Hyundai Santa Fe vs GMC Yukon

The 2022 GMC Yukon was a striking presence on the road, especially for those with a penchant for chrome. Even the base SLE model boasted enough shiny elements to give it a premium appearance. As one ascended the trim levels to the Denali, the deliberate use of chrome became even more apparent. The Denali's front was almost entirely constructed of chrome, with a vast, multi-dimensional grille that resembled an industrial-sized cheese grater. This design choice gave the vehicle a unique look and a commanding presence, which is essential for a full-size luxury SUV. The Denali's 22-inch bright machined aluminum wheels, part of the optional Ultimate package, stood out against the dark Redwood Metallic paint, adding to its allure.

Inside, the Yukon offered a spacious and tastefully crafted cabin with standard seating for eight, or seven with the optional second-row captain's chairs. The Denali trim featured four exclusive interior designs, with the Teak/Light Shale colour combo being particularly noteworthy. The contrasting colours, unique stitching, and natural wood details contributed to a premium interior look. The AT4 trim, with its off-road orientation, had a distinct Jet Black interior with Brandy accents and dark brushed aluminum details, adding to its rugged appeal. The Yukon ensured comfort across all three rows, even for taller passengers, making it a versatile choice for families.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, in contrast, had a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's recent models. While it was an attractive SUV, it didn't have the standout looks of some of its siblings. The Santa Fe was available in four trim levels in Canada, all with standard all-wheel drive. Our U.S.-spec test vehicle, the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, featured a distinctive Stormy Sea paint, a deep, rich dark blue. The Santa Fe's exterior was characterized by its wide upper and lower grilles, a signature look within the Hyundai family, complemented by thin LED headlights.

Inside, the Santa Fe's cabin was high-quality but somewhat dark and monotone in appearance. The Nappa leather seats in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim were both comfortable and attractive, with heated and cooled front seats as standard. The second row also featured seat heaters, adding to the comfort. The Santa Fe's interior was spacious, with 1,060 millimetres of rear-seat legroom, making it one of the leaders in its class. Cargo space was also competitive, with 1,032 litres behind the second row and 2,041 litres with the seats folded down. The Santa Fe's interior was well-equipped with comfort and convenience features, including a panoramic sunroof and a head-up display, although some minor ergonomic issues were noted.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered a choice of three engines, including a 5.3-litre V8 engine standard on all trims except the Denali, which produced 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The Denali and AT4 trims featured a 6.2-litre V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. A new addition to the lineup was a 3.0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder engine, producing 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, available on all trims except the AT4. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Yukon had a maximum towing capacity of 3,810 kilograms with the 5.3-litre engine and the Max Trailering Package. The Denali trim, with the 6.2-litre V8, had a tow rating of 3,629 kilograms. The Yukon's independent rear suspension improved handling and ride quality, although some bouncing was noted over rutted pavement.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-litre engine, available in naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions. The Preferred trim featured a naturally aspirated engine with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims had a turbocharged engine with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine provided a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and passing power, especially in Sport mode. The Santa Fe's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering. The turbocharged version had a towing capacity of 1,587 kilograms, while the non-turbo version could tow 907 kilograms.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered ample passenger space across its three rows, with significant improvements in third-row legroom following its redesign. The third-row legroom increased to 886 millimetres, and cargo space behind the third row expanded to 722 litres. The Yukon's wheelbase stretch and independent rear suspension contributed to the increased space. The second-row seats folded flat, and power fold-and-tumble bucket seats were available for easy access to the third row. The Denali trim featured a power-sliding centre console with additional storage space. The Yukon also had power-retractable, illuminated assist steps, making it easier to enter and exit the vehicle.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered generous rear-seat legroom of 1,060 millimetres and competitive cargo space of 1,032 litres behind the second row. Folding the second row provided 2,041 litres of storage space. The Santa Fe's interior was comfortable, with standard features like an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats. The top trims included a hands-free smart liftgate, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured Remote Smart Parking Assist, a head-up display, and ambient lighting. However, some ergonomic issues were noted, such as the driver's seat position and the wide centre console affecting leg space.

The 2022 GMC Yukon came equipped with a 12-inch reconfigurable driver information centre, providing access to phone, audio, and navigation functions. The Denali trim featured a 15-inch multi-colour head-up display, the largest in its class, displaying driving speed, safety aids, and off-road information. The Yukon's 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system included Google Built-In, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Bose 14-speaker audio system. The Denali Ultimate Package added a rear-seat media system with dual 12.6-inch LCD HD touchscreens.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a 4.2-inch colour LCD multi-information display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. All trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The infotainment system offered extensive customization options, although voice-recognition capabilities were mixed. The system efficiently handled navigation commands but struggled with music requests and climate control adjustments.

The 2022 GMC Yukon came with GMC's Pro Safety suite, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The Pro Safety Plus package added lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Yukon received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with four stars for front crash protection, five stars for side crash protection, and three stars for rollover resistance.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included Highway Driving Assist. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, with the highest-possible Good ratings in all crashworthiness tests.