2025 Acura MDX vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a bold departure from its predecessors, showcasing a unique design that diverged from the sleek, futuristic aesthetics of the Ioniq series. It embraced a boxy shape, optimized for storage capacity, while maintaining an upscale and premium appearance. The Santa Fe's aerodynamic efficiency was surprisingly high, drawing attention from onlookers with its sophisticated exterior colours and anodized-finish badging. Inside, the Santa Fe offered a luxurious experience, particularly in the XRT and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, with premium materials and thoughtful design elements.

In contrast, the 2025 Acura MDX underwent subtle styling updates, including a new grille and revised bumpers, enhancing its sporty presence. The interior saw significant changes with the introduction of a new touchscreen infotainment system, replacing the previous touchpad interface. The MDX Platinum Elite A-Spec trim featured upgraded seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions, adding to its comfort. Despite some minor drawbacks, such as the gloss black plastic trim, the MDX maintained its reputation for quality and logical control placement.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe in Canada offered a hybrid powertrain as the entry-level option, featuring a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. It used a six-speed automatic transmission instead of a CVT. Higher trims came with a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, delivering 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard, and driving modes included Normal, Sport, and Snow. The Santa Fe Hybrid boasted impressive fuel economy, while the gas powertrain consumed more. The XRT trim offered additional off-road capabilities and increased towing capacity.

The 2025 Acura MDX positioned itself as a performance-oriented luxury SUV. Most buyers opted for the standard 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The MDX featured Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system, providing confidence on twisty roads. Fuel economy was decent, though it dropped when using Sport mode. The MDX excelled in typical driving situations, offering a smooth and comfortable ride. However, it was not designed for off-roading, with limited ground clearance and performance tires.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a longer wheelbase and body, focusing on maximizing cargo space. The design was inspired by the concept of "chabak," emphasizing comfort for car camping and tailgating. While the third row was snug, the first and second rows were spacious. The Santa Fe offered various seating options, with premium materials available in higher trims. Cargo space was generous, with 413 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,267 litres with seats folded. Additional features included a UV sanitization compartment and robust roof rails.

The 2025 Acura MDX offered 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions in the Platinum Elite A-Spec trim. The second row could be configured as a bench or individual seats, with a pass-through to the third row. While the third row was cramped for adults, the second row provided ample comfort. Cargo volume reached 512 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,690 litres with seats folded. The MDX featured practical storage solutions, though some areas were limited in space.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a curved panoramic display, integrating digital real estate elegantly. The touchscreen was intuitive, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. A 12-speaker Bose stereo and multiple USB ports enhanced connectivity. Higher trims offered wireless charging and Hyundai’s BlueLink system for vehicle access and information.

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 was intuitive, with seamless smartphone integration. AcuraLink connected services and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot were standard. The Bang & Olufsen audio system provided exceptional sound quality. A head-up display and surround-view camera system were available in higher trims.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe included a comprehensive suite of safety features, with most advanced systems standard. These included adaptive cruise control, collision-avoidance assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims added a 360-degree camera system and upgraded collision avoidance systems. The Santa Fe was the first Hyundai with driver monitoring, enhancing safety.

The 2025 Acura MDX featured the AcuraWatch suite, with forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. New radar units and cameras improved accuracy, offering features like front cross-traffic alert and evasive steering warning. The MDX maintained a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS.