2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2022 Lexus RX presented a modern and sporty design, continuing the aesthetic updates from its 2020 facelift. Available in base 350, F Sport, and L trim levels, the RX offered a hybrid model, the RX 450h. The RX 350 and F Sport accommodated five passengers, while the L trim provided a three-row, seven-passenger option. Competing in the midsize luxury crossover segment, the RX stood out with its aggressive styling, characterized by sharp character lines and angular features. The F Sport trim, in particular, enhanced the vehicle's athletic appearance with 20-inch wheels, unique front fascia, and sportier design elements. Inside, the RX maintained a luxurious cabin with various color combinations, though the F Sport trim added a sporty touch with specific badging and materials. Despite its high-quality feel, the interior's center stack felt dated, and the comfort of the NuLuxe seats in the F Sport trim was less than ideal.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe exhibited a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's recent models. The five-passenger SUV was available in five trim levels: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy, with FWD standard and AWD optional. The Calligraphy AWD trim, tested in Stormy Sea paint, featured a black-on-black interior and a base price of $42,600. The Santa Fe's styling was marked by wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights, giving it a distinctive look. Inside, the Calligraphy trim offered a high-quality, albeit dark, interior with Nappa leather seats that were both comfortable and attractive. The cabin featured heated and cooled front seats, with seat heaters in the second row. The Santa Fe's interior was spacious, with a recommendation for a beige interior to provide visual contrast.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid RX 450h combined the V6 with two electric motors for a total of 308 hp. All RX models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard on the RX 350 and AWD available. The hybrid RX offered AWD as the only option. Despite the F Sport designation, the RX's performance was underwhelming, with an engine note more akin to a turbocharged four-cylinder and unimpressive acceleration. The F Sport Handling package added features like an adaptive variable suspension and a Sport+ drive mode, but the driving experience lacked significant changes between modes. The RX excelled in driving comfort and cabin quietness, with EPA estimates of 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 combined for the RX 350, while the RX 450h achieved 30 mpg combined.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a choice between a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine producing 191 horsepower and a turbocharged version delivering 281 hp and 311 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine, available in Limited and Calligraphy trims, worked with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. FWD was standard, with AWD optional on all trims. The Santa Fe featured a drive-mode selector with Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart modes. The turbocharged Santa Fe provided brisk acceleration with no discernible turbo lag, and the handling was smooth with minimal body lean. The turbo version could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the non-turbo model had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds. Overall, the Santa Fe's performance was impressive for its price point.

The 2022 Lexus RX offered 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume in its two-row configuration, comfortably seating four adults. The three-row L models shared the same wheelbase, resulting in limited space for the third row. Cargo space in the standard RX was 16.0 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 32.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The three-row version provided only 7.45 cubic feet with all seats upright, increasing to 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows down. The RX featured thoughtful interior elements like a smartphone slot and adjustable-height cup holder, but the rear seats did not fold completely flat.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered generous rear-seat legroom of 41.7 inches and a competitive 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. Folding the second row provided 72.1 cubic feet of storage space, with an underfloor storage compartment in the cargo area. The Santa Fe's seat comfort was a highlight, with SEL and higher trims featuring an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats. The Limited trim added features like ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, while the Calligraphy trim included a head-up display and ambient lighting. The panoramic sunroof and head-up display were appreciated features, though the wide center console slightly impacted driver leg space.

The 2022 Lexus RX came with an 8-inch touchscreen display, with a 12.3-inch version available as an option. Despite being moved closer to the driver, the touchscreen's positioning was ergonomically unfriendly, with a lip obstructing access to icons. The infotainment system was responsive, but the touchpad was frustrating to use. The RX offered a range of tech features, including six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, and a WiFi hotspot. The Lexus App allowed for remote engine start and vehicle settings customization.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch color LCD display in lower trims and a 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, while higher trims offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was logically arranged, with extensive customization options. Voice-recognition capabilities were mixed, with some difficulty in recognizing commands for music and temperature changes.

The 2022 Lexus RX was equipped with the Lexus Safety System 2.0+, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, and a pre-collision system. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a head-up display. The RX was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS when equipped with optional triple-beam LED headlights, but it received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Highway Driving Assist was standard on SEL and above. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation from the IIHS, with high ratings in crashworthiness tests.