Hyundai Santa Fe vs Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid emerged with a bold new design, characterized by sharp, angular lines that set it apart from its predecessors. This fourth-generation model was longer and wider, making a clear departure from the previous, more rounded design. The Tucson's exterior was a gamble, with its dramatic grille seamlessly integrating with the LED headlights and running lights, creating a futuristic appearance. The interior was spacious and airy, featuring a hoodless driver information display that, while sharp, tended to gather dust. The centre console was somewhat bulky, but the overall design provided an unobstructed view, complemented by features like heated front seats and a proximity key.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe maintained a more conservative exterior design, continuing the look from the previous year. The SUV's wide grilles and thin LED headlights were its most distinctive features, but the overall styling was more subdued compared to other Hyundai models. Inside, the Santa Fe offered a high-quality cabin with Nappa leather seats and a choice of interior colours to break the monotony. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured luxurious touches like a head-up display and a panoramic sunroof, enhancing the vehicle's appeal. Despite some minor ergonomic issues, the Santa Fe's interior was comfortable and well-equipped.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid impressed with its 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering a combined 226 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque when paired with an electric motor. The hybrid's steering was responsive, and its six-speed automatic transmission performed admirably. The suspension effectively absorbed road imperfections, providing a balanced ride. Fuel efficiency was commendable, with the hybrid achieving 6.4 L/100 km combined, a significant improvement over the gas-only version. The plug-in hybrid variant offered even greater efficiency, with a 2.9 Le/100 km rating and 53 km of all-electric range.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre engine producing 191 horsepower and a turbocharged version delivering 281 horsepower. The turbocharged engine, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, provided brisk acceleration and smooth performance. The Santa Fe's drive-mode selector allowed for customization, enhancing the driving experience. While the turbocharged model excelled in acceleration and passing power, the non-turbo version was adequate for everyday driving. The Santa Fe's towing capacity varied, with the turbo model capable of towing up to 1,587 kg.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid offered impressive cargo space, with 1,097 litres in the trunk and 2,108 litres with the rear seats folded. The dual-level cargo floor added versatility, while the interior provided ample legroom for both front and rear passengers. The Tucson's ambient lighting added a touch of flair to the cabin, enhancing the overall experience.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, provided generous rear-seat legroom of 1,060 millimetres and competitive cargo space of 1,032 litres behind the second row. Folding the rear seats expanded the cargo area to 2,041 litres. The Santa Fe's interior featured standard dual-zone climate control and a range of comfort features, including heated and ventilated seats. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered advanced features like Remote Smart Parking Assist and a head-up display, adding to the vehicle's appeal.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, though the interface was limited to 8 inches when using these features. The touch-capacitive buttons for infotainment and HVAC controls were less user-friendly, but the vehicle offered ample USB ports and a premium Bose audio system in the Ultimate trim.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in technology, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, navigation, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and wireless device charging. The infotainment system was intuitive, with customizable settings and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system in the top trim. Voice recognition was mixed, but the system handled navigation commands well.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came equipped with a range of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and rear occupant alert. The Preferred trim added blind-spot collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control, while the Ultimate trim offered a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor. The Tucson received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted an extensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included Highway Driving Assist, enhancing the driving experience. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, underscoring its commitment to safety.