2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Chevrolet Suburban

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 Chevrolet Suburban, with its long-standing reputation, maintained its status as a large, imposing vehicle that blended into traffic despite its size. The Suburban's massive dimensions were not for everyone, especially in urban settings, but it catered to those needing ample cargo and passenger space. The Suburban was available in six trims, with the top-tier High Country offering luxurious features like 22-inch alloy wheels and optional power running-board steps. Inside, the Suburban provided a spacious cabin with leather upholstery on most trims, though the interior felt somewhat pedestrian despite its premium features.

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, available in the Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, 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 the dual-clutch transmission operated without the typical low-speed clunkiness. The turbocharged Santa Fe could tow up to 1,587 kg with trailer brakes, making it a versatile option for those needing towing capabilities.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine choices: a 5.3-litre V8 with 355 hp and 383 pound-feet of torque, a 6.2-litre V8 with 420 hp and 460 pound-feet, and a 3.0-litre turbodiesel six-cylinder with 277 hp and 460 pound-feet. The diesel engine provided excellent fuel economy and towing capabilities, making it a preferred choice for those prioritizing efficiency. The Suburban's 10-speed automatic transmission was well-tuned, and the vehicle's size was manageable thanks to its responsive steering and brakes. However, drivers needed to account for its substantial weight, which could affect handling and braking.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in interior space, offering 1,060 millimetres of rear-seat legroom and 1,032 litres of cargo space behind the second row. Folding down the second row expanded the cargo capacity to 2,041 litres, with additional underfloor storage available. The Santa Fe's two-row configuration allowed for more rear-seat legroom and cargo space, and the seats were comfortable, with standard features like an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added luxury features such as a panoramic sunroof, head-up display, and ambient lighting, although the wide centre console could encroach on driver leg space.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban boasted impressive cargo space, with 1,175 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,656 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 4,097 litres with all rear seats down. This made the Suburban an ideal choice for those needing substantial cargo capacity. The SUV also featured a 106-litre fuel tank, allowing for extended highway driving between fill-ups, especially with the diesel engine. The Suburban's interior was spacious, accommodating up to seven passengers comfortably, and it was well-suited for long road trips with its ample storage and seating options.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe impressed with its 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 infotainment system was user-friendly, with customizable settings and efficient voice recognition for navigation and weather updates. However, the system struggled with music requests and temperature adjustments, requiring specific terminology for successful operation.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban's infotainment system included a 10.2-inch touchscreen with Google Built-in, allowing access to Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play Store without phone pairing. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were also available, and the optional rear-seat entertainment system added twin touchscreens for rear passengers. The 10-speaker Bose audio system provided good sound quality, though it lacked the richness of higher-speaker-count systems found in competitors.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added Highway Driving Assist, enhancing the driving experience with adaptive cruise control and stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation from the IIHS, highlighting its strong safety performance.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with four stars in frontal crash tests, five in side-crash tests, and three in rollover tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and Chevy’s Teen Driver feature. Higher trims offered additional ADAS like rear cross-traffic alert and the option for Super Cruise, a semi-autonomous driving system available on pre-mapped roads.