The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a distinct departure from the brand's recent design language, which had been gradually evolving through models like the Palisade and Ioniq series. Its boxy silhouette was a bold move, emphasizing storage capacity and aerodynamics, a combination that intrigued onlookers in rural Tennessee. The Santa Fe's exterior was enhanced by a sophisticated color palette and anodized-finish badging, while the XRT trim added a rugged touch with dark chrome and black cladding. Inside, the Santa Fe offered a premium experience, especially in the XRT and Calligraphy trims, with a mix of soft and hard materials that created a luxurious ambiance. The headliner fabric was particularly noteworthy for its comfort and style.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Palisade leveraged a bold design to stand out in the SUV market. Its angular and technical look, introduced in the 2023 refresh, replaced the previous chubby-cheeked appearance, giving it a more upscale and balanced form. The interior of the Palisade, even in the base SE trim, exuded a modern and luxurious feel, with premium materials like leather and artificial suede in higher trims. The Palisade was equipped with thoughtful details, such as USB ports in the front seatbacks and smartphone storage pockets, enhancing its practicality. The Calligraphy trim, in particular, offered a high level of comfort with features like massaging front seats and heated third-row seating.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe was powered by 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 offered 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, providing 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy varied, with the FWD base version achieving 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, while the hybrid offered up to 36 mpg combined. The Santa Fe's towing capacity reached 4,500 pounds in the XRT trim, thanks to additional cooling features.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade featured a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Palisade's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, and it achieved an EPA-rated 22 mpg combined. Despite its age, the Palisade's driving dynamics remained impressive, with a firm ride at lower speeds and a softer feel on highways. The powertrain was smooth and refined, offering satisfying performance, though it was less fuel-efficient than some competitors. During testing, the Palisade demonstrated excellent handling and braking, with a Smart driving mode that adjusted to various conditions.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's design focused on maximizing cargo space, with a longer wheelbase and body compared to its predecessor. The cargo area, inspired by the "chabak" concept, was designed for car camping and tailgating, featuring an extra-wide tailgate and ample storage. While the third row was snug, the first and second rows offered generous space and comfort. The Santa Fe's interior materials varied by trim, with options like stain-resistant cloth, synthetic leather, and quilted Nappa leather. The cargo area provided 14.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 79.6 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade offered three rows of seating, with the Calligraphy trim featuring Nappa leather and massaging front seats. The second-row captain's chairs were heated and ventilated, providing excellent comfort, while the third row, also heated, accommodated adults with minimal complaints. The Palisade's storage solutions were thoughtful, with adjustable cupholders and smartphone trays. The Smart Liftgate feature allowed hands-free access to the cargo area, which offered 18 cubic feet of space behind the third row, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a curved panoramic display, a first in its segment, enhancing the cabin's luxurious feel. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-speaker Bose stereo, and a 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 added security.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade's technology, while slightly dated, remained functional and feature-rich. The test vehicle included a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, though smartphone connectivity required a cable. The Palisade offered Bluetooth support, wireless charging, and a Harman Kardon audio system. The voice recognition system performed well, and the Palisade included Hyundai Pay and a digital rearview mirror. A head-up display and surround-view camera system enhanced the driving experience.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe had not yet been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features. Standard equipment included 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 driver monitoring system.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade offered a robust set of safety features under the Hyundai SmartSense umbrella. Standard features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added advanced technologies like a surround-view camera, blind-spot view monitor, and remote smart parking assist. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS through 2024, though a Poor rating in a new test prevented it from receiving the accolade in 2025. The NHTSA awarded the Palisade five-star frontal impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings.