2021 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite being redesigned in 2019, retained a styling that appeared older due to its carryover from the previous generation. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights on the fifth-generation model. Subaru seemed to follow the adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," maintaining the boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Base trim looked plain with 17-inch steel wheels, but the Forester's clean and unpretentious look stood out among compact crossovers. The Sport model added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact, especially with a complementary paint color like Dark Blue Pearl. The Forester shared its Subaru Global Platform with other models, ensuring a rugged yet familiar feel.

Inside, the Forester's no-nonsense mix of materials promised durability over aesthetics, ideal for school runs and outdoor adventures. The Sport trim added orange accents, while higher trims offered leather upholstery. The All-Weather Package, standard on Premium and higher trims, included heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, and a windshield de-icer. The interior space was practical, with large knobs for audio and climate control, though the steering wheel's numerous buttons could be confusing.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, on the other hand, impressed with its value. After experiencing the vehicle, its price seemed surprisingly low for what it offered. The Santa Fe featured two new gasoline engines and a gas-electric hybrid powertrain, with trim levels ranging from SE to Calligraphy. Pricing started at $26,850 and went up to $39,950, with AWD standard on hybrids and optional on gas models. The exterior saw a significant redesign with new running lights, grille, and bumper, giving each trim a unique character.

Inside, the Santa Fe moved upmarket with new colors, patterns, and textures. The Calligraphy trim, in particular, exuded quality with premium leather and a suede-like headliner. The bridge-style center console housed new electronic controls, adding to the high-tech feel. The Calligraphy model, with its Stormy Sea paint, AWD, and 19-inch wheels, felt like a steal at $43,590. The interior's fit and finish, combined with features like a panoramic sunroof, made it feel luxurious. The exterior design, however, was polarizing, with some discordant elements that might require a complete redesign to resolve.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with a single powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity. Subaru quoted a 1,500-pound towing capacity, with Trailer Stability Assist as standard. While the power felt adequate, it lacked the thrust needed for highway merging or overtaking. The suspension was softly sprung, resulting in poor body control and a bouncy ride on uneven pavement. However, the Forester's AWD system, standard across all trims, included X-Mode for different surfaces and hill-descent control on Premium and higher trims. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance, it handled mud and dirt better than most compact crossovers.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered three new powertrains. The SE and SEL trims featured a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid model combined a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, a starter/generator, an electric drive motor, and a six-speed automatic transmission, producing a total of 226 horsepower. The Limited and Calligraphy trims boasted a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed wet-plate dual-clutch transmission. The Santa Fe offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with the latter focusing on fuel efficiency. The turbocharged engine provided impressive performance, with a fuel economy rating of 24 mpg combined for both powertrains. The Santa Fe's ride was solid, with improved body control and athletic handling.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feel. The Forester had 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing some competitors. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench. A power liftgate was optional on the Sport trim and standard on Limited and Touring trims. The interior featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, though the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average phone, and wireless charging was not available. The large knobs for audio and climate control were user-friendly, but the numerous buttons on the steering wheel could be confusing.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, designed for those who didn't need a third-row seat, offered ample passenger room. All trims included dual-zone automatic climate control, with stain-resistant fabric on cloth seats and leather available on higher trims. The Calligraphy trim featured premium Nappa leather and a suede-like headliner. The Santa Fe provided a comfortable ride, with power-adjustable seats starting from the SEL trim. Heated front seats were standard on SEL and higher trims, with heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel on Limited and Calligraphy trims. The rear seat was spacious, with air-conditioning vents, quick-charge USB ports, and rear side-window sunshades. The smart hands-free power liftgate revealed 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 72.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2021 Subaru Forester's standard Starlink infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, front-row USB ports, and a CD player. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring trims included navigation and rear USB ports. The system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and physical shortcut buttons, though the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also featured a secondary screen in the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying secondary information like fuel economy and tire pressure.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy was loaded with technology, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a surround-view camera system, and an 8.5-inch color head-up display. The basic 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the 10.25-inch screen required wired connections but included upgraded voice-recognition technology and enhanced Blue Link connected services. The 12-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system was available with the larger screen. Blue Link provided a range of connected services, including remote engine start and climate control adjustment. The Santa Fe also featured Digital Key and Remote Smart Parking Assist, though it lacked a WiFi hotspot.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system, ensuring drivers remained attentive.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered an impressive array of safety features, especially in the Calligraphy trim. It included forward-collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning assistance, Safe Exit Assist, and a rear-occupant alert system. The Blind-Spot View Monitor and Highway Driving Assist added to the SUV's safety credentials. The Santa Fe earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS when equipped with LED projector headlights.