2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 was a testament to Mazda's ambition to edge closer to luxury territory. It showcased an elegant design that borrowed from its smaller siblings, the CX-30 and CX-5, but on a grander scale. The SUV's imposing presence was accentuated by its large grille, wide-set front end, and wheels ranging from 18 to 21 inches. Inside, the CX-90 offered a luxurious experience, especially in the top-tier trims, with brown suede upholstery, wood inlays, and matte black plastic accents. The interior design was both stylish and comfortable, with a range of trims and powertrains available, including a plug-in hybrid option.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe maintained its chunky, boxy design from its 2024 debut, with a long wheelbase and distinctive H-shaped LED headlamps. The SUV offered a variety of vibrant colours, breaking away from the typical greyscale of many SUVs. However, the rear design suffered from mismatched proportions, with taillights positioned lower than ideal. Inside, the Santa Fe provided ample space for seven passengers, except in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which featured captain's chairs. The interior was well-equipped, though some squeaks and rattles were noted during testing. The Santa Fe's design was practical, with adjustable second-row seats and a spacious cargo area.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 introduced two new powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid option and a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system. The base turbo I6 delivered 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, while the upgraded version in the GT-P and Signature trims offered 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel. All models came with AWD and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The CX-90's driving modes, including Normal, Sport, and Off-Road, provided a dynamic driving experience, though the transmission occasionally showed inconsistent behaviour in Sport mode. The PHEV model offered 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, with an all-electric range of 42 kilometres.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a standard 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. AWD was standard across the lineup. The Santa Fe Hybrid, a separate model, combined a 1.6-litre engine with an electric motor for 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe handled well in corners, though turbo lag and occasional transmission delays were noted. The XRT trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities with 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, but it wasn't designed for rugged terrain.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 offered various seating configurations, with the lowest trims seating eight passengers and mid-level trims featuring captain's chairs for seven. The Turbo Signature trim had an exclusive six-seat layout. Cargo space varied slightly depending on the seating configuration, with a maximum of 2,129 litres available. The CX-90 provided ample storage options, including a large centre console and spacious door pockets. Despite its improvements over the CX-9, the CX-90's cargo capacity and third-row legroom were still less than some competitors.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in interior space, offering the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats had adjustable cushion angles, and both the second and third rows could be folded for increased cargo space. With all rows folded, the Santa Fe offered 2,267 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 varied by trim, with the XRT capable of towing up to 2,040 kilograms.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 focused on minimizing distractions with its Mazda Connect infotainment system, which used a rotary control knob and hard buttons instead of a touchscreen. While the intention was to enhance safety, the system's quirks often led to frustration. However, the CX-90 offered personalization software that adjusted settings based on facial recognition. Standard features included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with wireless functionality in higher trims.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster. The system was user-friendly, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered additional features like a digital rearview mirror and head-up display. The Santa Fe also included Bluelink app connectivity for remote vehicle management and over-the-air updates.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 came equipped with i-Activsense, Mazda's suite of advanced driver assistance systems, as standard. This included features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The CX-90's top-spec Signature trim also offered cruising and traffic support. While crash test ratings were not yet available, the CX-90 was expected to perform well based on the CX-9's accolades.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive set of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision avoidance assist. Higher trims added features like rear parking collision avoidance assist and Highway Drive Assist. The Santa Fe received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating from the IIHS, with some exceptions in headlight and LATCH categories.