2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Buick Envista

The 2024 Buick Envista, while sharing its platform with the Chevy Trax, took a distinct styling path with its sloping roofline, giving it a "crossover coupe" appearance reminiscent of more upscale models like the BMW X2, X4, and X6. This design choice, while potentially compromising rear visibility, was deemed acceptable. The front-end styling, inspired by the Buick Wildcat EV concept, featured a split lighting design with daytime running lights positioned above the actual headlights, which were integrated into vertical elements flanking the grille. This sleek design was a first for Buick, setting the Envista apart from its siblings, the Envision and Encore GX, which adopted similar styling as part of their mid-cycle refreshes. The interior, while similar to the Trax, offered a more streamlined look with softer materials, though some textures felt artificial. Despite this, the cabin was a step up from the Trax, maintaining a balance between entry-level expectations and a touch of premium feel.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in three trims in Canada, presented a bold, boxy design with a long wheelbase and flat hood. Its H-shaped LED headlamps and taillights, though stylish, suffered from mismatched proportions at the rear. Each trim offered distinct wheel sizes, with the off-road-focused XRT trim featuring chrome and black exterior accents. Inside, the Santa Fe provided ample space for seven passengers, except in the top Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which replaced the second-row bench with captain's chairs. The interior boasted good fit and finish, though some squeaks and rattles were noted. The inclusion of physical dials for HVAC temperature was appreciated, but the fan speed buttons were less intuitive. Overall, the Santa Fe's design and interior space made it a strong contender in its class.

The 2024 Buick Envista was powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This setup, shared with the Trax, offered a refined driving experience, delivering power smoothly. Unlike its predecessor, the Buick Encore, the Envista did not offer an all-wheel-drive option, distinguishing it from the Encore GX. The suspension setup varied with trim levels, with the Avenir and some ST models featuring a Buick-exclusive Watts Link rear suspension for improved ride quality. The Envista handled well on challenging roads, though it felt slightly unsettled on less-than-perfect surfaces. Despite its small engine, the Envista provided adequate acceleration for highway merges, maintaining a quieter and more comfortable ride compared to its Chevy counterpart.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, delivering 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, with all-wheel drive standard across the lineup. An eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission managed the power delivery, though some turbo lag and delayed downshifts were noted. The Santa Fe Hybrid offered a combined output of 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, also with standard AWD. The Santa Fe's handling was stable, with firm brakes and responsive steering, though the gear selector's design required some acclimatization. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, enhancing its off-road capabilities. While not a rugged off-roader, the Santa Fe handled graded dirt roads with ease, making it suitable for light off-road adventures.

The 2024 Buick Envista, with its coupe-like design, was 36 centimetres longer than the outgoing Buick Encore, with a 14.5-centimetre wheelbase stretch. This resulted in increased rear-seat legroom by 7.6 cm and greater shoulder room in both rows. However, the sloping roofline reduced headroom, particularly for second-row passengers. The seats were comfortable, and a power moonroof was available on higher trims. The Envista's cargo space was limited, with 586 litres available with the rear seats up and 1,189 litres with them folded, less than its predecessor and the Chevy Trax.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in interior space, offering the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats featured adjustable cushion angles, and both the second and third rows could be folded with the press of a button, providing up to 2,267 litres of cargo space. With all seats occupied, 413 litres of space remained. The rear opening was widened to 127.5 cm, facilitating easier loading of bulky items. The Santa Fe's towing capacity varied by trim, with the XRT capable of towing up to 2,040 kilograms.

The 2024 Buick Envista featured an 11-inch touchscreen and 8-inch digital instrument cluster as standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The interface was user-friendly, though some controls were a reach for passengers. Optional tech features were limited, with wireless phone charging standard only on the top Avenir trim.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital gauge cluster on most trims, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment system was intuitive, though built-in navigation was reserved for higher trims. Multiple USB-C ports and wireless charging were available, with the Ultimate Calligraphy trim offering a digital key feature. The top trims also included a digital rearview mirror and head-up display, enhancing convenience and safety.

The 2024 Buick Envista's safety ratings were unavailable at the time of publication. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and more. In Canada, additional features like adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring were standard.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, with adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and more as standard. Higher trims included advanced features like Highway Drive Assist and Blind View Monitor. The NHTSA awarded the Santa Fe a four-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it "Good" in most categories.