Hyundai Santa Fe vs Toyota Highlander

The 2022 Toyota Highlander presented a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design, with flared fender arches and a distinctive third-row window that gave it a compact appearance despite its spacious interior. Inside, the Highlander offered ample cabin space and clever storage solutions, making it family-friendly. The XSE trim, in particular, stood out with its bold red leather interior, unique exterior styling, ambient lighting, and sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander was available in several trims, each offering a range of features from standard all-wheel drive and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system to premium options like a panoramic moonroof and a JBL audio system.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe maintained a more conservative exterior design, which was attractive yet understated compared to some of Hyundai's other models. The Santa Fe was available in four trims in Canada, all with standard all-wheel drive. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, tested in the U.S., featured a rich dark blue exterior and a black leather interior. The cabin was high-quality but dark, with Nappa leather seats providing comfort. The Santa Fe excelled in offering a spacious two-row configuration, with ample rear-seat legroom and competitive cargo space. The top trims included features like a hands-free smart liftgate, a head-up display, and ambient lighting, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. This power was managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Highlander offered a drive-mode selector with Sport, Normal, and Eco modes, as well as an AWD system with Mud/Sand, Rock, and Normal modes. The V6 engine provided good pickup, especially at highway speeds, and the sport-tuned suspension in the XSE trim improved handling while maintaining comfort. The Highlander could tow up to 2,268 kilograms and had a max payload of 775 kilograms.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a choice between a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre engine with 191 horsepower and a turbocharged version with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine, available in the Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, provided immediate acceleration and passing power, with no noticeable turbo lag. The Santa Fe featured a drive-mode selector with Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes, and the turbocharged version used an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Santa Fe's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean, and it could tow up to 1,587 kilograms with the turbo engine.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander offered up to 2,387 litres of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded. With the second-row seats in use, there was 1,370 litres of cargo space, and 453 litres behind the third row. The Highlander featured deep front door pockets, a spacious centre console, and second-row captain’s chairs in the XSE trim. While the second row was spacious for adults, the third row was best suited for short trips.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, provided 1,060 millimetres of rear-seat legroom and 1,032 litres of cargo space behind the second row. Folding the second row increased storage to 2,041 litres. The Santa Fe included an underfloor storage compartment and standard features like an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats. The top trims offered a hands-free smart liftgate, ventilated front seats, and a head-up display. The panoramic sunroof and Remote Smart Parking Assist added to the Santa Fe's appeal, though the wide centre console slightly reduced driver leg space.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Bluetooth connectivity and five USB ports. The XSE trim included a wireless charging pad and a combination of USB and USB-C ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL audio system were available on higher trims.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in technology, featuring a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and wireless device charging. The Ultimate Calligraphy also boasted a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was customizable, though voice recognition had mixed results, particularly in noisy environments.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and dynamic radar cruise control. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and eight airbags. The Highlander received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and a safe-exit assist system. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included Highway Driving Assist. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.