2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban, a long-standing icon in the automotive world, continued to impress with its massive size and presence. Despite its imposing dimensions, the Suburban managed to blend seamlessly into traffic, a testament to its status as an automotive institution. Measuring 5,733 millimetres in length and 1,923 millimetres in height, it was not a vehicle for everyone, especially those navigating urban environments. However, for those in need of ample cargo and passenger space, as well as significant towing capacity, the Suburban was a solid choice. Available in six trims, from the base LS to the luxurious High Country, the Suburban offered a range of features, including automatic windshield wipers, LED lighting, and tinted windows. While the interior provided comfort and space, even the top trims felt somewhat pedestrian, with options like power running-board steps and a panoramic moonroof available at an additional cost.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in three trims—XRT, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy—offered a distinct design with its chunky, boxy silhouette and pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps. The rear design, however, suffered from mismatched proportions, with taillights positioned lower than ideal. Each trim featured specific wheel sizes, with the XRT trim adding off-road elements like chrome and black trim and black roof rails. Inside, the Santa Fe accommodated seven passengers, except for the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which featured captain's chairs in the second row. 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 proved less user-friendly. Overall, the Santa Fe offered a spacious and versatile interior, with the ability to fold the second and third rows for increased cargo capacity.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine options: a 5.3-litre V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, a 6.2-litre V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.0-litre Duramax turbodiesel six-cylinder with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The 5.3-litre V8 was the most common, providing ample power and a towing capacity of up to 3,765 kilograms with the Max Trailering Package. The 6.2-litre V8, available on higher trims, offered smoother acceleration, while the diesel engine delivered better fuel economy and was available at no extra cost on the High Country trim. The Suburban's 10-speed automatic transmission was well-tuned, and the vehicle's size was manageable, though drivers needed to account for its weight and potential body roll.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a standard 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup. The Santa Fe Hybrid, a separate model, combined a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a total of 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. The Santa Fe offered stable handling and responsive steering, though turbo lag and occasional transmission delays were noted. The gear selector, located on a stalk, required some adjustment. The XRT trim, with its 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, provided better off-road capabilities, though it was not designed for rugged terrain.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in cargo space, offering 1,175 litres behind the third row, 2,656 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 4,097 litres. This made it a top choice for those needing significant carrying capacity, surpassing competitors like the Ford Expedition Max and Jeep Wagoneer L. The Suburban's 106-litre fuel tank, combined with the diesel engine's efficiency, allowed for extended highway driving between fill-ups.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe provided ample interior space, with 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 for increased cargo capacity. With all seats in use, the Santa Fe offered 413 litres of space, expanding to 1,148 litres with the third row folded and 2,267 litres with the second row down. The widened rear opening facilitated loading larger items. The Santa Fe's towing capacity varied by trim, with the XRT capable of towing up to 2,040 kilograms.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban's infotainment system featured a 10.2-inch touchscreen on most trims, with an 8-inch screen on the base LS. The system included Google Built-in, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. A rear-seat entertainment system was available as an option. However, the 10-speaker Bose audio system lacked the depth of higher-speaker-count systems found in competitors.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital gauge cluster on most trims, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered additional features like a digital rearview mirror and head-up display. The Santa Fe included multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad, with the ability to use a phone or Apple watch as a digital key. Bluelink app connectivity provided remote access and monitoring features.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with four stars in frontal crash tests, five in side-crash tests, and three in rollover tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and Chevy’s Teen Driver feature. Higher trims offered additional ADAS and the option for Super Cruise, a semi-autonomous driving system.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision avoidance assist. The Highway Drive Assist feature combined adaptive cruise control and lane following assist, though its performance varied in traffic. The top trims included additional features like blind spot avoidance and Blind View Monitor. The Santa Fe received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating from the IIHS, with some exceptions.