2023 Volvo XC40 vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe had a conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's more recent models. While it was still an attractive SUV, it didn't stand out as much as other vehicles in the brand's lineup. The 2023 model continued with the same look and feel as the 2022 version, available in five trim levels: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. The Calligraphy AWD trim, tested in Stormy Sea paint with a black-on-black interior, had a base price of $42,600, with additional features bringing the total MSRP to $45,845. The Santa Fe's wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights were its most distinctive exterior elements.

Inside, the Calligraphy trim featured a high-quality black interior with Nappa leather seats, which were both comfortable and attractive. The cabin, however, was dark and monotone, making the beige or gray interior options more visually appealing. The Calligraphy trim came with heated and cooled front seats and heated second-row seats, which were particularly useful during varying spring weather conditions.

The 2023 Volvo XC40, despite being around for a few years, maintained a distinctive look with a flat-roofed profile and clean exterior design. For 2023, Volvo updated the exterior with new pixelated "Thor’s Hammer" headlights, a more angular front bumper, and new wheel designs. The XC40 shared Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform with the C40 Recharge and Polestar 2, making it the only CMA-based model in the U.S. with a combustion engine.

The interior of the XC40 retained its minimalist design, featuring thin air vents framing the central touchscreen and scalloped elements housing the door handles and speaker grilles. The Ultimate test vehicle included a panoramic moonroof and an Orrefors crystal shift knob, but the all-black interior felt more suited for a taxi service. While the fit and finish were good, the materials reminded us that the XC40 was Volvo’s entry-level model.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque for the SE, SEL, and XRT trims, and a turbocharged version for the Limited and Calligraphy trims, delivering 281 hp and 311 pound-feet. The naturally aspirated engine paired with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission, while the turbocharged engine used an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. FWD was standard, with AWD optional on all trims.

The turbocharged Santa Fe provided a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and no discernible turbo lag. The Calligraphy test vehicle offered brisk acceleration without undue engine noise, and handling was smooth with minimal body lean. The Santa Fe could tow up to 3,500 pounds with the turbo engine, though trailer brakes were necessary for maximum capacity.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 introduced mild-hybrid powertrains, adding a 48-volt electrical system and a 13-horsepower integrated starter generator. The base B4 powertrain combined the mild-hybrid system with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 197 hp and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the B5 model offered 247 hp and 258 pound-feet. Both powertrains used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B4 being FWD-only and the B5 AWD-only.

The B5 test car felt reasonably quick, though the accelerator pedal required extra initial pressure. The combination of electric assist and turbo boost provided ample power, and the XC40 handled corners with composure and absorbed bumps well. The XC40 Recharge, with its two electric motors producing 402 hp and 486 pound-feet of torque, could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and had a maximum towing capacity of 4,409 pounds.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, designed as a two-row SUV, offered 41.7 inches of rear-seat legroom and 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 additional underfloor storage compartment. The SEL and higher trims featured an eight-way power driver’s seat and heated front seats, while the Limited trim added ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a power driver seat cushion extension. The Calligraphy trim included a head-up display, premium door and seat accent trim, and ambient lighting.

The 2023 Volvo XC40, while smaller, offered competitive interior space with generous shoulder room and average legroom. It provided 20 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 46.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The XC40 featured scalloped door panels for flexible storage, a center console storage bin, and a phone tray. A power tailgate and keyless entry were standard on Plus and Ultimate models.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, offering a standard 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display in SE, SEL, and XRT trims, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in 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, satellite radio, voice recognition, wireless device charging, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 adopted an Android-based infotainment system with Google apps, including Google Maps and Google Assistant. It featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9-inch touchscreen in portrait orientation. The B5 Ultimate test vehicle included a 13-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system and USB-C ports for each row. The lack of analog controls meant using the touchscreen for most functions, which could be cumbersome.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision warning, 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. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 also offered a robust list of standard safety features, including lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, traffic sign recognition, rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. The Ultimate trim added a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, and Pilot Assist. The XC40 received top "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.