2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT trim did not impress with its new XRT treatment. The lack of a suspension lift and more aggressive tires made it less convincing for off-roading. The side steps, while useful for roof rack access, impeded entry and exit and reduced the breakover angle. The XRT trim, priced higher than SE and SEL but lower than Limited and Calligraphy, included all SEL equipment and the Convenience Package, with a starting price of $34,095. Our test vehicle, in Portofino Gray with a black cloth interior, had an MSRP of $35,940. Despite the lack of visual contrast, the interior's thoughtful design and high quality made it a pleasant place to spend time.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse received a light restyle with new headlights, taillights, and grille designs. Our RS trim test vehicle, priced at $48,895, featured blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels. The Traverse's styling was appealing, with crisply tailored lines and tasteful details. Inside, the RS trim had black leather upholstery with red and light gray contrast stitching, black carpets, and gloss black trim. The materials were a mixed bag, with hard plastic surfaces on the upper door panels. However, the interior was logically laid out, with matte-finish black switchgear and easy-to-use stereo controls.

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, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, was adequate for everyday driving but lacked power for more demanding situations. The Santa Fe XRT offered Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with Smart mode being the default for low-demand driving. The test vehicle averaged 22.3 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 24 mpg. The ride quality was good, with excellent suspension isolation and a quiet cabin. However, the XRT's performance was limited by its cosmetic enhancements, and it did not venture off-road during testing.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse had a tow rating of 5,000 pounds and offered Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road driving modes. The V6 engine provided adequate power, and the test vehicle returned 20.9 mpg, slightly above the EPA rating of 20 mpg. The Traverse offered a firm yet compliant ride in town and excelled on the highway, though it had more road and wind noise than preferred. In the mountains, the Traverse felt athletic, with good steering and braking performance. However, the RS trim's all-season tires and soft suspension response at higher speeds detracted from the overall driving experience.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT featured a dual-zone automatic climate control system with a Clean Air ionizer and rear air conditioning vents. The eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat was comfortable, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The rear seats offered generous legroom and foot room, with rear side-window shades and USB charging ports. The Santa Fe had 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The hands-free power-opening "Smart Tailgate" was convenient but could open unintentionally.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse RS had power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row captain's chairs reduced seating capacity to seven but offered a wide pass-through for easier third-row access. The second-row Smart Slide function and long rear doors facilitated entry and exit. The Traverse had 23 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expandable to 57.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, and a maximum cargo volume of 98.2 cubic feet. The Traverse also featured hidden storage compartments behind the infotainment screen and under the cargo floor.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and Bluelink connected services with a three-year subscription. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large knobs and clean on-screen graphics. The Santa Fe also had digital key technology for Android smartphones and a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse offered a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system on LS and LT Cloth models, with an 8-inch high-definition display on higher trims. The Traverse featured Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch system included navigation, SiriusXM 360L, and Alexa Built-in. The RS trim had a Bose premium sound system, though it was not particularly impressive. The voice recognition system was excellent, and the digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera were useful features.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT was equipped with Hyundai SmartSense, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Santa Fe also had Junction Turning Detection, Safe Exit Assist, and an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system. Bluelink provided additional safety features, and the Santa Fe earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following-distance indicator. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and rear pedestrian alert. The Traverse had not been fully rated by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time of writing, but it received top "Good" ratings in most collision-related tests.