Hyundai Santa Fe vs Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar traditional SUV styling. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile, reminiscent of the smaller 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly, with laser-etched knurling in the slots, and the wheel centre caps had an acrylic glass covering to protect the “Wagoneer” logo. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture, shared with the standard Wagoneer, allowed for independent front and rear suspension, while the aluminum hood and doors, along with a composite tailgate, helped save weight.

Inside, the Grand Wagoneer shared styling features with the Wagoneer, such as an integrated infotainment touchscreen, a large rotary shift knob, and a two-spoke steering wheel. However, it offered more convenience features and higher-quality materials. The Grand Wagoneer boasted 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, lumbar support, and four-way power headrests, along with standard heated first- and second-row seats and a heated steering wheel. Nappa leather upholstery was standard, with higher-grade Palermo leather available, complemented by aluminum and American Walnut wood trim. Subtle differences, like Mercedes-style seat controls on the doors and the “Grand Wagoneer” inscription on the dashboard, further set it apart from the Wagoneer.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, in contrast, presented a more conservative exterior styling compared to some of Hyundai's recent designs. While it was an attractive SUV, it didn't stand out as much as other models from the brand. The Santa Fe continued with the same look and feel as the 2022 model, available in four trim levels in Canada: Preferred, Urban, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy. All-wheel drive was standard on all trims in Canada. The U.S.-spec test vehicle, a top-of-the-line Ultimate Calligraphy trim, featured Stormy Sea paint, a deep, rich dark blue not offered in Canada. The Santa Fe's exterior styling was marked by its wide upper and lower grilles, a signature look in the Hyundai model family, and thin LED headlights that contributed to its distinct appearance.

Inside, the Calligraphy test vehicle had a black interior with black leather seats, offering a high-quality look and feel, albeit dark and monotone. The Nappa leather seats were both comfortable and attractive, with heated and cooled front seats standard in the Calligraphy trim. The second row also featured seat heaters. The Santa Fe's cabin was equipped with dual-zone climate control and rear window sunshades, with the top trims offering additional features like a hands-free smart liftgate, power driver seat cushion extension, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included Remote Smart Parking Assist, a head-up display, premium door and seat accent trim, a microfibre headliner, and ambient lighting. The extended panoramic sunroof and head-up display were standout features, though adjusting the display height required navigating vehicle-settings menus.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It featured cylinder deactivation for improved fuel efficiency and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup allowed the Grand Wagoneer to accelerate from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in approximately six seconds, impressive for its 2,900-kilogram weight. The Grand Wagoneer came standard with four-wheel drive, featuring the Quadra-Drive II system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. It also included Jeep’s Selec-Terrain system with five drive modes: Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, and Sand/Mud.

The Grand Wagoneer boasted a Quadra-Lift air suspension system, standard on this model, which was height-adjustable for off-roading, reducing aerodynamic drag on highways, or easing ingress and egress. With the suspension at its maximum height, the vehicle offered 25.4 centimetres of ground clearance, enabling a 25-degree approach angle, 24-degree departure angle, and 22-degree breakover angle. It could ford up to 60 centimetres of water and was equipped with skid plates for protection. Despite its powerful V8 engine, the Grand Wagoneer was best driven at a stately pace, as higher speeds resulted in a bouncy ride and imprecise steering. Its size was a limiting factor off-road, and it did not receive Jeep’s “Trail Rated” badge.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a 2.5-litre engine, with options for natural aspiration or forced induction. The Preferred trim featured a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. The Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims added a turbocharger, boosting output to 281 hp and 311 pound-feet, with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Santa Fe included a drive-mode selector with four customizable modes: Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart.

The turbocharged Santa Fe provided a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and no discernible turbo lag. The Ultimate Calligraphy test vehicle offered brisk acceleration without undue engine noise or harshness. Handling was smooth, with only slight body lean during cornering or highway-speed lane changes. The Santa Fe's dual-clutch transmission performed well, avoiding the low-gear clunkiness often associated with such systems. While the Santa Fe was not tested off-road, it offered towing capabilities of 907 kilograms for non-turbo models and 1,587 kg for turbo versions, with trailer brakes required for maximum capacity.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer accommodated seven passengers with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It offered more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80, though front-row space was more limited. The Grand Wagoneer provided 775 litres of cargo space with all three rows in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed. Folding all rear seats yielded 2,667 litres of cargo space, less than some rivals. It had a maximum towing capacity of 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. The Grand Wagoneer featured a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins, though forward visibility was somewhat limited.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered ample rear-seat legroom at 1,060 millimetres, among the best in its class. Cargo space behind the second row was a competitive 1,032 litres, expanding to 2,041 litres with the second row folded. An underfloor storage compartment added to its practicality. The Santa Fe's seat comfort was a highlight, with an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats standard in Canada. Comfort and convenience features included dual-zone climate control, rear window sunshades, and a hands-free smart liftgate on top trims. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added Remote Smart Parking Assist, a head-up display, premium trim, and ambient lighting. The panoramic sunroof and head-up display were standout features, though the driver's seat height adjustment could be problematic for some.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with 3D graphics, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a McIntosh audio system, and a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch centre console touchscreen, with an optional rear seat entertainment system adding two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer also offered a separate 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger, capable of controlling navigation and entertainment systems. It used the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which supported over-the-air updates. While the system was feature-rich, the screen response was slow, and the instrument cluster graphics were plain.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch colour LCD 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, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and BlueLink connected services. Wireless device charging and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system were standard on top trims. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clearly marked icons and logical arrangement. Voice-recognition capabilities were mixed, handling navigation commands well but struggling with music and temperature adjustments. Despite some challenges, the system offered extensive customization options.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time of review. It came with standard safety features like a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and advanced driver-assistance systems. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring, requiring hands-on driving, with a hands-free version planned for future release.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, driver monitoring, safe-exit assist, and a rear-seat reminder system. Highway Driving Assist was standard on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, enhancing adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, with high marks for crashworthiness and headlight performance.