2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered a wide range of models, from the base version priced at $33,745 to the top-tier King Ranch at $54,495, excluding a $1,495 destination charge. The lineup expanded with the rugged Timberline and luxurious King Ranch trims, and the new ST-Line added a sporty look to the popular XLT version. Our test vehicle, the King Ranch, featured 4WD, Rapid Red paint, a Premium Technology package, and a twin-panel sunroof, bringing the MSRP to $59,880. Despite its King Ranch emblems and shiny 20-inch wheels, the top-trim Explorer didn't visually stand out much from other models. However, its rear-drive platform allowed for a long, tall hood and a rakish roofline, giving it a taut, athletic appearance. Inside, the King Ranch featured exclusive Del Rio leather seating with lasso-perforated inserts and King Ranch branding. While the cabin mostly felt worthy of its near $60,000 price tag, some materials reminded us of the Explorer's base trim.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe continued with the same look and feel as the 2022 model, featuring a conservative yet attractive exterior. Available in five trims—SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy—the Santa Fe offered FWD as standard, with AWD optional on all trims. Our test vehicle, the Calligraphy AWD, came in Stormy Sea paint with a black-on-black interior, priced at $45,845 including destination charges. The Santa Fe's wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights gave it a distinctive look, but the rest of the design was more subdued. Inside, the Calligraphy trim featured black leather seats, which, while high-quality, made the cabin feel dark and monotone. We recommended the beige interior for visual contrast. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable and attractive, with heated and cooled front seats and heated second-row seats. The Santa Fe's cabin offered a high-quality look and feel, though some minor issues like the wide center console cutting into leg space were noted.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and RWD, with 4WD optional. This engine provided up to 24 mpg in combined driving and a maximum towing capacity of 5,300 pounds. The Explorer Limited offered an efficient hybrid drivetrain based on a 3.3-liter V6 engine, generating a combined 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque, towing up to 5,000 lbs, and achieving up to 27 mpg in combined driving. The hybrid came with RWD or 4WD and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims featured a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,600 lbs and a maximum gas mileage of 21 mpg in combined driving. Our King Ranch 4WD test vehicle averaged 20.6 mpg. The Explorer's ride felt robust and capable, handling off-road terrain with ease despite its 7.9 inches of ground clearance. For daily driving, the Explorer King Ranch felt athletic and engaging, with the sport-tuned Explorer ST offering even more driving excitement.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-liter engine, available in naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions. The SE, SEL, and XRT trims featured the naturally aspirated engine, producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. The Limited and Calligraphy trims had a turbocharged engine, generating 281 hp and 311 pound-feet, paired with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. FWD was standard, with AWD optional on all trims. The Santa Fe also featured a drive-mode selector with Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes. Our Calligraphy test vehicle's turbocharged engine provided immediate acceleration with no discernible turbo lag, making it a breeze to get up to speed and pass other vehicles. The turbocharged Santa Fe offered brisk acceleration without undue engine noise or harshness. Handling was smooth, with only slight body lean during cornering. The Santa Fe's turbo version could tow 3,500 pounds, while the non-turbo version could tow 2,000 pounds. Overall, the Santa Fe's performance, ride, and handling were impressive for its price point.

The 2022 Ford Explorer provided ample comfort for families of four, with the option to carry five people with a second-row bench seat. However, the third-row seat was only suitable for children due to the rear-drive platform, low rear roofline, and tapered tail. Our King Ranch test vehicle featured triple-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain’s chairs. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, suitable for long-distance driving, while the second-row seats were nearly as accommodating. The third-row seat was difficult for adults to access and lacked legroom. Practical storage space within the cabin could be better, with missed opportunities for additional storage in the front door armrests and dashboard. The King Ranch had a hands-free power liftgate, revealing 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, 47.9 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded down, and a maximum of 87.8 cubic feet with both rear rows of seats folded.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered more rear-seat legroom and additional cargo space compared to some three-row midsize SUVs. The Santa Fe's 41.7 inches of rear-seat legroom was among the best in its class. Cargo space behind the second row was a competitive 36.4 cubic feet, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet with the second row folded down. The Santa Fe also featured an underfloor storage compartment in the cargo area. Seat comfort was a strength, with the SEL and higher trims offering an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats. The Limited trim added a power driver seat cushion extension, ventilated front seats, an eight-way power passenger seat, heated rear seats, rear side-window sunshades, and Remote Smart Parking Assist. The Calligraphy trim included a head-up display, premium door and seat accent trim, a microfiber headliner, and ambient lighting. The extended panoramic sunroof and head-up display were notable features, though the wide center console cut into driver leg and hip space.

The 2022 Ford Explorer featured two versions of its Sync 3 infotainment system: an 8-inch touchscreen and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The smaller screen was well integrated, while the larger screen looked like an afterthought. Our test vehicle had the full menu of Sync 3 technology, including FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Ford+Alexa functionality, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The King Ranch also included wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium sound system. However, the Sync 3 system showed its age, with voice recognition struggles and a lack of advanced features found in Ford's newer Sync 4 system. Additional tech included a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and Active Park Assist 2.0, which could autonomously park the Explorer. An available rear-seat entertainment system came with dual rear touchscreen displays.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display in SE, SEL, and XRT trims, and a larger 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in Limited and Calligraphy trims. The base SE trim featured an 8-inch display audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and USB ports. All other trims had a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, voice recognition, wireless device charging, digital key, and Bluelink connected services. The Limited and Calligraphy trims also included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system's home screen icons were clearly marked and logically arranged, with extensive customization options. Voice recognition capabilities were mixed, handling address and point-of-interest commands well but struggling with music and temperature requests. The system also had difficulty understanding commands in noisy environments.

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for all trims. The NHTSA had not published complete crash-test ratings for the 2022 model, but the previous year's model earned five-star ratings except for a four-star rating in rollover resistance. The Explorer came with Ford Co-Pilot360, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The Explorer also featured a post-collision braking system and MyKey programmable vehicle functions. The Co-Pilot360 and Co-Pilot360 Assist+ systems operated smoothly and accurately, though the lane-centering assist system occasionally shut off on sharper bends and curves.

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, standard on SEL and above, combined adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The Santa Fe's safety features provided peace of mind, with effective reminders and alerts for rear-seat checks and safe exits.