2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave aimed to exude a sense of sophistication and comfort that appealed primarily to an older, more traditional demographic. Historically, Buick's designs leaned conservative, employing softer, elegant lines and practical interiors. By 2022, the brand had completed a major overhaul of its lineup, discarding sedans in favor of SUVs, a move that evolved in response to the U.S. market. The Enclave debuted in 2008 as a breath of fresh air and underwent a notable redesign in 2018, pushing it further upmarket. By 2022, it sat at the top of Buick's four-SUV lineup.

The 2022 model benefited from a mid-cycle refresh with new exterior enhancements including an updated grille, front and rear fascias, headlamps, taillamps, and sophisticated wheel designs. The Avenir trim level, in particular, stood out with its unique grille, body-colored lower trims, and 20-inch wheel designs. Inside, it showcased a restyled center console with new push-button gears and upgraded materials. The top-tier Avenir trim took comfort to a new level with climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and unique trim and stitching.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, though almost conservative compared to other recent Hyundai designs, didn't lack attractiveness. This mid-size SUV retained its 2022 look but continued to impress with its wide upper and lower grilles adorned with thin LED headlights, defining a family resemblance. The top Calligraphy AWD trim displayed in rich Stormy Sea color paired with a black-on-black interior added to its allure.

The interior, though high quality, was predominantly dark and monotone, with seat options in beige or gray available for those seeking visual contrast. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable with both calls for heating and cooling features standard in the Calligraphy trim and adding a touch of luxury in both rows.

Buick simplified the Enclave's engine choices by offering a single powertrain: a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The vehicle ran smoothly on both front-wheel and all-wheel-drive configurations, with an impressive towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds.

The test model, with the Avenir Technology package, excelled, particularly with a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. The Enclave's responsiveness was notable; despite its weight, the vehicle handled well, showcased excellent off-the-line acceleration, and produced a surprisingly pleasing engine sound. Throughout various terrains, the Enclave maintained a smooth ride thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technologies.

Conversely, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe presented two engine choices from its standard 2.5-liter block. The naturally aspirated engine in SE, SEL, and XRT trims delivered 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the turbocharged engine in Limited and Calligraphy trims produced 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque.

In testing, the turbocharged engine showcased brisk acceleration and smooth power delivery without significant turbo lag. The dual-clutch transmission performed admirably without the low-speed clunkiness usually associated with this design. With its driving modes—Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart—the Santa Fe allowed for customizable driving experiences. Though the vehicle did not venture off-road during testing, it stood ready with AWD options and solid towing capacities (2,000 pounds for non-turbo and 3,500 pounds for turbo models).

Ingress and egress in the 2022 Buick Enclave were blissfully easy thanks to its large windshield and ample window openings. The standard seating arrangement included an eight-way power driver's seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both with heating and lumbar control. The Premium and Avenir trims upgraded to four-way power lumbar with massage and heated second-row seats.

Buick's spacious design accommodated passengers comfortably across all three rows. Even the third row, often cramped in midsize SUVs, offered adequate space for adults. The second-row captain's chairs, standard and foldable, provided versatility but were somewhat complicated for first-time users. The 2022 Enclave also offered impressive cargo capacity with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 57.7 cubic feet with the row folded, and a substantial 97.4 cubic feet with both rows down.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe chose not to follow the three-row trend, focusing instead on optimizing two rows. This decision resulted in excellent rear-seat legroom (41.7 inches) and a competitive cargo space of 36.4 cubic feet behind the second row, growing to 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The extended panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled seats, and a tech-rich driver's seat added to the Santa Fe's comfort features. The cabin's design featured a broad, sometimes obtrusive center console that impacted driver leg space slightly.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came well-equipped with a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with an upgrade to an 8-inch version on higher trims. Its infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen on all models with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities. Premium and Avenir trims further included navigation.

Connectivity was a strong point, allowing for up to 10 paired devices and two smartphones active simultaneously. The WiFi hotspot and multiple USB ports (two per row) catered well to modern device requirements. The 10-speaker Bose system provided a decent audio experience, although some users wished for more power.

Safety technology was comprehensive, with Buick Driver Confidence Plus offering automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and more. Advanced options included adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in technology, especially in the Calligraphy trim. The SE, SEL, and XRT trims came with a basic 4.2-inch display, but the Limited and Calligraphy trims sported a 12.3-inch digital cluster. Infotainment in the base trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims had a 10.25-inch screen with navigation and other advanced features like wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Santa Fe also included a Harman Kardon 12-speaker system and a range of connectivity options, including voice recognition. While voice commands worked well for navigation and POIs, they were less effective for music and temperature control.

For 2022, Buick improved its safety tech package significantly. All models came with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package as standard, which included a suite of features such as forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims added features like adaptive cruise control and a head-up display. The vehicle achieved "Good" ratings in most IIHS tests, with an "Acceptable" in the updated side-impact test while gathering four out of five stars for rollover resistance according to the NHTSA.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a robust suite of standard ADAS, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The safety tech extended to features like Highway Driving Assist on SEL and above, integrating adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability.

The Santa Fe received top marks from both the NHTSA (a five-star overall rating) and the IIHS (Top Safety Pick+), reflecting its strong performance in safety evaluations.