2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

In Canada, the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was available in five trim levels, starting with the base model and moving up to the Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. Prices began at $72,395, with the Summit Reserve reaching $91,490 before options. The Trailhawk trim, which was tested, included a panoramic sunroof, Luxury Tech Group III, and Advanced ProTech Group II, bringing the MSRP to approximately $85,000, including destination charges. Despite its high cost, the Grand Cherokee 4xe did not qualify for Canada's EV sales incentives. The Trailhawk was distinguishable by its sky blue exterior detailing and matte-black hood decal, along with unique wheels and all-terrain tires. However, the interior fell short of luxury expectations, with excessive plastic and glossy surfaces that attracted dust and fingerprints. The leather and artificial suede upholstery were nice, but the overall interior design prioritized style over utility, making some controls difficult to read and access.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe maintained a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's recent models. Available in four trim levels in Canada—Preferred, Urban, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy—the Santa Fe came standard with all-wheel drive. The U.S.-spec Ultimate Calligraphy trim tested featured Stormy Sea paint and a total MSRP of $51,606, including destination charges. The Santa Fe's styling was marked by wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights. Inside, the Calligraphy trim had a black interior with Nappa leather seats, offering a high-quality look and feel. The cabin was dark and monotone, but the beige or gray interior options provided more visual contrast. The seats were comfortable, with heated and cooled front seats standard in the Calligraphy trim, and the second row also featured seat heaters. The Santa Fe's interior was praised for its comfort and convenience features, including a panoramic sunroof and a head-up display.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured a plug-in hybrid powertrain combining a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and an 8-speed automatic transmission. This setup produced 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of up to 2,720 kilograms. The Trailhawk trim included a standard four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case, Selec-Terrain technology, and a hill descent control system. It also had a front-axle sway bar disconnect system and a height-adjustable air suspension, providing 27.6 centimetres of maximum ground clearance. Despite these impressive specs, the Grand Cherokee 4xe's real-world performance fell short, with an all-electric range of 42 kilometres and a combined fuel economy of 11.7 litres per 100 kilometres. During testing, the vehicle only achieved 34 kilometres of electric range, and after the battery was depleted, it averaged 14.6 L/100 km. The gas engine was unrefined, and the regenerative braking system made smooth stops difficult. However, the Trailhawk excelled in off-road conditions, handling challenging trails with ease.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a choice between a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre engine producing 191 horsepower and a turbocharged version delivering 281 horsepower. The turbocharged engine, available in the Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, worked with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Santa Fe featured a drive-mode selector with Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes, and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters added a touch of sportiness. The turbocharged Santa Fe provided immediate acceleration with no turbo lag, and its performance was smooth and quiet. Handling was stable, with minimal body lean during cornering. The Santa Fe's towing capacity was 1,587 kilograms for the turbo version, requiring trailer brakes for maximum capacity. While the Santa Fe was not tested off-road, its performance on paved roads was impressive, offering a balance of power, ride quality, and handling.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe struggled with practical storage and cargo space, partly due to its off-roading hardware. The Trailhawk trim featured artificial suede and leather seats with eight-way power adjustment, but the interior was only available in black. The front seats were firm and flat, and the second-row seats lacked support, with tight rear legroom. Cargo space behind the back seat measured 1,067 litres, expanding to 2,004 litres with the rear seats folded down, which was small for a midsize SUV.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered generous interior space, with 1,060 millimetres of rear-seat legroom and 1,032 litres of cargo space behind the second row. Folding the rear seats increased cargo capacity to 2,041 litres. The Santa Fe's interior was comfortable, with an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats standard in Canada. Higher trims included features like a hands-free smart liftgate, ventilated front seats, and a head-up display. The panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting added to the cabin's appeal. However, the wide centre console limited driver leg and hip space, and the driver's seat height adjustment could push occupants too close to the steering wheel.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe boasted up to six screens, including a 10.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.3-inch front passenger infotainment screen. The Trailhawk trim featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a navigation system. The system's user interface was simple, but the graphics were low-contrast and hard to read. The Trailhawk also had an Alpine premium sound system, with a 19-speaker McIntosh audio system available on higher trims. Optional tech features included wireless smartphone charging and a camera-based digital rearview mirror.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a 4.2-inch colour LCD multi-information display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. All trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Bluetooth. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and wireless device charging. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clearly marked icons and extensive customization options. Voice recognition capabilities were mixed, with some commands working well and others requiring specific terminology. The system struggled to hear commands in noisy environments.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe came equipped with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rain-sensing wipers, and a reversing camera with rear parking sensors. The Advanced ProTech Group II added features like intersection collision assist, a surround-view camera, and a Night Vision system. The Grand Cherokee 4xe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, though the latter did not specifically test the 4xe version.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, driver monitoring, a safe-exit assist system, and a rear-seat reminder system. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included Highway Driving Assist, which combined 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+ rating from the IIHS, with Good ratings in all crashworthiness tests.