2023 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Kia Sportage emerged as a significant departure from its predecessors, showcasing a daring and somewhat avant-garde design that echoed French automotive aesthetics. Over its first four generations, the Sportage had moved through various stylistic phases—from quirky to mundane, then to interesting, and finally to an audacious amphibian-like look. This radical redesign made the Sportage a head-turner, blending excitement and exoticism. The eye-catching boomerang-shaped daytime running lights (DRLs) were a highlight, framing a distinctive grille that lent an air of sophistication. Another notable design element was the textured metal trim on the D Pillar, adding a touch of elegance to the compact crossover.

Kia offered the 2023 Sportage in seven trim levels: LX, EX, SX, SX Prestige, and the new additions for 2023, the X-Line, X-Pro, and X-Pro Prestige. The interior saw a shift from leather seating upholstery to more durable, synthetic leather, making the cabin animal-friendly. While the synthetic leather didn’t quite match the luxury feel of real leather, the inclusion of a leather-wrapped steering wheel (EX and above) and leather-wrapped shift knob (SX and above) maintained a sense of class.

The driving experience offered excellent visibility due to a large front windshield and a relatively low beltline. Except in the base LX trim, the dashboard featured over two feet of display, an impressive spectacle in itself. However, the cabin was not without its shortcomings— elements like hard-wearing plastics and piano-black plastic surfaces were prevalent and prone to fingerprints. Most irksome was the hard plastic plate positioned ahead of the front-seat passenger's door handle, an uncomfortable knee touchpoint.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe retained a more conservative design, particularly when compared to Hyundai's more adventurous recent models. Despite the conservative edge, the Santa Fe was still an attractive SUV. Available in five trim levels (SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy), the SUV didn’t feature any radical design overhauls from the 2022 model.

Our test vehicle, the top-tier Calligraphy AWD, sported a chic Stormy Sea paint job and a black-on-black interior that exuded quality albeit with a dark, monotonous palette. The wide upper and lower grilles were the Santa Fe's most distinctive exterior features, complementing the thin LED headlights but leading to a rather normalized look for the rest of the exterior.

Inside, the Calligraphy trim favored Nappa leather seats, heated and cooled front seats, and heated second-row seats. The cabin's functionality extended to practical everyday use, despite the darker tones. Suggestions for a beige or gray interior to offer visual contrast were noted. The overall feel was one of comfort and functionality rather than groundbreaking innovation.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered multiple powertrain options, including gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid variants. The gas-powered model featured a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine, outputting 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, was available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. Although more powerful than its 2022 predecessor, the engine didn’t offer blistering speed, and notably, the high-performance turbocharged engine was no longer available.

The X-Line and X-Pro trims brought rugged aesthetic enhancements and genuine off-road capabilities, respectively. The X-Pro models included BF Goodrich all-terrain tires, specific drive modes, and additional ground clearance of 8.3 inches in AWD trims. Despite these features, the naturally aspirated engine labored noticeably during on-road driving, especially when compared to turbocharged competitors.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a more versatile engine range. The base trims (SE, SEL, and XRT) featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine making 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. The Limited and Calligraphy trims boasted a turbocharged version of the same engine, boosting output to 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. This turbocharged engine worked with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission, delivering a noticeably superior driving experience.

The Santa Fe's turbocharged engine provided immediate acceleration with no discernible turbo lag, making driving a breeze. The adaptive drive-mode selector allowed customization across Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes, although paddle shifters on the steering wheel were largely ornamental. The SUV managed smooth handling with minimal body lean, and the turbocharged engine paired power with refinement for a satisfying on-road experience.

The 2023 Kia Sportage saw significant growth in size, adding 7.1 inches in length and a 3.4-inch longer wheelbase compared to the previous generation. This expansion resulted in a spacious interior, particularly for rear-seat passengers who enjoyed an impressive 41.3 inches of legroom. The cargo area behind the rear seats offered 39.6 cubic feet of space, which could expand to 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. While front-seat storage options were typical, the HVAC controls fell short, with touch-sensitive buttons replacing physical ones, leading to usability challenges.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe prudently opted for a two-row seating configuration, avoiding the cramped third-row seating seen in some midsize SUVs. This choice resulted in ample rear-seat legroom of 41.7 inches and competitive cargo space of 36.4 cubic feet behind the second row, which expanded to 72.1 cubic feet. An underfloor storage compartment added to the versatility. The Santa Fe's seats were a highlight, with the SEL and higher trims offering heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and various power adjustment options. Comfort features like a panoramic sunroof, head-up display, and ambient lighting enhanced the overall cabin experience, though drivers seeking a high seating position found themselves uncomfortably close to the steering wheel.

The 2023 Kia Sportage impressed with its tech-laden interior. The EX and higher trims featured a sharp 12.3-inch touchscreen interface, making it arguably the class leader in terms of visual appeal. Adding to the tech setup was a 12.3-inch driver information display in the SX trim and up, creating an immersive experience reminiscent of luxury vehicles. However, the infotainment's Android Auto and Apple CarPlay remained wired in the premium interface, a confusing choice given that the base LX's 8-inch screen offered wireless connectivity. The touchscreen icons were criticized for being too similar, adding a layer of difficulty while driving. Nevertheless, the overall tech package, including wireless charging, navigation, Sirius XM, HD Radio, and a Harman Kardon stereo (on top trims), offered impressive value.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe's tech package didn’t lag far behind. The base SE trim featured a modest 8-inch display with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, but higher trims boasted a 10.25-inch touchscreen with wired connectivity, navigation, and a myriad of other features. The Limited and Calligraphy trims came standard with a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. While the infotainment graphics weren’t revolutionary, their clarity and logical arrangement were practical. Voice recognition worked well for navigation and weather updates but struggled with music requests and temperature adjustments without shouting.

The 2023 Kia Sportage came equipped with an admirable array of standard safety technology, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and rear backup sensors. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The SX Prestige and X-Pro Prestige trims introduced advanced features such as a blind-view monitor and Highway Driving Assist, which unfortunately were not available across all trims. Neither NHTSA nor IIHS had rated the 2023 Sportage at the time.

Conversely, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in safety with an extensive list of standard ADAS features. These included forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist, among others. Highway Driving Assist, available on SEL and above, further simplified driving tasks. The Santa Fe received top safety ratings from both NHTSA (five-star overall) and IIHS (Top Safety Pick+), making it an appealing choice for safety-conscious buyers.