2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

Under the hood, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with two engine choices: a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that delivered 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, or a turbocharged version producing 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque paired with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine undoubtedly enhanced the vehicle’s performance, offering brisk acceleration without discernible turbo lag. The Santa Fe also featured a drive-mode selector with Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes, providing customizable driving experiences.

On the flip side, the 2024 Toyota Sienna’s hybrid powertrain combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, delivering a total of 245 horsepower. Although the Sienna provided a smooth ride, it was not particularly quick off the line, and its continuously variable transmission (CVT) sometimes felt sluggish. The vehicle also offered three driving modes—Normal, Eco, and an EV mode for low-speed conditions like parking lots. While the Sienna offered a decent everyday driving experience, it was less inspiring when it came to acceleration or handling, especially compared to rivals with V6 engines.

The interior layouts of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe and the 2024 Toyota Sienna each had their strengths and weaknesses. The Santa Fe, which forwent a cramped third row, benefited from more generous passenger legroom and cargo space. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed 41.7 inches of legroom, and the cargo space behind the second row was a competitive 36.4 cubic feet, expandable to 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down. Additionally, SEL trims and above featured dual-zone climate control, a hands-free smart liftgate, and heated front and rear seats.

The Sienna, with its three-row configuration, also impressed with its interior functionality. The second-row captain's chairs in the XSE trim were particularly versatile, sliding fore and aft 25 inches to offer up to 40 inches of legroom. However, these seats were challenging to remove, limiting maximum cargo capacity. When the second-row seats were moved forward, the Sienna boasted 39 inches of legroom in the third row. The rear liftgate opened up to 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, which expanded to 75 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and further to 101 cubic feet when the second row was slid up as far as it would go, although not fully removable.

In terms of technology, the Santa Fe excelled with a variety of infotainment options and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The SE trim offered a basic 8-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, whereas higher trims like Limited and Calligraphy had a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Premium audio systems, such as the 12-speaker Harman Kardon, provided an upgraded auditory experience. Voice recognition capabilities in the Santa Fe were hit or miss, but the system's overall customizability stood out.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, however, lagged with its older infotainment technology. Its 9-inch touchscreen also included wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the overall user experience wasn't as modern or visually appealing as Hyundai’s system. The backup camera quality in the Sienna was notably subpar for a 2024 model, and its digital gauge display was also less user-friendly. Nonetheless, the Sienna offered standard Wi-Fi, plenty of USB ports throughout the cabin, and options like a rear-camera mirror and an 11.6-inch rear-seat entertainment system.

Safety was a strong suit for both models, though there were some differences. The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came standard with numerous safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and more. Such comprehensive safety features likely contributed to the Santa Fe's high safety ratings: a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a “Top Safety Pick+” designation from the IIHS.

Similarly, the 2024 Toyota Sienna featured the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver aids, boasting lane departure alert, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Sienna also received good ratings from safety organizations: four stars for frontal crash and rollover protection, and five stars for side crash protection from the NHTSA. The IIHS gave it top scores in most crashworthiness categories, though it rated the Sienna “Average” in front crash prevention.