2023 Subaru Outback vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Subaru Outback underwent a facelift, featuring a new front end with redesigned LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper with dark gray vertical cladding. This design gave the Outback an aggressive appearance, especially with the addition of a jutting simulated skid plate, fog lights in oversized housings, and asymmetrical wheel arch trim reminiscent of the Wilderness model. The Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the bold cladding, making it a more appealing choice for those who preferred a darker paint color to tone down the design's excesses. The Outback's interior, particularly in the Touring trim, was praised for its upscale feel, with Java Brown leather and contrasting stitching that added a touch of elegance. Despite some hard plastic elements, the interior maintained a quality look and feel, though the large infotainment screen and gloss black trim were prone to collecting dust and smudges.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a radical departure from its predecessors, embracing a boxy design that prioritized storage capacity. This new aesthetic, while different, was not unattractive and communicated Hyundai's focus on technology and efficiency. The Santa Fe's upscale appearance, with sophisticated exterior colors and anodized-finish badging, turned heads and drew admiration. Inside, the Santa Fe offered premium styling, with the XRT and Calligraphy trims showcasing a mix of hard and soft materials that created a luxurious feel. The interior was designed to be both functional and comfortable, with features like a soothing fabric headliner adding to the overall sense of decadence. The Santa Fe's design was inspired by the concept of "chabak," emphasizing a spacious cargo area for car camping and tailgating, while still providing ample room for passengers in the first and second rows.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured horizontally opposed engines, known for their flat design and characteristic grumble. The standard engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, but the 3,781-pound vehicle felt underpowered, especially during passing and climbing. The turbocharged XT models offered a more satisfying 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, though at the cost of fuel efficiency. The Outback's CVT was programmed to mimic an eight-speed automatic, and the standard AWD system provided excellent traction. Off-road, the Outback excelled with its X-Mode traction system and generous ground clearance, handling challenging terrain with ease. However, the standard engine's lack of power and disappointing fuel economy were notable drawbacks.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's base powertrain was a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. FWD was standard, with AWD optional, except for the XRT trim, which had AWD as standard. The Santa Fe offered Normal, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with Sport enhancing throttle response and steering. A hybrid version with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine was also available, providing 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe's fuel economy varied by model, with the hybrid achieving up to 36 mpg combined. The XRT trim, with its extra ground clearance and all-terrain tires, offered increased towing capacity and off-road capability. On the road, the Santa Fe delivered smooth and stable performance, though it exhibited some body roll through turns.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a robust roof rack and flat door sills. The Touring trim offered a comfortable interior with power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats wrapped in premium Nappa leather. The rear seats were also heated, providing warmth and comfort in cold climates. The Outback's cargo space measured 32.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 75.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The vehicle's design made it easy to enter and exit, and the cargo area was practical for day trips, though more storage space would have been beneficial.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a longer wheelbase and body, with most of the extra space dedicated to the cargo area. The design was inspired by "chabak," emphasizing a spacious and comfortable cargo area for car camping. The first and second rows were spacious, with options for bench or captain's chairs, depending on the trim. The Santa Fe offered a range of upholstery options, from stain-resistant cloth to plush quilted Nappa leather. The cargo area provided 14.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 79.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The vehicle also featured a UV sanitization compartment in the glovebox, a unique addition for sterilizing small objects.

The 2023 Subaru Outback, except for the Base trim, featured a Starlink 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with physical controls for volume, tuning, and climate control. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and optional navigation and premium audio. However, the voice recognition system was limited in functionality. Additional technologies included a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera, though a surround-view camera was not available.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a curved panoramic display in the XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy trims, offering intuitive controls and crisp graphics. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a 12-speaker Bose stereo and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The SE and SEL trims featured a simpler 12.3-inch touchscreen display. Hyundai's BlueLink system provided vehicle access and information, with Hyundai Pay and a biometric fingerprint scanner available on higher trims. The Santa Fe's technology offerings were comprehensive and user-friendly.

The 2023 Subaru Outback earned top safety marks from the IIHS, with features like adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. The EyeSight system included new pedestrian and cyclist detection capabilities, though the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems felt artificial. The rear automatic braking system was incompatible with some driveways, limiting its usefulness.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe had not yet been crash-tested, but it offered a comprehensive suite of safety features. The base SE trim included adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, and blind-spot monitors. Higher trims added features like a 360-degree camera system, remote automatic parking, and a driver monitoring system. The Santa Fe's safety technology was advanced and effective, though the traffic-sign recognition system occasionally misread signs.