2024 Subaru Crosstrek 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 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 standard in this trim. The second row also offered seat heaters, making it a versatile choice for varying weather conditions.

In contrast, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek maintained a similar appearance to its predecessor but introduced new sheet metal, a new chassis, and additional colour options like Sun Blaze and Offshore Blue. The Crosstrek's design included a steeper departure angle and slightly reduced cargo space, though these changes were subtle. The base trim featured 17-inch alloy wheels and 22 centimetres of ground clearance, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The new LED headlights and frameless grille added a unique touch to the front fascia, while the split taillight design at the rear improved trunk access. The Crosstrek Wilderness trim offered additional rugged features, including a hexagonal grille, larger cladding, and increased ground clearance.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated 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 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 kilograms, while the non-turbo version had a towing capacity of 907 kilograms.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek featured a 2.5-litre engine with 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, standard on the Wilderness trim. The Touring trim, however, came with a smaller 2.0-litre engine producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While the 2.0-litre engine lacked quickness, Subaru's CVT offered smooth power delivery with simulated shift points. The Crosstrek Wilderness trim had different gearing for better off-road performance and a towing capacity of 1,587 kilograms. The updated 2.0-litre engine reduced vibrations, and the dual-pinion steering rack improved handling. Subaru's X-Mode traction management system, standard on all trims, enhanced off-road capabilities.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe prioritized spaciousness and comfort by offering a two-row configuration, resulting in generous rear-seat legroom of 1,060 millimetres and a competitive cargo space of 1,032 litres behind the second row. Folding down the second row expanded the cargo area to 2,041 litres. The Santa Fe's interior featured an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and dual-zone climate control. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added luxury features like a hands-free smart liftgate, ventilated front seats, and a head-up display. However, the wide centre console slightly reduced driver leg and hip space.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, built on the Subaru Impreza platform, offered competitive cargo space for a subcompact SUV. Rear-seat legroom and headroom were adequate, though taller passengers might prefer the front seats. The trunk provided 564 litres of space, expandable to 1,549 litres with the rear seats folded. The Crosstrek's interior materials were durable and easy to clean, with features like a protective cargo tray and a heated steering wheel on most trims. The centre console bin accommodated two 32-ounce Nalgene water bottles, catering to outdoor enthusiasts.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, offering a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The infotainment system featured clear graphics and logical home screen icons, though some sub-menus required navigation for customization. Voice recognition capabilities were mixed, with successful address and weather queries but challenges in music selection and temperature adjustments.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek featured an impressive 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen, standard on all but the Convenience trim. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a wireless charger on higher trims. The Limited trim included a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. While the Subaru Starlink technology was generally impressive, it suffered from glare in bright sunlight and required navigation through multiple menus for some features.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard 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 adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation from the IIHS, with high marks in crashworthiness tests.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek continued its tradition of safety, with the IIHS awarding it a Top Safety Pick designation since 2013. While the 2024 model had not yet been reviewed, it was expected to maintain high safety standards. Subaru's EyeSight driver assist technology, standard on all trims, included automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The 2024 model introduced a wider-angle lens for EyeSight, enhancing its view of the road and surroundings.