2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2023 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Subaru Outback underwent a facelift, featuring a new front end with redesigned LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper with dark gray vertical cladding. This design gave the Outback a more aggressive appearance, especially with the addition of a jutting simulated skid plate, fog lights in oversized housings, and asymmetrical wheel arch trim reminiscent of the Wilderness model. The Outback's styling changes were subjective, with darker paint colours helping to tone down the bold design. The Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the cladding well. The Outback was available in seven trims in Canada, with the Onyx Edition priced at $38,695. The Limited trim, tested in the U.S. equivalent, featured Cosmic Blue paint and Java Brown premium Nappa leather upholstery, offering a cohesive and upscale interior. Despite some hard plastic elements, the interior maintained a quality feel, though the large infotainment screen and gloss black trim were prone to dust and smudges.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe maintained a conservative exterior design, continuing the look from the 2022 model. Available in four trims in Canada, all with standard all-wheel drive, the Santa Fe's styling was marked by its wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, tested in the U.S., featured Stormy Sea paint and a black interior with Nappa leather seats. The cabin, while high-quality, was dark and monotone, with beige or gray interiors offering more visual contrast. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable, with heated and cooled front seats standard in the Calligraphy trim. The Santa Fe's interior was equipped with features like a head-up display and a panoramic sunroof, though the driver's seat height adjustment could be problematic for some.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured horizontally opposed engines, known for their flat design and characteristic grumble. The standard 2.5-litre engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. While the engine provided adequate power at lower speeds, it struggled with passing and climbing, and its fuel efficiency was below expectations, returning 9.2 L/100 km instead of the expected 8.3 L/100 km. The Outback XT models offered a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, providing better performance but at a higher cost and lower fuel efficiency. The Outback's AWD system and X-Mode traction system enhanced its off-road capabilities, while its suspension offered a firm yet comfortable ride. However, the standard engine's lack of power was a drawback, especially at higher elevations.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a 2.5-litre engine with options for natural aspiration or turbocharging. The naturally aspirated engine produced 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, while the turbocharged version delivered 281 hp and 311 lb-ft. The turbocharged engine, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, provided immediate acceleration and passing power, especially in Sport mode. The Santa Fe's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean, and the dual-clutch transmission performed well without low-speed clunkiness. The turbocharged Santa Fe could tow up to 1,587 kg, though trailer brakes were necessary for maximum capacity. Overall, the Santa Fe's performance was impressive for its class, offering a balance of power, ride, and handling.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a roof rack, flat door sill trim, and a dashboard storage shelf. The Limited trim offered a comfortable interior with power-adjustable seats, heated front and rear seats, and premium Nappa leather upholstery. The Outback provided ample legroom and cargo space, with 923 litres behind the rear seats and 2,141 litres with the seats folded. The vehicle's height made entry and exit easy, and the roof rack was robust for carrying additional cargo. However, the Outback could benefit from more practical storage space in the cabin.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered generous rear-seat legroom of 1,060 millimetres and competitive cargo space of 1,032 litres behind the second row. Folding the rear seats expanded the cargo area to 2,041 litres, with additional underfloor storage. The Santa Fe's interior featured comfortable seating, with power-adjustable and heated front seats standard. Higher trims included features like a hands-free smart liftgate, ventilated front seats, and a head-up display. The panoramic sunroof was a highlight, though the driver's seat height adjustment could be problematic for some. The wide centre console provided storage but limited leg and hip space for the driver.

The 2023 Subaru Outback, except for the Base trim, featured an 11.6-inch Starlink touchscreen infotainment system with physical controls for volume, tuning, and climate settings. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with a navigation system and Harman Kardon audio available on higher trims. While the system's usability improved, the graphics and voice recognition were lacking. Additional technologies included a digital rearview mirror and a front-view camera, though a surround-view camera was not available.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in technology, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen featuring navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Harman Kardon audio system on higher trims. The Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system was customizable, though voice recognition had mixed results. Wireless device charging was available on higher trims, and the Ultimate Calligraphy trim included advanced features like a head-up display and Remote Smart Parking Assist.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured EyeSight technology with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added blind spot monitoring and a new Automatic Emergency Steering system. The Outback received top safety ratings from the IIHS, though the adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist systems had a less natural feel. The rear automatic braking system was incompatible with some driveways, limiting its usefulness.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of ADAS, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included Highway Driving Assist, 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+" from the IIHS, with high marks in crashworthiness tests. The safety features provided peace of mind, with reminders for rear-seat passengers and safe-exit warnings.