2023 Subaru Forester vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2023 Subaru Forester maintained a familiar aesthetic, reminiscent of its predecessors over the past two decades. Its design, especially in the Cascade Green Silica paint, was not particularly striking but was functional. The Forester's exterior was characterized by its boxy shape, flared fenders, and pincer-shaped lighting, giving it a utilitarian appearance. The Touring trim, however, stood out with its 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim, adding a touch of elegance. Inside, the Forester Touring featured Saddle Brown leather, metallic accents, and a traditional Subaru design with analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen. Despite the abundance of hard plastic, the interior was easy to clean and practical, with a layout that favored traditional buttons and knobs for ease of use.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a bold departure from its predecessors, embracing a boxy design that prioritized storage capacity. This new aesthetic was a significant shift from Hyundai's previous sleek and futuristic designs. The Santa Fe's upscale appearance was enhanced by a sophisticated color palette and anodized-finish badging. The XRT trim added dark chrome and black cladding, while higher trims featured larger alloy wheels. Inside, the Santa Fe offered premium styling with options like quilted Nappa leather and a cocooning fabric headliner. The interior was thoughtfully designed, with soft-touch materials and ample storage, creating a luxurious and comfortable environment.

The 2023 Subaru Forester was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that mimicked a traditional automatic. The Forester's SI-Drive system offered a Sport mode for enhanced responsiveness, while the X-Mode off-road traction management system provided various driving modes for different terrains. The Forester Touring, despite its tamer nature, handled challenging weather conditions with ease, showcasing its capability in rain and mud. The Forester's driving dynamics were commendable, with light and accurate steering, responsive brakes, and excellent suspension tuning. However, the engine's performance was merely adequate, and the Forester fell short of its EPA fuel economy rating, returning 25.9 mpg on the testing route.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a base 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive optional, except for the XRT trim, which had AWD as standard. The Santa Fe offered Normal, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the XRT adding off-road settings. A hybrid version with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine was also available, offering 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. The Santa Fe's fuel economy varied by trim, with the hybrid achieving up to 36 mpg combined. On the road, the Santa Fe provided smooth and stable performance, though it exhibited notable body roll through turns. The XRT trim demonstrated off-road capability comparable to its competitors, thanks to its ground clearance and robust tires.

The 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over form, offering a practical and straightforward design. The Premium trim provided features like a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats. Higher trims offered more luxurious options, such as leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control. The Forester's standout feature was its excellent outward visibility, making it easy to drive and park. However, the panoramic sunroof's lack of tinting led to excessive solar heating, and the rear seats were less comfortable for taller adults. The Forester's cargo area was well-designed, with 26.9 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 69.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's design focused on maximizing cargo space, with a longer wheelbase and body compared to its predecessor. The cargo area was designed for car camping and tailgating, with an extra-wide tailgate and ample storage. The Santa Fe's interior was spacious, with the first and second rows offering comfort and flexibility. Depending on the trim, the Santa Fe featured stain-resistant cloth, synthetic leather, or quilted Nappa leather upholstery. The cargo area provided 14.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 79.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Santa Fe also introduced innovative features like a UV sanitization compartment in the glovebox.

The 2023 Subaru Forester's technology appeared outdated at first glance, but it offered practical features. The Base trim included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system was available. The Forester's user interface was straightforward, with separate climate controls and easy-to-use knobs. However, the voice-recognition system was unreliable, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto a better choice for navigation.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a curved panoramic display in higher trims, providing a luxurious and intuitive experience. The touchscreen offered easy access to controls, intuitive menus, and crisp graphics. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a 12-speaker Bose stereo and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The SE and SEL trims featured a simpler 12.3-inch touchscreen, while higher trims offered wireless charging and Hyundai's BlueLink system for vehicle access. The Santa Fe also introduced Hyundai Pay for secure transactions and a biometric fingerprint scanner for added convenience.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured the next-generation EyeSight system, offering improved driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies. Models with blind-spot monitoring included Automatic Emergency Steering, while higher trims added Rear Automatic Braking. The Touring trim featured a DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System. The Forester earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA, though it received lower scores in new side-impact and frontal-impact tests.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe had not yet been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it offered a comprehensive suite of safety features. The base SE trim included adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitors, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added features like a 360-degree camera system, remote automatic parking, and a head-up display. The Santa Fe also introduced driver monitoring, combining an infrared camera and capacitive sensors to ensure driver alertness.