2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's more daring models. While it maintained an attractive appearance, it didn't stand out as much as other vehicles in the brand's lineup. The Santa Fe continued with the same design as the 2022 model, available in five trim levels: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. Our test vehicle, the Calligraphy AWD, featured a Stormy Sea exterior and a black-on-black interior, with a total MSRP of $45,845. The SUV's wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights were its most distinctive styling elements. Inside, the black Nappa leather seats provided comfort and a high-quality feel, though the interior was somewhat dark and monotone.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, particularly in the Wilderness trim, received a slight update with a new front fascia and LED fog lights, while the rest of the lineup retained the look from the 2023 facelift. Our Touring XT tester sported an appealing Autumn Green Metallic color, complemented by dark gray cladding. The Outback's trims varied in their use of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Touring trim featuring the most chrome. The interior of our test car was impressive, with Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery offering a luxurious feel. The Outback's design balanced capability with a touch of elegance, making it a strong contender in its class.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque for the SE, SEL, and XRT trims, and a turbocharged version for the Limited and Calligraphy trims, delivering 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged engine was paired with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission, providing a significant performance boost. The Santa Fe's drive-mode selector allowed for customization with Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes. The turbocharged Calligraphy trim offered brisk acceleration and smooth handling, with a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds when equipped with trailer brakes.

The 2024 Subaru Outback featured a standard 2.5-liter flat-four engine with 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, while the XT and Wilderness trims were equipped with a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer engine producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged engine improved the vehicle's performance, especially in the Touring XT trim. The Outback's Lineartronic CVT mimicked the feel of an eight-speed transmission, and the vehicle's suspension contributed to a comfortable ride. The Outback's ground clearance ranged from 8.7 inches to 9.2 inches in the Wilderness trim, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe prioritized interior space by forgoing a third row, resulting in generous rear-seat legroom of 41.7 inches and a competitive cargo space of 36.4 cubic feet, expandable to 72.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Santa Fe's interior comfort was enhanced by features like an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and a hands-free smart liftgate. The Calligraphy trim added luxury touches such as a head-up display and ambient lighting. However, the wide center console slightly compromised driver leg and hip space.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered ample interior space despite its sleek design. It provided more headroom and legroom than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The Outback's cargo space measured 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place and 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The vehicle's features included dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat starting from the Premium trim. The Touring trim added ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel, enhancing comfort in colder climates.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in technology, offering a 4.2-inch color LCD display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in the Limited and Calligraphy trims. The infotainment system featured an 8-inch display in the base trim and a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation in higher trims. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system in the top trims. While the voice-recognition system had mixed results, the infotainment system's customization options were impressive.

The 2024 Subaru Outback's technology included an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen in all but the base trim, which retained a dual-7-inch-screen system. The Subaru Starlink platform offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with wireless capability starting from the Premium trim. The Outback featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system in most trims, and the climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen. The vehicle also offered Wi-Fi capability and a hands-free power liftgate in higher trims.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The vehicle received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation from the IIHS. The Santa Fe's safety features provided peace of mind, with reminders for rear-seat passengers and safe-exit warnings.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The vehicle's safety features included the EyeSight suite of driver-assistance technologies, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency steering. The Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor. Reverse automatic braking became standard starting with the Onyx trim, enhancing the Outback's safety credentials.