2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2025 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in Canada in XRT, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, maintained its bold, boxy design from its 2024 debut. Its long wheelbase, flat hood, and pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps aligned with Hyundai's design language, offering vibrant colours like Terracotta Orange and Atlantis Blue. However, the rear design suffered from mismatched proportions, with taillights positioned lower than ideal. Each trim featured distinct wheels, ranging from 18 to 21 inches, with the XRT trim adding off-road elements like chrome and black trim. Inside, the Santa Fe accommodated seven passengers, except for the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which offered captain's chairs. The interior boasted leatherette, leather, or Nappa leather upholstery, though some dashboard squeaks were noted. The HVAC system included physical dials, but fan speed controls were less intuitive.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban, a staple in the full-size SUV market, retained its iconic profile while introducing modern front and rear fascias and lighting. The trim lineup remained consistent, with the LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier, and High Country options. The RST and High Country trims offered 24-inch wheels, though they were costly and harsh on rough roads. Inside, the Suburban saw significant upgrades, including a 17.7-inch touchscreen, replacing the outdated 10.2-inch version. The interior featured a more sophisticated design, with improved HVAC controls and a Mercedes-esque column shifter. The Suburban's spaciousness and towing capacity were highlights, with the diesel engine offering impressive fuel efficiency. The Magnetic Ride Control suspension provided a smoother ride, especially on higher trims, while the adjustable air suspension enhanced comfort.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, with AWD standard across the lineup. The eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission occasionally lagged in downshifts, and turbo lag was noticeable during acceleration. The Santa Fe Hybrid, with a 1.6-litre engine and electric motor, delivered 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. The XRT trim, with 30-inch all-terrain tires and 21.2 cm ground clearance, offered improved off-road capabilities but wasn't suited for rugged terrain.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban offered a 5.3-litre V8 with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque as the base engine, while the 6.2-litre V8, standard on the High Country, delivered 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The 3.0-litre Duramax diesel engine, with 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque, was a standout, offering quiet and smooth performance. A 10-speed automatic transmission paired with each engine, and the column-mounted shifter was intuitive. The Suburban's steering was light, but the brake pedal required adjustment. The Magnetic Ride Control suspension, standard on higher trims, provided a softer ride, and the adjustable air suspension enhanced comfort. The 24-inch wheels, though visually impressive, were harsh on rough roads and costly.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered ample interior space, with the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats featured adjustable cushion angles, and the cargo area expanded to 2,267 litres with the second and third rows folded. The liftgate width increased to 127.5 cm, accommodating larger items. The Santa Fe's towing capacity ranged from 1,587 kg to 2,040 kg, depending on the trim.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in passenger and cargo space, with 1,175 litres of luggage capacity behind the third row, expanding to 4,092 litres with all seats folded. The Suburban's towing capacity reached 3,765 kg with the Max Trailering Package. The diesel engine offered excellent fuel efficiency, with nearly 1,000 km of highway driving on a single tank.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital gauge cluster, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered navigation, a digital rearview mirror, and a head-up display. Bluelink app connectivity and over-the-air updates were standard across all trims.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban introduced a 17.7-inch touchscreen, 11-inch driver information display, and available 15-inch HUD. Google Built-in provided native integration of Google Maps and other apps. The user interface was intuitive, though the steering wheel controls required adjustment. Physical buttons for essential functions remained, and the Bose stereo, while improved, lagged behind competitors.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe included adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision avoidance as standard features. The Highway Drive Assist feature combined adaptive cruise control and lane following assist, though it occasionally struggled in heavy traffic. The NHTSA awarded the Santa Fe a four-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it "Good" in most categories.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review. However, it included a comprehensive suite of ADAS features, such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a surround-view camera. GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving technology was available on most trims, though not at launch.