2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's other models, yet it remained an attractive SUV. Its styling was characterized by wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights, which provided 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 as standard. The second row also offered seat heaters, enhancing passenger comfort.

In contrast, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received styling updates similar to its three-row sibling, the Atlas. It featured new lighting elements, including illuminated Volkswagen logos and a light bar connecting the daytime running lights. The rear design was more distinctive, with a lower roofline that gave it a "crossover coupe" silhouette. The Cross Sport's interior revisions included a raised centre console and a new electronic shifter, providing additional storage space. The cabin offered standard leatherette upholstery, with quilted leather available on the top Execline trim, which also included blue seat inserts.

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 Santa Fe's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering, and it offered a towing capacity of up to 1,587 kilograms with the turbo engine.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine replaced the previous VR6 option, offering more torque and earlier peak torque delivery. While the new engine provided adequate power, the engine noise was noticeable, and the driving experience was less engaging. The Cross Sport's towing capacity remained at 2,268 kilograms, which was standard for a midsize crossover.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe prioritized interior space 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 the rear seats expanded the cargo capacity to 2,041 litres. The Santa Fe featured an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and dual-zone climate control as standard. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added advanced features like a head-up display, ambient lighting, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport introduced more standard equipment, including heated side mirrors, two-zone automatic climate control, and a power liftgate. While front headroom was competitive, the sloping roofline reduced rear-seat headroom. The Cross Sport offered 1,141 litres of cargo space with the rear seats in place, expanding to 2,197 litres when folded. The cabin featured a functional centre console with ample storage and generously sized cupholders.

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 top trims. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with customizable settings, although voice recognition had mixed results. The Santa Fe also included advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for enhanced safety.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport featured a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. The user experience was intuitive, but the haptic touchpads for controls were less convenient than traditional buttons. The Execline trim included a head-up display and a premium Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. It received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation from the IIHS, with high ratings in crashworthiness tests.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport also earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. It included standard driver assistance features such as forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. The Execline trim added park assist and a surround-view camera system for enhanced safety.