2025 Subaru Forester vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a bold departure from its predecessors, embracing a boxy design that was both elegant and premium. This new aesthetic was a significant shift from the sleek, futuristic look of the Ioniq series, yet it managed to capture attention with its upscale appearance. The Santa Fe's design was not only about looks; it was also aerodynamically efficient, turning heads even in rural settings. The vehicle offered a sophisticated palette of exterior colors, including matte options, and featured anodized-finish badging. Inside, the Santa Fe boasted premium styling with a focus on comfort and luxury, particularly in the XRT and Calligraphy trims, which offered a mix of soft and decadent materials.

In contrast, the 2025 Subaru Forester, traditionally known for its practicality over aesthetics, received a noticeable styling update. The exterior featured standard roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels, with a more generic look that some might find less distinctive. The Forester Sport trim introduced bronze accents, adding a mature touch to its appearance. The vehicle maintained its large-greenhouse shape, with geometric wheel arches and a more decisive window design. Inside, the Forester offered a functional and intentional cabin design, with options for cloth or leather upholstery depending on the trim. The interior was designed to be practical, with features like a dark headliner to resist marks from pets and gear.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe was equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It came with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard and 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 capabilities. Fuel economy for the FWD base version was rated at 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. The Santa Fe Hybrid, available later, promised 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, with impressive fuel economy figures. The XRT model, with its extra ground clearance and robust tires, offered enhanced off-road capabilities and increased towing capacity.

The 2025 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. It came with a Lineartonic CVT and standard Symmetrical AWD. The Forester's X-Mode system, standard from the Premium trim, enhanced stability and traction on challenging terrain. The Forester Sport trim offered a dual-function X-Mode, providing a smooth and confident driving experience on various surfaces. Fuel economy was rated at 26 mpg city, 33 highway, and 29 combined, with a slight decrease for Sport and Touring trims. The Forester's performance was stable and planted, with a focus on comfort and capability rather than speed.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a longer wheelbase and body, with most of the extra space dedicated to the cargo area. The design was inspired by the concept of "chabak," emphasizing comfort for car camping and tailgating. The Santa Fe offered a spacious first and second row, with options for bench or captain's chairs. The cargo area provided 14.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 79.6 cubic feet with seats folded. The vehicle included features like a UV sanitization compartment and optional roof rails.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced a hands-free power liftgate, increasing cargo space slightly to 29.6 cubic feet with seats in place and 74.4 cubic feet with them folded. The Forester offered a roomy second row, with a dark headliner to resist marks. The Premium trim included a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, with additional features like heated seats and driver memory available on higher trims. The Forester's interior was designed for practicality and comfort, with a focus on family-friendly features.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a curved panoramic display, offering a luxurious feel in higher trims. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-speaker Bose stereo, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The SE and SEL trims had a simpler 12.3-inch touchscreen, while higher trims offered additional features like wireless charging and Hyundai Pay. The Santa Fe also introduced a biometric fingerprint scanner for added security.

The 2025 Subaru Forester added an 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus infotainment system, standard on all but the base trim. It included wireless smartphone integration, USB ports, and a wireless charging pad. The Touring trim offered a navigation system and an 11-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. Subaru's Starlink connected services provided additional capabilities, including Valet Mode and Remote Vehicle Configuration.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, and blind-spot monitors. Higher trims added features like a 360-degree camera system and remote automatic parking. The Santa Fe was the first Hyundai with driver monitoring, enhancing safety by detecting driver alertness.

The 2025 Subaru Forester included Subaru's EyeSight suite of driver-assistance technology, with enhancements for 2025. The Touring trim offered advanced features like Emergency Stop Assist and a digital rearview mirror. While the 2025 Forester had not yet been crash-tested, the 2024 model received high safety ratings, indicating strong safety performance.