered a sophisticated and luxurious feel.

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's drive-mode selector offered four customizable modes, and the handling was smooth with minimal body lean. The turbocharged Santa Fe could tow up to 1,587 kilograms, while the non-turbo version had a towing capacity of 907 kilograms.

The 2024 Acura MDX featured a standard 3.5-litre V6 engine with 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, while the Type S Ultra trim came with a twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine producing 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. The MDX's 10-speed automatic transmission and Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive System (SH-AWD) provided strong acceleration and quick throttle delivery. The Type S Ultra trim included Brembo performance brakes and an adaptive air suspension, enhancing its sporty performance. The MDX's towing capacity maxed out at 2,268 kilograms, and its ride was refined and comfortable, with a firm suspension that absorbed road bumps effectively.

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 the cargo capacity to 2,041 litres, and an underfloor storage compartment added extra utility. The Santa Fe's interior featured standard dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a hands-free smart liftgate in the top trims. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included advanced features like Remote Smart Parking Assist and a panoramic sunroof, although the wide centre console slightly compromised driver leg space.

The 2024 Acura MDX came standard with three rows of seating, though the third row was best suited for children. It offered 512 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,367 litres with the rear seats folded, and a maximum of 2,690 litres with both the second and third rows down. The MDX's interior featured a hands-free power liftgate, a fold-down centre console in the second row, and numerous cupholders throughout the cabin. However, the centre stack of controls was cluttered, with a touchpad for the infotainment system that was unintuitive and distracting.

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 in the top trim. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clear graphics and logical icon arrangement. However, the voice-recognition system had mixed results, struggling with certain commands and requiring precise terminology.

The 2024 Acura MDX's infotainment system was its Achilles Heel, with a 12.3-inch display controlled by a touchpad that was unintuitive and frustrating to use. Despite this, the MDX offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The centre console featured cleverly placed charging ports, but the overall infotainment experience was lacking compared to competitors.

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. It received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" from IIHS, with high marks in crashworthiness tests.

The 2024 Acura MDX also offered a robust set of safety features, such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera system. While the 2024 model had not been tested by NHTSA or IIHS, the 2022 MDX received a five-star overall rating and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation, indicating strong safety performance.