2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

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 touch. The interior of the Santa Fe, particularly in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, featured a high-quality look with black leather seats, though it was somewhat dark and monotone. The Nappa leather seats were both comfortable and visually appealing, and the inclusion of heated and cooled front seats, along with heated second-row seats, added to the overall comfort.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sienna stood out with its distinctive styling, featuring sleek front and rear fascias and available in vibrant colours like deep blue, red, or bronze. The XSE trim, which we tested, added a sporty flair with a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. Inside, the Sienna offered a practical and spacious layout, with a lower storage pass-through and multiple cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs provided ample legroom, although their slide function was somewhat complicated. The third row was easily accessible, and the tri-zone climate control ensured comfort for all passengers.

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 eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission contributed to a smooth driving experience, and the drive-mode selector allowed for customization with Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes. The Santa Fe's towing capacity ranged from 907 kilograms for the non-turbo version to 1,587 kilograms for the turbo version, with trailer brakes required for maximum capacity.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, as a hybrid minivan, combined a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. While the Sienna's performance was not particularly thrilling, it offered a smooth ride, especially in Normal or Eco mode. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) contributed to a somewhat sluggish acceleration, particularly when merging onto highways or climbing steep inclines. The Sienna's steering was light and accurate, and visibility was excellent, making it a practical choice for city driving. However, those seeking more driving excitement might consider alternatives like the Honda Odyssey or Kia Carnival.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in interior space and comfort, with a two-row configuration that provided ample 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 capacity 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 touches like a head-up display, premium door and seat accent trim, and ambient lighting. However, the wide centre console slightly compromised driver leg and hip space.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna offered a practical and spacious interior, with a lower storage pass-through and multiple cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs provided up to 101.5 centimetres of legroom, although their slide function was somewhat complicated. The third row was easily accessible, and the tri-zone climate control ensured comfort for all passengers. The rear liftgate revealed 949 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,129 litres with the third row stowed and 2,860 litres with the second row folded. However, the inability to remove the second-row seats limited maximum cargo space compared to other minivans.

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 premium audio system in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The larger 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in the Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims offered crisp graphics and versatility. While the voice-recognition system had mixed results, the infotainment system's logical layout and customization options were commendable.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, however, was equipped with Toyota’s older infotainment technology, featuring a nine-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The backup camera's grainy view was disappointing for a 2024 model. The Sienna offered available SiriusXM satellite radio and a 12-speaker JBL stereo system, along with a rear-camera mirror for a wide-angle video feed. The presence of USB ports and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet added convenience, although the need to activate the outlets manually was a minor inconvenience.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured Highway Driving Assist, enhancing the driving experience with adaptive cruise control and 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 Toyota Sienna came equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. While most systems performed well, the lane-keeping assist exhibited some side-to-side movement. The Sienna featured side curtain airbags for all three rows and reminders for rear passengers and cargo. The NHTSA awarded the Sienna four out of five stars for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS rated the Sienna "Good" in crashworthiness but "Average" in front crash prevention.