2025 Acura MDX vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a bold departure from its predecessors, embracing a boxy design that contrasted sharply with the sleek, futuristic aesthetics of the Ioniq series. This new look was not only about style but also function, as Hyundai's design chief, SangYup Lee, emphasized the practicality of a box shape for storage capacity. Despite its angular form, the Santa Fe managed to appear upscale and elegant, drawing attention even in rural settings. The vehicle's sophisticated color palette, including matte options, and anodized-finish badging contributed to its premium appearance. Inside, the Santa Fe offered a luxurious experience, particularly in the XRT and Calligraphy trims, with plush materials and thoughtful design elements that enhanced comfort and style.

In contrast, the 2025 Acura MDX underwent subtle exterior updates, including a new grille, revised bumpers, and darkened lights, which enhanced its sporty and performance-oriented presence. The interior saw more significant changes, with the introduction of a new touchscreen infotainment system that replaced the previous touchpad interface, freeing up space for additional storage. The MDX Advance and A-Spec Advance trims featured upgraded seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions, previously exclusive to the Type S model. Acura also improved cabin quietness with added sound insulation and acoustic glass, maintaining the MDX's reputation for quality. However, the gloss black plastic trim on the dashboard was a minor drawback, as it easily collected dust and smudges.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a base powertrain featuring a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive optional, except for the XRT trim, which came with AWD as standard. The Santa Fe provided Normal, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the XRT adding off-road capabilities. A hybrid version with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine was also available, producing 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy varied, with the FWD base model achieving 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, while the hybrid offered up to 36 mpg combined. The Santa Fe excelled in towing, with the XRT trim capable of pulling 4,500 pounds. On the road, the Santa Fe delivered smooth and stable performance, though it exhibited some body roll in turns.

The 2025 Acura MDX positioned itself as a performance-oriented luxury SUV, with the Type S model featuring a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Most buyers opted for the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, offering 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) was optional on lower trims and standard on higher ones. The MDX provided Comfort, Normal, Sport, Snow, and Individual driving modes, with the A-Spec Advance trim achieving 21 mpg combined. The MDX excelled in handling, offering smooth and consistent body motions, though it experienced some brake fade during spirited driving. It provided a comfortable and quiet ride, suitable for commuting and road trips, but was not designed for off-roading.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a longer wheelbase and body compared to its predecessor, with most of the additional space dedicated to the cargo area. Inspired by the concept of "chabak," the Santa Fe's design emphasized car camping and tailgating, with an extra-wide tailgate and ample storage. While the third row was snug, the first and second rows offered spacious and comfortable seating. The Santa Fe's interior materials varied by trim, with options ranging from stain-resistant cloth to plush quilted Nappa leather. The cargo area provided 14.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 79.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. Notable features included a UV sanitization compartment in the glovebox and a new grab handle for loading cargo.

The 2025 Acura MDX offered 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions in the Advance and A-Spec Advance trims. The second row could be configured as a bench or individual seats, with the option to remove the center section for easier access to the third row. While the second row was comfortable, the third row was best suited for children due to limited space. The MDX provided 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 71.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. In-cabin storage was adequate, with a new center console tray and wireless charging pad. The cargo area featured a sizable well and hidden storage compartment.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a curved panoramic display that elegantly integrated digital real estate without being overwhelming. The touchscreen display was intuitive, with easy access to controls and crisp graphics. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a 12-speaker Bose stereo and Wi-Fi hotspot. The SE and SEL trims featured a simpler 12.3-inch touchscreen, while higher trims offered additional features like wireless charging and Hyundai Pay. The Santa Fe also introduced a biometric fingerprint scanner for valet mode control.

The 2025 Acura MDX introduced a new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Alexa and Google Built-in, replacing the previous touchpad interface. The system offered a natural and intuitive interface, with Google Assistant providing quick and accurate responses. The MDX featured an upgraded sound system, with Bang & Olufsen audio available in higher trims. The infotainment system paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 10.5-inch head-up display. The MDX Advance and A-Spec Advance included a surround-view camera system for enhanced visibility when parking.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe had not yet been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, but Hyundai vehicles typically performed well in these evaluations. The Santa Fe came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitors, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added features like a 360-degree camera system, remote automatic parking, and a head-up display. The Santa Fe was the first Hyundai vehicle to include driver monitoring, with an infrared camera and capacitive sensors to track alertness and hand placement.

The 2025 Acura MDX featured the AcuraWatch collection of driver assistance features, with improved accuracy and refinement for 2025. All MDX models included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The new AcuraWatch 360 package, exclusive to the Type S Advance, added features like front cross-traffic alert and active lane-change assist. The MDX received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though SH-AWD models lacked a rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not yet commented on the 2025 MDX's crash tests.