2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vs 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV was an extended version of the standard Escalade, featuring a complete redesign for that model year. It was notably longer, measuring 226.9 inches compared to the Escalade's 211.9 inches, and slightly lower at 76.4 inches. This additional length was primarily at the rear, enhancing cargo space and providing a more stable ride due to its 134.1-inch wheelbase. The Escalade ESV boasted a luxurious appearance with chrome styling on various trim levels, while Sport models featured blacked-out accents. All versions rode on 22-inch wheels, with finishes varying by trim. The vehicle's exterior was further enhanced by features like LED headlights, a power panoramic moonroof, and heated mirrors, contributing to its upscale look.

Inside, the Escalade ESV offered a less luxurious experience, particularly in lighter color schemes where the use of hard plastics was evident. The dashboard lacked distinctive trimmings, which was a drawback for a vehicle priced near or above $90,000. Despite these shortcomings, the Escalade ESV remained a posh vehicle with a focus on exterior aesthetics and road presence.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, while not as modern or stylish as some of its competitors, was practical and offered excellent value. Its design, reminiscent of "dad jeans," was functional but appeared outdated compared to newer crossovers. The Santa Fe featured a handsome grille with a mesh pattern and flush-mounted headlights. Its profile included tastefully protected wheel arches and alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 20 inches, depending on the trim. The vehicle's silhouette was tall but lacked the strength and definition of a modern SUV, leading to the introduction of a tougher XRT trim in 2022. The Santa Fe's length of 188.4 inches and 108.9-inch wheelbase made it too large for compact crossover proportions but too short for a comfortable three-row crossover.

At the rear, the Santa Fe had a high-mounted window and a rounded lower half, with the name and "Hybrid" badge on the lower left and right, respectively. The vehicle's design prioritized function over form, offering ample trunk space despite seating only five people. Inside, the Santa Fe's interior was practical but outdated, with a massive center console filled with physical buttons and knobs, making it easy to use but lacking in style.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV offered two engine options: a standard 6.2-liter V8 delivering 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel inline-six producing 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and buyers could choose between rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD). The Escalade ESV's V8 engine provided sufficient power but lacked low-end torque for passing at higher speeds. The vehicle's weight ranged from 5,785 to 6,182 pounds, depending on the trim level, which could impact performance when towing. The EPA estimated the traditional Escalade's fuel economy at 17 to 23 mpg combined, with RWD versions being more efficient. During testing, the RWD Escalade ESV averaged around 18 mpg.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid combined a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 44.2-kW electric motor, producing a total of 226 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid powertrain delivered impressive fuel economy estimates of 33 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 32 mpg combined. The Santa Fe Hybrid's power was managed by a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and it featured standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The HTRAC AWD system could send up to 50% of power to the rear wheels when necessary, with an AWD lock button ensuring a minimum of 20% power to the rear. While not quick, the Santa Fe Hybrid was more powerful than some gas-powered Santa Fe models and offered better fuel efficiency. The vehicle's noise insulation and suspension impressed during testing, providing a quiet and comfortable ride even on rough roads.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV was designed as a comfortable and plush people and cargo hauler, offering leatherette seating surfaces as standard and leather upholstery as an option. Standard features included twelve-way power-adjustable front seats, heated first- and second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, memory seats, mirrors, and steering wheel, tri-zone climate control, a hands-free power liftgate, remote start, and power-release second-row bucket seats. Buyers could upgrade to 16-way power-adjustable front seats with massage functionality, ionizing technology, a panoramic sunroof, and soft-close doors. The Escalade ESV provided ample legroom in the first two rows, with the third row being suitable for occasional adult use. The vehicle offered 126.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row, 81.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 42.9 cubic feet behind the third row. The power-adjustable third row could be folded using a switch in the cargo area, although it could get stuck on the second-row seat. The hands-free power liftgate worked inconsistently, and the vehicle lacked a physical latch release. An adaptive air suspension made entry and exit easier and assisted in avoiding obstacles.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid featured a shift-by-wire, push-button transmission, freeing up space below the center stack. The center stack itself was massive, with limited storage space and physical controls for climate control, drive modes, and heated-seat buttons. Rear passengers enjoyed standard manual sunshades and 40.8 inches of legroom, comparable to other large two-row vehicles. The Santa Fe Hybrid offered 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet when the second row was folded. The vehicle's cargo space was not compromised by the hybrid powertrain. The Santa Fe Hybrid Limited trim came with heated and ventilated front seats with real leather upholstery, while heated front seats were standard on all trims. The SEL Premium trim received H-Tex leatherette upholstery for 2023.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV was highlighted by its technology offerings, including a standard 19-speaker AKG sound system, with an optional 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference audio system for an immersive sound experience. Standard features included wireless charging, NFC phone pairing, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and seven USB ports. The Escalade ESV featured a curved 38-inch OLED screen housing three displays for driver information and infotainment. The OLED technology provided deep blacks, enhancing nighttime driving. The infotainment screen offered crisp graphics and intuitive menu layers. Cadillac's Super Cruise advanced driving assist system was available, allowing hands-free driving on certain highways. Super Cruise included lane-keeping, lane-centering, and adaptive cruise control, although it occasionally struggled in bright sunlight or poorly-lit tunnels. The lane-change technology worked as advertised but could be slow in heavy traffic. Super Cruise could fail, requiring the driver to take control immediately, but it was valuable for highway driving.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid came equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen as standard, offering Over-The-Air map updates and dynamic voice recognition. The infotainment system supported Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, although both required a wired connection. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster provided a clear and customizable view of essential driving information. The Hyundai digital key allowed for advanced connectivity, enabling remote start and locking/unlocking through a smartphone app. The Limited trim featured a 12-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system, which was optional on the Blue and SEL Premium trims.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV came standard with front automatic braking, front and rear park assist, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian detection, rear pedestrian detection, safety seat alert, lane-keep assist, and forward-collision assist. Buyers could add adaptive park assist, a head-up display, rear camera mirror, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, side blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change alert, night vision, advanced adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, reverse automatic braking, and automatic seatbelt tightening. The NHTSA gave the Escalade ESV a four-star rating out of five, with a three-star rating in the rollover test, indicating a higher risk of rollover collisions.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized safety, earning commendable ratings and features. The SEL Premium and Limited trims included a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor, enhancing visibility and awareness. Standard safety equipment included adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, and safe exit assist. The Santa Fe Hybrid received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and the Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS, highlighting its commitment to passenger safety and crashworthiness.