2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Toyota RAV4

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 marked a continuation of its evolutionary journey, characterized by a mature, refined design that mirrored the broader crossover landscape. Since its inception in 1996, the RAV4 has transformed from a niche "cute-ute" into a cornerstone of the SUV market, often topping sales charts in the U.S. market. The 2022 model, as the latest version of the 2019 redesign, adhered to this mainstream appeal while offering subtle, distinctive design elements. The RAV4 sported angular details in the wheel arches and articulated lines that contrasted against the softer curves of its body, creating a balanced yet expressive look. Its face, featuring playful yet aggressive Kabuki-like styling in the headlights and grille, elevated its street presence. Inside, the RAV4 presented a layered dashboard with contrasting textures and colors, balanced around a well-positioned center stack. Distinctive design cues like a circuit-board-inspired pattern synchronized interior elements, from seat inserts to sill plates, enhancing the overall aesthetic and user experience.

In comparison, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, while attractive, leaned towards a conservative design approach. Hyundai maintained the same look as the 2022 model, prioritizing clean lines over flamboyant elements. Our test vehicle, a Calligraphy AWD trim, featured a deep, rich Stormy Sea exterior paint with a black interior, priced at $45,845 after options. The Santa Fe's most notable exterior features were its wide grilles and thin LED headlights. Inside, the cabin, albeit luxurious with high-quality materials like Nappa leather seats, felt dark and monotone. The calligraphy trim offered enhancements like heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, and configurable drive modes. However, we found the beige or gray interiors more visually pleasing than the all-black choice in our test vehicle. The sunroof spanning both rows added a significant premium feel, though there were concerns about the high seat position pushing drivers uncomfortably close to the steering wheel and A-pillar.

Under the hood, the 2022 Toyota RAV4 offered three powertrain choices, providing flexibility to meet various consumer needs. The gasoline-only model, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, produced 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque and delivered smooth and immediate power without any turbo lag. The conventional eight-speed automatic transmission paired with front-wheel drive came standard, with all-wheel drive as an option. Fuel efficiency varied slightly between FWD and AWD models, with the former getting up to 30 mpg combined and the latter achieving up to 28 mpg combined. The hybrid version, equipped with a similar engine and an electric motor, boasted 217 combined horsepower and superior fuel economy at 40 mpg combined. The plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime, the powerhouse of the lineup, delivered an impressive 302 horsepower and could run 42 miles on electricity alone, earning 94 MPGe combined.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-liter engine, available in either naturally aspirated or turbocharged forms. The base engine, providing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission, offered decent performance for everyday driving. The real standout was the turbocharged version in the higher trims, generating a substantial 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. This engine, coupled with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch transmission, provided immediate and smooth acceleration without noticeable turbo lag. Standard drive modes (Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart) allowed drivers to tailor the SUV's performance to their liking. The Santa Fe’s towing capacity ranged from 2,000 pounds for the non-turbo model to 3,500 pounds for the turbo version, with the latter necessitating trailer brakes to achieve its maximum capacity.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 provided ample interior space and impressive cargo capacity, reflecting its growth through generations. The RAV4 could hold up to 37.5 cubic feet of luggage behind the second row, expanding to 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down. It offered a healthy payload capacity ranging from 1,050 to 1,230 pounds, depending on the configuration. Towing capacity varied by model, with the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims capable of towing up to 3,500 pounds. Inside, the RAV4 comfortably seated four adults, with plenty of space and storage solutions in the front row.

In comparison, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in providing spacious seating without the compromise of a third row. The Santa Fe offered 41.7 inches of rear-seat legroom, a class leader, and 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. Folding the seats opened up a roomy 72.1 cubic feet of storage, aided by a handy underfloor compartment. The omission of a third row allowed for more rear-seat legroom and additional cargo space, enhancing the vehicle’s versatility. The Santa Fe's cabin featured a range of comfort and convenience features, especially in higher trims, including dual-zone climate control, a hands-free liftgate, and heated and ventilated front seats.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 came equipped with a robust array of technology, starting from base trims and extending to advanced offerings in higher trims and the RAV4 Prime. Standard features included a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa, alongside SiriusXM satellite radio, Safety Connect, Service Connect, and Wi-Fi Connect. Higher trims upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen, and the Prime model showcased features like a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad, bird’s-eye view camera system, and a 10-inch color head-up display. The Premium Audio option upgraded the sound system to an 11-speaker JBL setup with navigation.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe also impressed with its in-vehicle technology, particularly in the higher trims. Base models featured an 8-inch display audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with wired smartphone connectivity, satellite radio, and voice recognition. The Limited and Calligraphy trims added a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Santa Fe's infotainment system was user-friendly, offering extensive customization options, though the voice-recognition system had mixed performance results, particularly with more complex commands. However, it successfully handled navigation and basic inquiries.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 came equipped with Toyota’s Star Safety System, featuring enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock braking, and more. Standard driver-assist systems under Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims added a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert. The 2022 RAV4 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick award, with the RAV4 Prime earning a Top Safety Pick+ due to better side-impact ratings. The NHTSA awarded both the RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid five-star ratings.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe was similarly loaded with advanced driver assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and a rear-seat reminder system. Highway Driving Assist, which combines adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance, came standard from the SEL trim upwards. The Santa Fe earned top safety ratings, including the NHTSA’s five-star overall rating and IIHS’s Top Safety Pick+ designation for its crashworthiness and superior headlights in the higher trims.