2023 Kia Telluride vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

During our time in Texas, we experienced the 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line and X-Pro models, which featured fresh front and rear styling, updated headlights and taillights, and new wheel designs. The Telluride offered new paint colours such as Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, and Jungle Green, along with interior colours like Terracotta, Navy, and Sage Green. The X-Line replaced the Nightfall Edition, boasting a raised suspension, unique grille design, raised roof rails, body-colour door handles, and black 20-inch wheels. The X-Pro went further with exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, enhancing its mildly aggressive off-road appearance. Inside, the Telluride's updates included a digital instrumentation panel and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed under a curved 24-inch piece of glass, pushing the SUV into a more modern era.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe maintained a conservative exterior styling compared to some of Hyundai's recent designs, yet it remained an attractive SUV. The five-passenger vehicle was available in four trim levels in Canada, all with standard all-wheel drive. Our U.S.-spec test vehicle was the top-of-the-line Ultimate Calligraphy trim, featuring Stormy Sea paint. The Santa Fe's distinctive wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights gave it a unique look, though the rest of the design was more subdued. 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 interior option provided a more visually pleasing contrast. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable, with heated and cooled front seats standard in the Calligraphy trim, and the second row also featured seat heaters.

The 2023 Kia Telluride retained its 3.8-litre V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Drivers could choose from Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with an AWD system featuring a low-speed Lock setting for power distribution. The V6 engine provided ample motivation, with the X-Line averaging 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres during a drive that included heavy traffic and twisty roads. The X-Pro was less efficient at 11.5 L/100 km, partly due to off-roading. The Telluride's suspension was raised by 10 mm, improving ground clearance and off-road performance. The X-Pro model offered 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and an improved cooling system, increasing towing capacity to 2,495 kilograms. The Telluride excelled in off-road conditions, showcasing its AWD Lock mode, ground clearance, and stability. On highways, it provided a smooth ride, though the off-road tires made it feel slightly squishier in turns.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a 2.5-litre engine with options for natural aspiration or forced induction. The Preferred trim's naturally aspirated engine produced 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims featured a turbocharged engine, boosting output to 281 hp and 311 pound-feet, with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. The turbocharged Santa Fe provided a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and passing power, especially in Sport mode. The turbo engine delivered brisk acceleration without undue noise or harshness. Handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering. The Santa Fe's AWD-lock function and trail capabilities were not tested, but the turbo version could tow up to 1,587 kg with trailer brakes. Overall, the Santa Fe's performance rivalled other SUVs in its price range.

The 2023 Kia Telluride accommodated seven or eight passengers, depending on the second-row seating configuration. Our test vehicles featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain’s chairs. The interior offered ample space, with comfortable front seats and a power lumbar stabilization system to keep drivers alert on long trips. The second row was also comfortable, with manual side-window sunshades, adjustable armrests, USB ports, and storage pockets. A button on the second-row captain’s chairs facilitated access to the third-row seating area, which was more comfortable than many competitors. The Telluride provided generous storage space, with a “smart” power tailgate and an automatic closing function. Cargo space was tight behind the third row at 601 litres, but folding the third row expanded it to 1,304 litres, with a maximum volume of 2,455 litres with both rear rows folded.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered more rear-seat legroom and cargo space than some three-row competitors. The Santa Fe's rear-seat legroom was among the best in its class at 1,060 millimetres. Cargo space behind the second row was 1,032 litres, expanding to 2,041 litres with the second row folded. An underfloor storage compartment added to the cargo area's utility. The Santa Fe's seat comfort was a strength, with an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats standard in Canada. Comfort and convenience features included dual-zone climate control, rear window sunshades, and a hands-free smart liftgate on higher trims. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured Remote Smart Parking Assist, a head-up display, premium trim, and ambient lighting. The panoramic sunroof and head-up display were highlights, though the driver's seat height adjustment and wide centre console had minor drawbacks.

The 2023 Kia Telluride came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, navigation, and Kia Connect services. The voice recognition system performed well, though it couldn't adjust the climate control. Over-the-air updates kept the system current, and Bluetooth supported pairing two devices simultaneously. The Telluride included six USB charging ports, Driver Talk, and Quiet Mode. A wireless phone charger was standard in Canada, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was standard from the SX grade. Digital-key technology allowed smartphones or smartwatches to function as the vehicle's key. The Full Display rear-view mirror and optional head-up display added convenience. The Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system was a standout feature, reminding drivers when traffic ahead started moving.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a 4.2-inch colour LCD 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, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, BlueLink services, and USB ports. Wireless device charging and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system were available on higher trims. The infotainment system offered clear graphics and logical home screen icons, though navigating sub-menus revealed extensive customization options. Voice recognition capabilities were mixed, handling address and point-of-interest commands well but struggling with music and temperature adjustments. The system sometimes required shouting into the microphone for desired results, and it couldn't turn on seat heaters.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and a new junction turning system. Automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist were also standard. The Safe Exit Assist system and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability were included. Highway Drive Assist 1.5 provided semi-autonomous driving assistance, with Advanced Highway Drive Assist adding Lane Change Assist. Additional features included automatic high-beam headlights, a driver attention warning system, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The Telluride received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, though NHTSA crash-test results were unavailable.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a wide array of standard safety-related ADAS, 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. Highway Driving Assist was standard on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, combining 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. The Ultimate Calligraphy's projector-type headlights were preferred over the lower trims' reflector-type units.