2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load children into car seats, even in tight parking spaces, and the spacious third-row seat provided comfort for additional passengers. The Odyssey's cargo space was impressive, offering ample room for gear and groceries, and when the seats were folded down, it rivaled the capacity of larger SUVs. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Odyssey managed to incorporate a sense of style, particularly in the Elite trim, which featured dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels and a sleek design. The interior was well-crafted, with quality materials and a user-friendly layout, although the center stack's switchgear placement required some getting used to.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT offered a more rugged appearance, though its off-road capabilities were limited. The XRT trim was one of several available, positioned between the SE and SEL trims and the more powerful Limited and Calligraphy trims. The Santa Fe's interior was comfortable, with a dual-zone climate control system and stain-resistant fabric seats. While the XRT trim lacked some of the upscale features found in higher trims, it still provided a pleasant driving experience. The Santa Fe's design was practical, with thoughtful storage solutions and a hands-free power-opening tailgate, although the latter could be overly sensitive. Overall, the Santa Fe XRT was a well-rounded SUV with a focus on comfort and convenience.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This front-wheel-drive minivan utilized a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls on the dashboard. While it lacked the all-wheel-drive and hybrid options available in some competitors, the Odyssey offered a respectable EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. During testing, the Odyssey averaged 22.6 mpg on a varied driving route. The Odyssey's driving dynamics were enjoyable, with quick acceleration and responsive handling, although its brakes tended to heat up on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, offering smooth gear changes. The Santa Fe's performance was adequate for everyday driving, with the ability to reach freeway speeds comfortably. However, it struggled with power on hills and during more demanding driving situations. The Santa Fe's fuel economy was rated at 24 mpg by the EPA, and during testing, it averaged 22.3 mpg. The SUV's ride quality was commendable, with excellent suspension isolation and a quiet cabin, although its handling and steering were unremarkable.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a low ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather seats with power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The minivan's interior was designed for family use, with tri-color floor mats and an onboard vacuum cleaner for easy cleanup. The Odyssey's Magic Slide second-row seats provided flexibility for child seat installation and passenger access. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the cargo space behind it measured 32.8 cubic feet, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded. Removing the second-row seats increased cargo capacity to 144.9 cubic feet.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT included a dual-zone automatic climate control system and stain-resistant fabric seats. The driver's seat was power-adjustable, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The Santa Fe's rear seats offered ample space and comfort, with rear air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The SUV's storage solutions included a tray under the control bridge and a hands-free power-opening tailgate. The Santa Fe provided 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, which expanded to 72.1 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded down.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims offered navigation and HondaLink connected services. The Odyssey's CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies allowed the driver to monitor and communicate with rear passengers. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch display and wireless headphones. However, the Odyssey's infotainment system was considered outdated, with a small screen and limited voice recognition capabilities.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with large knobs and clear graphics. The Santa Fe's digital key technology allowed Android users to unlock and start the vehicle with their smartphone. The SUV also included a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system to notify drivers when traffic ahead started moving. While the XRT trim lacked some advanced features available in higher trims, its technology package was well-regarded.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Odyssey also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, the safety systems lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The Odyssey received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT was equipped with Hyundai SmartSense, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The SUV also featured Safe Exit Assist and an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system. The Santa Fe's safety systems were accurate and refined, enhancing the vehicle's safety. The Santa Fe earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance score.