2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2022 Genesis GV70 boasted a distinctive design that set it apart from its siblings in the Genesis lineup. It featured the brand's signature quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, along with a prominent shield-shaped grille. The GV70's sloping roofline and ribbed detailing added a touch of athleticism to its profile, blending the visual bulk of an SUV with sleek, car-like elements. The Sport Prestige model further enhanced its character with unique styling features, including a model-specific front fascia, 21-inch wheels with a web pattern, and dark-finished chrome trim. Inside, the GV70's interior embraced an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane wing's cross-section, with a minimalist design that incorporated a rotary gear selector and infotainment controller. The interior offered a range of color options and luxurious materials, such as Nappa leather upholstery with suede seat inserts.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's recent models. While it didn't stand out as much, it remained an attractive SUV. The Santa Fe retained its look from the previous model year, with a wide upper and lower grille and thin LED headlights. The Calligraphy AWD trim, tested in a deep Stormy Sea paint, featured a black-on-black interior. The cabin, though high-quality, appeared dark and monotone, prompting a recommendation for the beige interior to add visual contrast. The Nappa leather seats in the Calligraphy trim were both comfortable and attractive, with standard heated and cooled front seats. The Santa Fe's interior offered a range of comfort and convenience features, including dual-zone climate control, a hands-free smart liftgate, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options: a base 2.5-liter turbo-four engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The GV70 also featured a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty character. The Sport+ drive mode further enhanced throttle response and transmission behavior. However, the GV70's chassis felt heavy, lacking the sharpness of some competitors. While it excelled on highways, the ride was firm, even in Comfort mode, and the steering lacked precision for spirited driving.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a 2.5-liter engine with two configurations: a naturally aspirated version producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged version delivering 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine, available in Limited and Calligraphy trims, provided brisk acceleration with minimal turbo lag. The Santa Fe featured a drive-mode selector with Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes, enhancing its versatility. The turbocharged Santa Fe impressed with its smooth handling and lack of clunkiness in the dual-clutch transmission. While it wasn't taken off-road, the Santa Fe's towing capacity ranged from 2,000 pounds for non-turbo models to 3,500 pounds for turbo versions.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered mid-pack interior space for its segment. Despite its car-like roofline, it provided adequate front-seat headroom comparable to a Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and back-seat headroom similar to a BMW X3. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded. The daring interior design compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. However, it included a covered storage cubby with USB ports and rear-seat climate controls. The front seats in the Sport Prestige trim were heavily bolstered, offering heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions.

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 was competitive, with 36.4 cubic feet behind the second row and 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Santa Fe's interior featured comfortable seating, with SEL and higher trims offering an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats. The Limited trim added ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a power driver seat cushion extension. The Calligraphy trim included a head-up display, premium trim, and ambient lighting. The panoramic sunroof and head-up display were standout features, though the driver's seat height adjustment could be problematic for some.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 impressed with its tech offerings. It featured a standard 14.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, along with a glass rotary controller for easy navigation. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 also included a digital-key feature, a fingerprint scanner for starting the car, and a radar-based rear-seat monitor. Genesis Connected Services provided remote camera activation, driver profiles, and more.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, offering a range of infotainment and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The SE trim featured a 4.2-inch color LCD display, while higher trims had a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Infotainment options included an 8-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims had a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Santa Fe's voice-recognition capabilities were mixed, with some challenges in understanding commands. However, the system offered extensive customization options.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver-attention monitor. It also featured Highway Driving Assist with automated lane centering and adaptive cruise control. The GV70 included eight standard airbags, including a front-center airbag. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted an array 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, with high marks in crashworthiness tests.