2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2025 Lexus GX

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 three-row configuration featured a long wheelbase, flat hood, and distinctive H-shaped LED headlamps, aligning with Hyundai's design language. The SUV offered vibrant colours like Terracotta Orange and Atlantis Blue, breaking away from the typical greyscale of many SUVs. However, the rear design suffered from mismatched proportions, with taillights positioned lower than ideal, affecting the overall visual balance. Inside, the Santa Fe accommodated seven passengers, except for the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which featured captain's chairs. The interior materials ranged from leatherette to Nappa leather, though some dashboard squeaks were noted. The physical HVAC dials were appreciated, but the fan speed controls were less intuitive.

The 2025 Lexus GX underwent a significant redesign for the 2024 model year, presenting a striking new look reminiscent of classic Land Rover models. Its robust exterior featured LED headlights and a well-proportioned grille, complemented by 33-inch tires on matte grey 18-inch wheels. The Overtrail+ package added off-road enhancements like rock rails and a raised ride height. Inside, the GX exuded luxury with quality switchgear and chic design elements. The spacious interior offered ample headroom and legroom, with seats upholstered in NuLuxe faux leather, featuring heating, ventilation, and massaging functions. Visibility was excellent, aided by tall windows and an elevated ride height, making it a comfortable and capable choice for both urban and off-road adventures.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe was powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, delivering 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup in Canada. The Santa Fe Hybrid, a separate model, combined a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, also with standard AWD. The Santa Fe offered stable handling and responsive steering, though turbo lag and occasional transmission delays were noted. The gear selector, located on a stalk, required some acclimation. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, enhancing off-road capabilities, though it wasn't suited for rugged terrain.

The 2025 Lexus GX featured a twin-turbo 3.4-litre V6 engine, producing 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, with full-time four-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The GX accelerated from 0-100 km/h in approximately 6.5 seconds, outperforming its predecessor. The GX's performance was robust, with ample power throughout the rev range, though the transmission occasionally hesitated. Fuel economy was rated at 15.3 L/100 km in the city, 11.2 on the highway, and 13.5 combined, with real-world figures averaging 19.0 L/100 km. The GX excelled in off-road conditions, with features like a locking centre differential and downhill assist control, making it a formidable off-road vehicle.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a well-equipped interior, with features like heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a sunroof. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added heated second-row seats and a premium audio system. The Santa Fe boasted the most third-row legroom in its class, with adjustable second-row seats. Cargo space was generous, with 1,148 litres available with the third row folded, expanding to 2,267 litres with the second row down. The rear opening was widened to 127.5 cm, facilitating easy loading. Towing capacity varied, with most trims capable of towing 1,587 kilograms, while the XRT trim could tow up to 2,040 kilograms.

The 2025 Lexus GX provided ample interior space, with front headroom measuring 1,001 mm and rear headroom at 1,095 mm. Legroom was generous, with 1,047 mm up front and 933 mm in the second row. The GX offered substantial cargo space, with 291 litres available with all seats in use, expanding to 2,177 litres with the second and third rows folded. The Overtrail packages, without a third row, offered up to 2,563 litres of cargo space. The GX's towing capacity was impressive at 4,111 kilograms. Despite its size, the GX was easy to manoeuvre and park, with dimensions comparable to competitors like the Land Rover Defender 110 and BMW X5.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. Navigation was available on higher trims. Multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad were included, with digital key functionality allowing phone-based access. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered a digital rearview mirror and head-up display. Bluelink app connectivity provided remote access and monitoring features, with over-the-air updates ensuring up-to-date software.

The 2025 Lexus GX boasted a 12.3-inch gauge cluster and a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, offering smooth operation and intuitive design. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth were standard. A Mark Levinson Premium Audio system was available on higher trims, providing good audio quality. Six USB-C ports were standard, with cooling available in the armrest storage on select packages.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision avoidance assist. Higher trims offered additional 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.

The 2025 Lexus GX featured the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and blind-spot monitoring. The Overtrail+ trim added pedestrian detection. A 360-degree camera system was available, enhancing visibility. The GX had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA but included 10 airbags for occupant protection.