2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Mazda CX-30

The 2024 Mazda CX-30 was designed to stand out as a crossover, with its distinctive charcoal-colored plastic cladding on the lower body, which some found excessive. Despite this, the CX-30 maintained an overall appealing aesthetic with its short overhangs, long hood, and sculpted sides. The interior of the CX-30 was a highlight, offering a level of style and refinement comparable to entry-level luxury SUVs. The gauges were clear, the infotainment screen was seamlessly integrated into the dashboard, and the dual-zone climate controls were elegantly designed.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, which debuted its fifth generation in 2024, featured a chunky, boxy design with a long wheelbase and flat hood. The pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps and taillights were a nod to Hyundai's design language, though the rear lights' placement was criticized for being visually unbalanced. The Santa Fe offered a range of trims, each with distinct wheel designs, and the interior varied from basic cloth to luxurious Nappa leather, depending on the trim. The Santa Fe's interior was spacious, with room for seven passengers, and the top Calligraphy trim offered captain's chairs in the second row.

The 2024 Mazda CX-30, equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. Despite these impressive figures, the power delivery was smooth rather than immediate, with torque arriving at 2,000 rpm. The CX-30's six-speed automatic transmission provided flawless shifting, and the standard all-wheel-drive system ensured power was distributed to all four wheels. However, the turbocharged engine's fuel economy was less impressive, with an observed 21.3 mpg on a mountainous route, and the small 12.7-gallon fuel tank limited its range. The CX-30 was praised for its nimble handling and excellent visibility, making it a fun and practical choice for drivers.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, on the other hand, featured a standard 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with 277 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft of torque. The Santa Fe offered both front-wheel and all-wheel drive, with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission handling the shifts. While the Santa Fe felt stable in corners and had responsive steering, there was noticeable turbo lag during acceleration. The XRT trim, designed for off-road use, came with 30-inch all-terrain tires and 8.3 inches of ground clearance, enhancing its off-road capabilities. However, the Santa Fe was not intended for rugged terrain, performing best on graded dirt roads.

Inside the 2024 Mazda CX-30, the design was marked by quality materials and logical controls. The cabin featured gloss black trim, metallic accents, and exposed stitching, with the test vehicle's Terracotta leather seats adding a touch of color. While the interior space was cramped, especially in the back seat, the front seats were comfortable and heated. The cargo area offered 20.2 cubic feet of space, expandable to 45.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, providing practical storage options.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in interior space, offering the most third-row legroom in its class. The base SE trim was basic, but higher trims like the XRT and Calligraphy offered features such as heated seats, a sunroof, and a premium audio system. The Santa Fe's cargo space was generous, with 40.5 cubic feet available with the third row folded and 79.6 cubic feet with the second row down. The wide rear opening made loading large items easy, and most trims could tow up to 3,500 pounds, with the XRT capable of 4,500 pounds.

The 2024 Mazda CX-30's turbocharged models featured a new 10.25-inch infotainment display with touchscreen functionality for smartphone mirroring platforms. While the screen's placement was far from the driver, the system aimed to reduce distraction through a combination of controls. All CX-30s included a three-year subscription to Mazda Connected Services, with additional features like USB-C ports, a wireless smartphone charger, and a Bose audio system available on higher trims.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with upper trims offering a digital gauge cluster of the same size. The system was user-friendly, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard across all trims. Additional features like Amazon Music, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and Hyundai Pay were available on higher trims. The Santa Fe also offered a digital key, a fingerprint scanner, and a digital rearview mirror on select trims, enhancing convenience and security.

The 2024 Mazda CX-30 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like adaptive headlights and a surround-view camera system. The CX-30 received top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, ensuring peace of mind for drivers.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe also offered a robust set of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added features like Highway Drive Assist and a Blind-View Monitor. The Santa Fe received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Good rating from the IIHS, with some areas marked as Acceptable.