2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2023 Volkswagen Taos

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was designed to appeal to a broad audience, offering affordability and practicality while maximizing passenger comfort. Despite its small SUV classification, the Taos was nearly as roomy inside as the larger Tiguan model, making it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs available. The Highline trim, with its Cornflower Blue paint and 19-inch alloy wheels, provided a stylish and upscale appearance. Inside, the Taos Highline featured light grey seat and dashboard accents, gloss black trim, metallic detailing, and leather seats, giving it a premium feel akin to a more affordable Audi.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe's exterior styling was more conservative, yet still attractive. The five-passenger SUV was available in four trim levels in Canada, all with standard all-wheel drive. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, tested in the U.S., featured a rich Stormy Sea paint and a black interior with Nappa leather seats. While the cabin was high-quality, it was somewhat dark and monotone. The Santa Fe offered a comfortable ride with heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats, making it a practical choice for varying weather conditions.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission for front-wheel drive models and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic for all-wheel drive versions. The Taos offered up to five driving modes, but its powertrain response was unpredictable, with occasional surges of torque and transmission halting behaviour. Despite its sporty character, the Taos lacked power compared to rivals like the Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona N. The Taos Highline averaged 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres during testing, slightly above the official rating.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder with 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged version with 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft. The turbocharged engine, paired with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission, provided immediate acceleration and passing power, especially in Sport mode. The Santa Fe's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering. The turbocharged version could tow up to 1,587 kg with trailer brakes, making it a versatile choice for those needing extra power and towing capacity.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos offered a spacious interior with cloth, CloudTex artificial leatherette, or real leather seats, depending on the trim. Standard cold-weather equipment included heated side mirrors, heated washer nozzles, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Taos provided ample rear-seat room and comfort, with a panoramic sunroof in the Highline trim. Cargo space was generous, with 790 litres behind the back seat and 1,866 litres with the rear seat folded down, slightly reduced in all-wheel drive models.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, provided ample rear-seat legroom and cargo space. The rear-seat legroom measured 1,060 millimetres, and cargo space behind the second row was 1,032 litres, expanding to 2,041 litres with the seats folded. The Santa Fe featured an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and dual-zone climate control. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included a hands-free smart liftgate, ventilated front seats, and a head-up display. The panoramic sunroof and underfloor storage compartment added to the Santa Fe's practicality.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos came with standard digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch screen for Trendline and Comfortline trims and a 10.25-inch display for the Highline. The infotainment system varied by trim, with the Highline featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an eight-speaker Beats Audio system. However, the user experience was marred by hidden virtual controls, a cumbersome radio tuning process, and ineffective voice-recognition technology. Pairing a smartphone and using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto was recommended for a better experience.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, offering 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, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clearly marked icons and extensive customization options. Voice-recognition capabilities were mixed, with some difficulty in recognizing commands for music and temperature changes.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos improved its standard safety features, including Front Assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Comfortline trim added Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Taos also featured a post-collision automatic braking system, automatic high-beam headlights, and parking sensors with automatic braking. Travel Assist performed well, maintaining proper distance and accelerating smoothly. However, crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were decent but not perfect.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Highway Driving Assist was standard on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, enhancing adaptive cruise control. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" from IIHS, with Good ratings in all crashworthiness tests. The safe-exit warning system and rear-seat reminder added to the Santa Fe's safety credentials.