2024 Chevrolet Trax vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax underwent a significant transformation, shedding its previous image to emerge as a more stylish and modern vehicle. The design team embraced a "longer, lower, wider" philosophy, resulting in a vehicle that was 28 centimetres longer, 10 centimetres lower, and 5 centimetres wider than its predecessor. The Trax borrowed styling cues from the midsize Chevy Blazer, featuring a prominent grille and distinctive body lines that gave it a commanding presence. Base models came with 17-inch steel wheels, while higher trims offered 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum options. The interior, though primarily plastic, featured a freestanding touchscreen and large air vents, adding a touch of sophistication to the entry-level model.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe maintained its boxy, three-row SUV design, with no major changes since its fifth-generation debut in 2024. The Santa Fe's design included pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps and taillights, fitting well with Hyundai's overall aesthetic. The SUV offered a range of vibrant colours, such as Terracotta Orange and Atlantis Blue, breaking away from the typical greyscale palette. Inside, the Santa Fe provided ample space, with room for seven passengers, except in the top Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which featured captain's chairs. The interior boasted a mix of leatherette, leather, and Nappa leather upholstery, depending on the trim level. However, some squeaks and rattles were noted during testing, and the fan speed buttons proved challenging to operate.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax featured a new 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. While power was slightly reduced compared to the previous 1.4-litre engine, the Trax managed to accelerate to 100 km/h about a second faster than its predecessor. The engine's flat torque curve provided strong response, and turbo lag was minimal. The Trax was available only with front-wheel drive, differentiating it from the all-wheel-drive Trailblazer. The handling was tuned to be more car-like, with a wider track for a planted feel, though limited grip and body roll reminded drivers of its econobox nature. Active noise cancellation improved refinement, but ride quality was on the rough side.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, delivering 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Santa Fe Hybrid offered a combined 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. While the Santa Fe felt stable in corners, turbo lag was noticeable, and the transmission occasionally hesitated to downshift. The gear selector, located on a stalk, required some getting used to. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, enhancing off-road capabilities, though it wasn't designed for rugged terrain.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax offered increased rear-seat legroom by 7.6 cm, with slight improvements in front-seat legroom. However, headroom decreased in the second row, and shoulder room was reduced in both rows. The Trax provided a car-like driving position with low window sills for excellent visibility. Cargo space increased by 12%, offering 725 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,532 litres with them folded, surpassing the Hyundai Venue but only slightly better than the Nissan Kicks.

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 for increased cargo capacity. With the third row folded, the Santa Fe provided 1,148 litres of space, expanding to 2,267 litres with the second row folded. Even with all three rows occupied, there was still 413 litres of cargo space. The rear opening was widened to 127.5 cm, making it easier to load large items. The Santa Fe's towing capacity ranged from 1,587 kilograms to 2,040 kilograms, depending on the trim.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax saw significant upgrades in infotainment technology, with an 8-inch touchscreen standard on lower trims and an 11-inch touchscreen with an 8-inch digital instrument cluster on higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with wireless phone charging, were available for the first time. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with crisp graphics and a logical menu layout. However, the screen's tilt towards the driver made it less accessible for passengers. The Trax also featured multiple USB ports and optional digital instrument clusters.

In Canada, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster of the same size. The system was easy to use, with clear graphics and quick response times. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, while navigation was available on higher trims. The Santa Fe featured multiple USB-C ports and wireless charging, with the Ultimate Calligraphy trim accommodating two phones. The digital key feature allowed users to unlock and start the car with their phone or Apple Watch. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim also offered a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax's crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of publication. However, it offered a range of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, and a following distance indicator. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. The Trax also came with the Teen Driver system, which monitored driving behaviour and provided a report card to parents.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, forward collision avoidance assist, lane keeping and lane following assist, a driver attention monitor, and safe exit assist. Additional features, such as rear parking collision avoidance assist and Highway Drive Assist, were available on higher trims. The NHTSA awarded the Santa Fe a four-out-of-five-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it as "Good" in most categories.