2022 Subaru Forester vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2022 Subaru Forester offered a robust array of trims, including base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring. The Forester's prices started at an MSRP of $25,195 for the base model, with the top-tier Touring model priced at $35,295. A $1,125 destination charge applied to all models, and Subaru provided many dealer-installed accessories. Subaru’s hallmark all-wheel drive (AWD) was standard across all trims.

For our evaluation, we took a trip to Bend, Oregon, venturing into the Cascade Mountains to test the 2022 Forester Wilderness. This variant featured white paint, a dark gray interior with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, and a starting price of $33,945, including destination. Our test model included an optional package with a navigation system, Harman Kardon premium audio, and a power rear liftgate, culminating in a final price of $36,014 with additional accessories like an engine underguard.

Historically, the Forester didn’t win beauty contests, and the Wilderness trim with its oversized cladding, matte-black hood decal, and high suspension didn’t change that perception. Despite its typically rugged and overlanding vibe, the heavy body cladding was an unusual design choice.

Inside, Subaru maintained a practical approach with a blend of hard plastics and soft surfaces that underscored utility over aesthetics. Copper-colored stitching and accents were the only departure from the otherwise utilitarian design. The interior emphasized functionality, and while it felt somewhat outdated and cost-effective, it benefited from stellar construction quality.

The 2022 Forester retained its intuitive 8-inch Starlink infotainment system in most trims. The SUV featured plentiful physical controls for essential functions, although the cluttered triple-screen layout was slightly inconvenient.

In sum, the Forester looked and felt well-made, though the Wilderness trim’s specific embellishments like the cladding, tall suspension, and matte-black wheels weren’t universally appealing.

Conversely, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe exhibited a more conservative yet undeniably attractive design. While it didn’t feature standout looks compared to Hyundai's other models, the Santa Fe was poised for a redesign in the 2024 model year.

Available in SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy trims, the Santa Fe offered front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard, with optional AWD across all variants. Our test vehicle was the top-tier Calligraphy AWD trim, with Stormy Sea paint and a black interior. Starting at $42,600, AWD added $1,700, and carpeted floor mats cost an additional $210, totaling $45,845 with the $1,335 destination charge.

The Santa Fe’s exterior design was marked by its distinctive upper and lower grilles and slim LED headlights, distinguishing it within the Hyundai lineup. However, it quickly normalized from front to rear, lacking further design bravado.

Inside, our Calligraphy test vehicle featured a high-quality black-on-black leather interior, which appeared visually monotonous. Other interior color options like beige or gray in lower trims offered better visual contrast.

Highlights included luxurious Nappa leather seats, standard heated and cooled front seats, and heated second-row seats. The comfortable, premium feel of the cabin was evident, accommodating spring weather variations effortlessly.

Driving the 2022 Subaru Forester revealed a focus on practicality and pleasing driving dynamics, barring the need for rapid acceleration. The car retained the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine from the previous year, generating 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm.

With a continually variable transmission (CVT) and standard AWD, the Wilderness model featured a CVT design that Subaru claimed offered a 25% increase in initial torque supply. This model also boasted an enhanced towing capacity of 3,000 pounds, doubled from the standard 1,500 pounds.

EPA estimated the Forester Wilderness to achieve 26 mpg in combined driving, while real-world driving in the Bend-Redmond region averaged 25.9 mpg. At sea level, the engine was adequately competitive, though its performance at high altitudes highlighted the absence of a turbocharger, manifesting sluggishness in thinner air.

The CVT provided eight programmed ratios and typically operated without demanding attention. Sporting Subaru’s SI-Drive for dynamic responses, driving the Wilderness felt engaging, though the yearning for a turbocharged engine remained.

The dual-function X-Mode system, standard on most trims, enhanced off-road capability, adjusting settings based on terrain type and managing speed during descents. The Wilderness trim benefited from longer springs, shocks raising ground clearance to 9.2 inches, and improved approach, breakover, and departure angles with specialized Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires, an aluminum front skid plate, and a full-size spare tire.

Driving conditions ranged from urban streets to uneven forest roads, where the Forester excelled save for its engine power limit and wind noise at higher speeds. The long-travel suspension absorbed road imperfections gracefully, maintaining commendable road feel and minimized body roll. The Forester tackled sand, berms, rocks, and hills with ease, and proved formidable on minimally maintained forest roads.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe allowed buyer choices between naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions of its 2.5-liter engine. The base trims SE, SEL, and XRT featured a naturally aspirated engine with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the Limited and Calligraphy trims offered a turbocharged engine with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, utilizing an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Standard FWD and optional AWD coupled with a drive-mode selector provided versatility. The turbocharged variant demonstrated a marked 90-hp advantage over the non-turbo, translating to brisk acceleration and smooth passing power. The overall driving experience showcased quick, noiseless acceleration, and comfortable handling, with minimal body lean during cornering.

The Santa Fe’s AWD-lock and trail capabilities went untested during our evaluation, given its likely use in less challenging environments. Nonetheless, the turbocharged model, with a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds versus the non-turbo’s 2,000 pounds (both requiring trailer brakes for maximum capacity), showed ample capability. The turbo model’s power delivery and smoothness firmly placed the Santa Fe within competitive performance standards for its class.

The 2022 Subaru Forester excelled in functionality, emphasizing practical design features. The vehicle’s tall seating hip points made entry and exit easy, particularly attractive to more mature buyers. Meanwhile, the StarTex upholstery in the Wilderness trim, though water-resistant, lacked seat ventilation and breathability, posing minor inconveniences for those engaging in active outdoor activities.

Updated roof rails accommodating a dynamic load of 220 pounds and a static load of 800 pounds allowed for practical additions like a three-person roof tent. The interior offered high comfort levels, exceptional visibility, rear air conditioning vents, and quick-charge ports, making it an ideal choice for long journeys.

Interior storage reflected thoughtful design, with decent capacity, although a dashboard shelf was a missed opportunity. Rear seating comfortably accommodated two adults, with ample legroom and convenient fold-down armrests housing cupholders. Total cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubic feet with it, expanding to 74.2 cubic feet (69.1 with the sunroof) when the rear seats were folded down.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe benefitted from Hyundai's decision to forego a cramped third row, resulting in impressive rear seat legroom of 41.7 inches. This two-row configuration provided ample cargo space, including 36.4 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. An additional underfloor storage compartment added to its practical cargo solutions.

Both front and rear seat comfort shone, with high-end trims featuring luxurious enhancements like dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a host of smart convenience features like the hands-free smart liftgate and Remote Smart Parking Assist.

While the Santa Fe possessed a spacious and comfortable interior, some ergonomic drawbacks included limited adjustment range for higher seating positions, potentially causing proximity issues to the steering wheel and minor inconvenience with a wide center console intruding on legroom.

In cargo capacity and rear-seat space, the Santa Fe held an edge over the Forester, making it more suitable for families and those requiring ample storage.

The 2022 Subaru Forester featured a solid suite of technology across its trims. The base model included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and HD Radio, while Premium trims added access to a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting through Starlink. Higher trims like Wilderness, Limited, and Touring upgraded to an 8-inch screen, integrating a navigation system and Harman Kardon premium audio. The Wilderness trim also featured a useful 180-degree forward-view camera for off-roading. Despite the hits and misses of the voice recognition system, the Harman Kardon audio provided clear, rich sound, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted superior in-vehicle technology and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Standard features included a 4.2-inch color LCD on base trims and a larger 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster on Limited and Calligraphy trims, providing clear and versatile displays.

Infotainment systems ranged from a basic 8-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the base SE trim to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, and Bluelink connected services in higher trims. Limited and Calligraphy also featured a premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The system’s intuitive interface and extensive customization options stood out, despite occasional voice recognition issues. The premium trims offered notable upgrades like wireless device charging, digital keys, and detailed vehicle-setting menus, making it a well-rounded, tech-infused package.

The 2022 Subaru Forester introduced the next-generation EyeSight 4.0 safety system, improving field of vision and adding an Automatic Emergency Steering system for enhanced stability in collision avoidance scenarios. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping and lane-centering assist. The upgraded EyeSight 4.0 system exhibited fewer false warnings and operated with greater confidence. Additional features included a rear-seat reminder, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and Starlink-connected services providing automatic collision notification and SOS emergency assistance. The Touring trim offered DriverFocus facial recognition technology to monitor drowsiness and distraction.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) granted the 2022 Forester a 5-star overall crash-test rating, and it was anticipated to retain the previous year's IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" rating, though the Wilderness trim might require re-evaluation due to its modifications.

For the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai integrated a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS. These included forward-collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction-turning detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure and lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, driver monitoring, a safe-exit system, and a rear-seat reminder. SEL trims and above included Highway Driving Assist, combining adaptive cruise control and stop-and-go capability for easier driving.

NHTSA awarded the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe a five-star overall rating, while IIHS declared it a "Top Safety Pick+" for the 2022 calendar year, with top ratings in all crashworthiness tests and particular praise for the Limited and Calligraphy’s projector-type headlights.