2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2023 Genesis GV70

The 2023 Genesis GV70 exhibited a design that drew inspiration from its sedan counterpart, the G70, particularly above the belt-line. Its split-bar headlights and a distinctive chrome line that curved from behind the rear window were notable features that connected it visually to the G70. This chrome bar cleverly suggested a coupe-like SUV without compromising versatility. Inside, the GV70's cabin was a testament to luxury, with top-notch materials and excellent fit and finish. The design was a harmonious blend of contemporary and classic elements, with climate controls integrated into a curving bezel and a touchscreen that rose organically from the dash. The GV70's dash featured a full touchscreen, complemented by a rotary dial and button controls, offering a tactile experience superior to touch capacitive controls found in some competitors.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe's exterior styling was more conservative compared to some of Hyundai's recent designs. While it was an attractive SUV, it didn't stand out as much as other models in the brand's lineup. The Santa Fe continued with the same look and feel as the 2022 model, with a wide upper and lower grille and thin LED headlights as its distinctive elements. Inside, the Santa Fe's Calligraphy trim featured a black-on-black interior with Nappa leather seats that were both comfortable and attractive. The cabin, while high-quality, was dark and monotone, prompting a recommendation for the beige interior for visual contrast. The Santa Fe's interior was equipped with heated and cooled front seats, and the second row also featured seat heaters, making it a comfortable choice for varying weather conditions.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered two gas-powered engine options: a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The turbo-four provided ample power for most driving situations, while the V6 catered to performance enthusiasts with its extra grunt and throaty engine note. The GV70 balanced comfort and sharp handling, offering a refined driving experience. The Electrified GV70 featured a 77.4-kWh battery powering two electric motors, producing a combined 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a Boost Mode increasing output to 483 horsepower for short bursts. It had a range of 236 miles and supported DC fast charging, replenishing the battery from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes.

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 a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. The Limited and Calligraphy trims had a turbocharged engine producing 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The turbocharged Santa Fe offered a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and passing power, especially in Sport mode. The Santa Fe's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering, and it could tow up to 3,500 pounds with the turbo engine.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 provided 56.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 28.9 cubic feet with the seats in use, making it competitive in the compact luxury SUV segment. It featured a hands-free power liftgate, large cupholders in the center console, and a helpful tray with a retractable lid. While front-seat passengers could easily find a comfortable seating position, rear-seat legroom was tighter, requiring front-row occupants to adjust their seats forward. The rear bench reclined for added comfort.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered 41.7 inches of rear-seat legroom, among the best in its class. It provided 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Santa Fe featured an underfloor storage compartment and a hands-free smart liftgate with an auto-open feature. The SEL and higher trims included dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and an eight-way power driver's seat. The Calligraphy trim added a head-up display, premium door and seat accent trim, and ambient lighting. The panoramic sunroof spanned both rows, enhancing the cabin's airy feel.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with large icons and logical menu navigation. It included four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, and the Genesis digital key were available features.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, offering a 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in the Limited and Calligraphy trims. The base SE trim had an 8-inch display audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was customizable, though voice-recognition capabilities were mixed, with some difficulty in recognizing commands.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance technology, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The 2.5T's Advance Package added a blind-spot camera system, reverse automatic emergency braking, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The Electrified GV70 included most of these features as standard, with the head-up display available in the Prestige trim.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a wide array of standard safety-related ADAS, such as forward-collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction-turning detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, driver monitoring, a safe-exit system, and a rear-seat reminder system. 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+" rating from the IIHS.