2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2023 Audi Q5

The 2023 Audi Q5 presented a blend of elegance and sportiness with its exterior design, characterized by subtle curves and angular accents. It was available in two body styles: the standard Q5 SUV and the Q5 Sportback, which featured a sloping rear roofline for a sleeker look. Despite the typical reservations about coupelike styling, the Q5 Sportback stood out with a spoiler-like element above the taillights, providing a more defined transition from hatch to tail section. Inside, the Q5 offered a refined yet simple layout, though its age was beginning to show. Standard features included leather seating and heated front seats, with options for a heated steering wheel and rear seats. The 10-inch touchscreen was a nod to traditional design amidst a trend of larger screens. While materials were of good quality, the Q5 no longer felt as special compared to non-luxury competitors. The build quality was robust, with no squeaks or creaks, making it a solid choice among luxury SUVs.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe's exterior styling was more conservative compared to some of Hyundai's recent designs. It maintained the same look as the 2022 model, with a wide upper and lower grille and thin LED headlights as its distinctive elements. The Santa Fe was available in five trims, with the Calligraphy AWD trim offering a rich dark blue paint and a black interior. The interior, while high-quality, was dark and monotone, with recommendations for a beige or gray interior for visual contrast. The Nappa leather seats in the Calligraphy trim were both comfortable and attractive, with standard heated and cooled front seats and heated second-row seats. The Santa Fe's design was practical and comfortable, with a focus on functionality over flashy aesthetics.

The 2023 Audi Q5 offered three engine choices. The base 40 TFSI was a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The midrange 45 TFSI increased output to 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, and was the sole engine for the Q5 Sportback. The 55 TFSI was a plug-in hybrid powertrain delivering 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, with an estimated 23 miles of electric-only range. All Q5s came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard Quattro all-wheel drive. The Q5 Sportback with the 45 TFSI engine experienced a noticeable delay in power delivery, likely due to the transmission, making initial acceleration feel sluggish. However, once underway, the power was adequate, and the handling was sporty, with precise steering and a good balance between compliance and cornering.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-liter engine, available in naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions. The SE, SEL, and XRT trims featured a naturally aspirated engine with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Limited and Calligraphy trims had a turbocharged engine producing 281 hp and 311 pound-feet, with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. The turbocharged Santa Fe offered immediate acceleration with no turbo lag, providing brisk performance. Handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering. The Santa Fe's performance was impressive for its price point, offering a comfortable and responsive driving experience.

The 2023 Audi Q5's interior design had remained largely unchanged since 2018, but it continued to offer a functional and well-organized layout. The infotainment touchscreen was positioned atop the dash for easy visibility, with traditional dials and buttons for climate controls. The Q5 provided good outward visibility, with a narrow front roof pillar and better-than-average rear visibility. The front seats offered ample space for taller passengers, and the rear seats accommodated six-footers comfortably. The Q5 had several storage options, though some were oddly sized. Cargo space was 25.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats, slightly reduced to 24.7 cubic feet in the Sportback model.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, by not including a third row, offered generous rear-seat legroom of 41.7 inches and competitive cargo space of 36.4 cubic feet behind the second row. Folding the second row provided 72.1 cubic feet of storage space, with an underfloor storage compartment. The Santa Fe excelled in seat comfort, with power-adjustable and heated front seats in higher trims. Features like dual-zone climate control, a hands-free smart liftgate, and a panoramic sunroof added to the comfort and convenience. However, the wide center console slightly reduced driver leg and hip space.

The 2023 Audi Q5 came standard with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, offering sharp graphics and quick responses. However, the system took time to boot up, and Apple CarPlay activation was slow. Both CarPlay and Android Auto were available wirelessly. Higher trims featured a Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Q5 could be monitored remotely via a smartphone app, with features like unlocking and temperature pre-conditioning. Mid-range trims had a customizable digital instrument panel.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in technology, with a standard 4.2-inch color LCD display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. The base SE trim had an 8-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while other trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and wired connectivity. The Limited and Calligraphy trims included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system offered extensive customization options, though voice recognition had mixed results.

The 2023 Audi Q5 received five stars from the NHTSA for overall, frontal, and side protection, and four stars in rollover tests. The IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ with "Good" ratings in all crashworthiness tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and parking sensors. Higher trims added lane-keep assist, a surround-view camera, and traffic jam assist.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and more. 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+ from the IIHS, with "Good" ratings in all crashworthiness tests.