2022 Ford Expedition vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

Ford made several updates to the 2022 Expedition, including exterior styling revisions and updated infotainment technology. The front featured a new grille, headlights, and bumper, while the rear received revised taillights, tailgate trim, and a new bumper. Redesigned wheels were introduced across the model lineup. The 2022 Expedition came in various trims, including a new Timberline trim for off-road enthusiasts, and the Stealth Edition packages for those seeking a sportier look. Inside, the dashboard was redesigned to house the new Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems, with the latter featuring a 15.5-inch touchscreen display. The test model, a Limited Stealth Edition, had a luxurious interior with leather seats and advanced tech, though it came with a hefty price tag of $80,155.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe continued with the same look and feel as the 2022 model, featuring a conservative yet attractive exterior design. Available in five trim levels, the Santa Fe offered both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options. The top-of-the-line Calligraphy AWD trim, tested in Stormy Sea paint, had a base price of $42,600, with additional features bringing the total MSRP to $45,845. The Santa Fe's interior, particularly in the Calligraphy trim, was high-quality but somewhat dark and monotone. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable, and the cabin featured heated and cooled front seats, as well as heated second-row seats. The panoramic sunroof and head-up display were notable features, though the latter required navigating vehicle settings for adjustments.

The 2022 Ford Expedition was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 380 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque in the test vehicle. A high-output version was available, offering up to 440 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque with the Stealth Edition Performance Package. The V6 engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and fuel economy ranged from 17 to 19 mpg in combined driving. The Expedition could tow between 9,000 and 9,300 pounds, depending on the model and equipment. The test vehicle's observed fuel economy was 16.2 mpg. The Expedition's driving dynamics were generally good, though the sport-tuned suspension and 22-inch wheels contributed to a sometimes harsh ride. The SUV excelled on the highway, offering a comfortable and quiet ride, but the lane-centering assist technology had some issues in heavier traffic.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged version producing 281 hp and 311 lb-ft. The turbocharged engine was paired with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Santa Fe featured a drive-mode selector with four customizable modes: Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart. The turbocharged engine provided immediate acceleration with no discernible turbo lag, and the handling was smooth with minimal body lean. The Santa Fe's performance was impressive for its price point, though it was not tested off-road or for towing during the evaluation.

The 2022 Ford Expedition offered exceptional comfort and space, with power running boards for easy entry and exit. The test vehicle featured power-adjustable, leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats, as well as a heated steering wheel. The second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom and their own climate controls. The third-row seat was easy to access and offered good leg support, though headroom could be tight for taller passengers. Cargo space behind the third row measured 19.3 cubic feet, expandable to 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 104.6 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The Expedition Max variant offered even more cargo space.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, provided ample rear-seat legroom at 41.7 inches, among the best in its class. Cargo space behind the second row was 36.4 cubic feet, expandable to 72.1 cubic feet with the second row folded. The Santa Fe's interior comfort was a strong point, with the SEL and higher trims featuring an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats. The Limited trim added ventilated front seats, a power driver seat cushion extension, and heated rear seats. The Calligraphy trim included a head-up display, premium door and seat accent trim, and ambient lighting. The panoramic sunroof was a standout feature, though the wide center console could limit driver leg and hip space.

The 2022 Ford Expedition featured the next-generation Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems. The standard Sync 4 system included a 12-inch touchscreen, while the optional Sync 4A system featured a 15.5-inch touchscreen. Both systems offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect with Wi-Fi hotspot access, and natural voice recognition. Higher trims added features like SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, wireless smartphone charging, and Bang & Olufsen premium sound systems. The Sync 4A system had some quirks, such as occasional issues with Apple CarPlay and voice recognition. The Expedition also offered an upgraded rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV and Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. The base SE trim featured an 8-inch display audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims had a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though the voice-recognition capabilities had mixed results. The Santa Fe also offered a digital key, wireless device charging, and Bluelink connected services.

The 2022 Ford Expedition came with three Ford Co-Pilot360 packages. The standard package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver monitoring, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, speed-limit-sign recognition, intersection assist, and evasive steering assist. The Co-Pilot Assist 2.0 package, standard on higher trims, included a surround-view camera system, rear automatic emergency braking, and Active Park Assist 2.0. The Expedition also offered BlueCruise hands-free driving technology. The adaptive cruise control performed well, but the lane-centering assist had issues in heavier traffic.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction-turning detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, driver monitoring, a safe-exit system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Highway Driving Assist was standard on SEL and above trims. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for the 2022 calendar year.