2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was described as "modernist" and "reductive," which translated to a clean and simple design. This approach did not cater to those seeking flashy luxury SUVs. The test vehicle arrived in a subdued Eiger Gray paint with silver 23-inch wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuding understated luxury. Inside, it featured a Deep Garnet over Ebony theme with aluminum and shiny black trim, creating a high-tech and luxurious appearance. The Range Rover Sport was available in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e specifications, with the SE Dynamic P400 test vehicle priced at $98,420, including destination charges.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, in contrast, had a more conservative exterior styling compared to some of Hyundai's recent designs. The five-passenger SUV was available in five trim levels: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. The test vehicle was a top-of-the-line Calligraphy AWD trim in Stormy Sea paint with a black-on-black interior, priced at $45,845, including destination charges. The Santa Fe's exterior featured wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights, while the interior had a high-quality look and feel, with Nappa leather seats and a range of comfort features.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement, comfort, and driver-focused engagement. It featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque in the SE Dynamic model. The lower-priced SE P360 offered 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography P440e, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft with an estimated 51 miles of electric driving range. The test vehicle's 395-hp engine provided ample power, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds. The Range Rover Sport had a towing capacity of 7,716 pounds and achieved an average fuel economy of 22.3 mpg during testing.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a 2.5-liter engine with two options: a naturally aspirated version producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged version in the Limited and Calligraphy trims, delivering 281 hp and 311 pound-feet. The turbocharged engine provided immediate acceleration with no discernible turbo lag, making it a more powerful option. The Santa Fe had a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds with the turbo engine and 2,000 pounds with the non-turbo version. The test vehicle's handling was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering, and the dual-clutch transmission performed well without low-speed clunkiness.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained its Command Driving Position, offering a tall, airy feel with a low dashboard and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with 20-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The rear seat, however, was less hospitable, with limited legroom and hard front seatback panels. The cargo area offered 31.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The test vehicle had a full-size spare tire, reducing underfloor storage space.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, provided ample rear-seat legroom at 41.7 inches and a competitive 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. Folding down the rear seats increased storage to 72.1 cubic feet. The SEL and higher trims featured an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats, while the Limited and Calligraphy trims added ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a power driver seat cushion extension. The test vehicle's panoramic sunroof and head-up display were notable features, though the driver's seat height adjustment could be problematic for some.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an Online Pack with connected services. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment system was often confusing and frustrating to use. The Range Rover Sport also offered impressive Meridian audio systems and a next-generation Active Noise Cancellation system.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 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, while higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Santa Fe's infotainment system was user-friendly, though voice recognition capabilities were mixed.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was equipped with numerous advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The adaptive cruise control and steering assist were less satisfactory, with slow responses and poor performance on freeway curves.

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. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS.