2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Mazda CX-30

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe had a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's 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 Santa Fe continued with the same look and feel as the 2022 model, available in five trim levels: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. Our test vehicle was the top-of-the-line Calligraphy AWD trim, featuring Stormy Sea paint and a black-on-black interior, with a total MSRP of $45,845.

The Santa Fe's exterior had distinctive wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights, but the design normalized quickly from the front to the rear. Inside, the Calligraphy trim's black interior with black leather seats provided a high-quality look, though it was somewhat dark and monotone. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable and attractive, with heated and cooled front seats and heated second-row seats. The spring weather allowed us to appreciate both the heating and cooling features.

The 2024 Mazda CX-30 had a more dramatic and appealing design, despite the excessive charcoal-colored plastic on the lower body. The crossover featured short overhangs, a long and low hood, sculpted flanks, a squat greenhouse, and a rakish roofline. The interior felt like a class above, with style, refinement, and attention to detail on par with entry-level luxury SUVs. The gauges were clear, the infotainment screen was integrated into the dashboard, and the dual-zone climate controls were well-designed.

Our test car was the 2.5 Carbon Turbo trim, with Zircon Sand paint and Terracotta and Black interior upholstery. The exterior color was polarizing, but it worked well on the SUV. The MSRP for the test model was $34,210, including destination. The interior featured quality materials, logical controls, and a traditional PRNDL shifter. However, the back seat was cramped, and cargo space was limited to 20.2 cubic feet behind the back seat, expandable to 45.2 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

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, and a turbocharged version with 281 hp and 311 pound-feet. The naturally aspirated engine was 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 available as an option on all trims.

The turbocharged Santa Fe provided a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and no discernible turbo lag. The Calligraphy trim's off-the-line acceleration was impressive, and passing power was instantaneous, especially in Sport mode. The ride was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering. The turbocharged Santa Fe could tow up to 3,500 pounds with trailer brakes, while the non-turbo version could tow 2,000 pounds.

The 2024 Mazda CX-30 featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 250 hp and 320 pound-feet of torque (227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular gas). The power delivery was smooth, with torque arriving at 2,000 rpm. The traditional six-speed automatic transmission provided flawless shifting, and the standard AWD system distributed power to all four wheels. However, fuel economy was not a strong point, with an observed 21.3 mpg on a mountainous route, and a small 12.7-gallon fuel tank limited the range.

The CX-30 was fun to drive, with a zippy and nimble feel, firm ride, and excellent outward visibility. The adaptive cruise control system and lane-keeping assist worked well, though the automatic curve speed reduction was too aggressive. The CX-30 could handle more challenging trails with its standard AWD, Off-Road traction assist setting, and eight inches of ground clearance.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe benefited from not having a cramped third row, resulting in more rear-seat legroom and additional cargo space. The rear-seat legroom was a class-leading 41.7 inches, and cargo space behind the second row was 36.4 cubic feet, expandable to 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The SEL and higher trims featured an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats, with additional comfort and convenience features in the Limited and Calligraphy trims.

The Calligraphy trim included a head-up display, premium door and seat accent trim, a microfiber headliner, and ambient lighting. The extended panoramic sunroof was a favorite feature, though adjusting the head-up display height was cumbersome. The wide center console provided ample storage but cut into driver leg and hip space.

The 2024 Mazda CX-30's interior featured quality materials, logical controls, and a traditional PRNDL shifter. The Terracotta leather seats with simulated Black suede inserts added a splash of color. However, the interior was cramped, especially in the back seat. The driver and front passenger were comfortable, with a power-adjustable driver's seat and heated front seats.

Storage space was adequate, with 20.2 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the back seat, expandable to 45.2 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The load floor could be adjusted for more flexibility, and there was hidden underfloor storage.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display in SE, SEL, and XRT trims, and a larger 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in Limited and Calligraphy trims. The base SE trim featured an 8-inch display audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims had a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, voice recognition, wireless device charging, digital key, and Bluelink connected services. The Limited and Calligraphy trims also included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The infotainment system's home screen icons were clearly marked and logically arranged, though navigating sub-menus could be cumbersome. Voice recognition capabilities were mixed, with success in finding addresses and points of interest but struggles with music requests and temperature changes.

The 2024 Mazda CX-30 Turbo models featured a new 10.25-inch infotainment display with touchscreen functionality for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the screen was located far from the driver and front passenger. Mazda's system used a combination of steering wheel, center console, and voice controls, but the voice recognition system was not natural and required following on-screen prompts.

All CX-30s included a three-year subscription to Mazda Connected Services and a three-month, 2-gigabyte trial to in-vehicle Wi-Fi. New USB-C ports provided connectivity, and higher trims featured a wireless smartphone charger and a Bose premium audio system.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including 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, leveraging adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability.

The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, with Good ratings in all crashworthiness tests. The Limited and Calligraphy trims' projector-type headlights were preferred over the lower trims' reflector-type units.

The 2024 Mazda CX-30 added new standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and a rear-seat alert system. These joined forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims included adaptive headlights, front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking, rear automatic braking, a surround-view camera system, and a Cruising and Traffic Support system.

The CX-30 earned five-star ratings in every NHTSA assessment except for rollover resistance, where it received four stars. The IIHS awarded the CX-30 a "Top Safety Pick+" rating.