2024 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

Our test vehicle was the top-tier Calligraphy AWD trim, sporting a deep, rich Stormy Sea paint and a black-on-black interior. The base price stood at $42,600, with AWD adding an extra $1,700. Carpeted floor mats cost another $210, bringing the total manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) to $45,845, including the $1,335 destination charge.

From an exterior perspective, the Santa Fe's most distinctive feature was its wide upper and lower grilles, a signature look within the Hyundai family. Thin LED headlights contributed to its unique front design, but the appeal became more generic from the front turn signals to the rear.

Inside, the Calligraphy trim offered black Nappa leather seats that provided both comfort and aesthetic appeal, although the interior appeared dark and monotone. Opting for a beige or gray interior on lower trims could provide pleasing visual contrast. Heated and cooled front seats came standard in the Calligraphy, along with heated second-row seats, enhancing comfort throughout our spring test drives.

Conversely, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, although looking quite similar to its 2023 predecessor, introduced new sheet metal, a new chassis, and new colors like Sun Blaze, Offshore Blue, and Sapphire Blue. The introduction of the Wilderness trim included an exclusive Geyser Blue paint option. The overall dimensions remained nearly identical to the outgoing model, maintaining a similar wheelbase, length, and approach and break-over angles. The new Crosstrek also featured a steeper departure angle, but the cargo space slightly shrunk—though barely noticeably.

The base 2024 Crosstrek trim arrived with 17-inch alloy wheels and all-season tires, maintaining 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Roof rails were optional on the Base trim, standard on Premium, Sport, and Limited trims. The Wilderness trim flaunted exclusive design cues including a unique hexagonal front grille and larger cladding pieces for a rugged aesthetic. Inside, the Wilderness trim sported StarTex synthetic leather and copper accents, along with all-weather floormats and an LED tailgate area light for enhanced visibility in the cargo area.

All 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe models featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, with variations in power output based on trim levels. The SE, SEL, and XRT trims had naturally aspirated engines producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Limited and Calligraphy trims, however, came turbocharged, delivering 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission.

With FWD standard and AWD available for all trims, the Santa Fe offered a drive-mode selector with modes like Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart. Our Calligraphy test vehicle exhibited impressive performance, particularly due to its turbocharged engine, which provided a 90-hp advantage over the non-turbo version. Turbo lag was practically non-existent, and acceleration felt immediate, especially in Sport mode. Handling was smooth with minimal body lean, and the ride quality was at par with higher-priced SUVs. The turbocharged version could tow up to 3,500 pounds with trailer brakes, doubling the capacity of the non-turbo model.

For the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, the 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder engine returned for Sport and Limited trims, delivering 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This engine also became standard for the new Wilderness trim. Early in 2023, a Premium trim with a smaller 2.0-liter engine was tested, producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque, managed through a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The Crosstrek, while not very quick, offered better performance with the larger engine. The manual transmission was no longer an option, leaving the CVT as the sole transmission choice. Subaru perfected this CVT, which ran smoothly up the rev range with simulated shift points that felt deliberate. However, the Wilderness trim had a shorter final-drive ratio, improving uphill climbs and acceleration from stops but at the cost of increased road noise and reduced fuel economy.

The Crosstrek Wilderness's towing capacity also increased to 3,500 pounds, and its enhanced off-road capabilities were evident with better handling over aggressive terrains. Both the updated 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter powertrains demonstrated reduced vibrations and smoother operations thanks to improved engine mounts and tuning. The steering feel, though light, was not sloppy, and the new dual-pinion steering rack enhanced the overall driving experience.

Unlike some midsize SUVs, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe did not cram in a third row, a smart decision that allowed for more spaciousness. The rear-seat legroom of 41.7 inches was one of the best in its class. Cargo space behind the second row was 36.4 cubic feet, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet when the second row was folded down. An additional underfloor storage compartment added to its utility.

Seat comfort was notable, with SEL and higher trims offering an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats. Features like dual-zone climate control and a hands-free smart liftgate were standard on SEL trims and above. The Limited trim included ventilated front seats, an eight-way power passenger seat, and heated rear seats. The Calligraphy trim boasted a head-up display and a panoramic sunroof stretching across both rows.

Some drawbacks were observed, such as the driver's seat height adjustment pushing the seat closer to the steering wheel, potentially making the proximity to the airbag uncomfortable. Additionally, the wide center console impacted driver leg and hip space, although it offered substantial storage.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, despite being built on the Impreza's platform, delivered competitive cargo space and utility for a small SUV. With good rear-seat legroom and headroom, it could comfortably accommodate most passengers, although very tall passengers might prefer the front seats. The Crosstrek provided 19.9 cubic feet of trunk space, expanding to 54.7 cubic feet with the second-row seats down.

Interior materials were robust and easy to clean, catering to Subaru's adventurous clientele. The cargo area included a protection tray standard on Premium trims and above, and the center console bin was designed to hold two 32-ounce Nalgene bottles. The Wilderness trim further enhanced functionality with Nalgene cupholders, all-weather floor mats, and cargo trays, reaffirming its rugged credentials.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology. SE, SEL, and XRT trims featured a 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display, while Limited and Calligraphy trims included a larger, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The base SE trim's 8-inch display audio system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with wired CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, and more.

A 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system came standard on the Limited and Calligraphy trims. Despite not having the fanciest graphics, the Santa Fe's infotainment system was logically arranged with various customizations available. Voice-recognition capabilities had mixed results, performing well for navigation and weather reports but struggling with music and climate controls.

In the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, a massive, vertically oriented 11.6-inch touchscreen dominated the interior, previously seen in the Subaru Ascent and Outback. It featured crisp icons and graphics, with physical controls for essential functions like temperature and volume. All trims except the Base had this display, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A wireless charging pad was standard on Sport and Limited trims.

Despite its impressive technology, the Crosstrek's touchscreen suffered from glare and required navigating through multiple menus to access certain features. Some features, like remote start, were unavailable in states with Right to Repair laws, impacting the overall user experience.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The SEL trim and above included Highway Driving Assist, leveraging adaptive cruise control and stop-and-go capabilities. The Santa Fe received top ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, achieving a five-star overall rating and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation, respectively.

Similarly, the Subaru Crosstrek had a strong safety record, consistently achieving theTop Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The 2024 model came standard with Subaru's EyeSight system, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The new EyeSight system offered automatic emergency steering on trims with blind-spot monitoring.