2025 Subaru Outback 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-looking. This new aesthetic was a significant shift from the sleek, futuristic designs of the Ioniq series, yet it managed to turn heads with its upscale appearance. The Santa Fe's aerodynamic efficiency was surprisingly high for its shape, and its sophisticated color palette, including matte options, added to its allure. Inside, the Santa Fe offered a luxurious experience, especially in the XRT and Calligraphy trims, with premium materials and thoughtful design elements that enhanced comfort and style.

In contrast, the 2025 Subaru Outback maintained its rugged wagon appeal, standing out in a market with few wagons left. Its design incorporated crossover trends like chunky wheel-arch flares and a robust roof rack, signaling its off-road capabilities. The Outback's exterior was complemented by a practical and well-executed interior, with a focus on functionality and ease of use. The Crimson Red Pearl paint of our test car was striking, though the Outback's earthy tones were particularly fitting. The interior featured a mix of materials, with higher trims offering luxurious touches like Nappa leather upholstery and ventilated seats.

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, 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 came with 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, providing 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy varied, with the FWD base version achieving 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, while the hybrid offered up to 36 mpg combined. The Santa Fe's towing capacity reached 4,500 pounds in the XRT trim, thanks to additional cooling features.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured a standard 2.5-liter Boxer engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, while the XT trims boasted a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine producing 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive. The Outback's ground clearance of 8.7 inches, increased to 9.5 inches in the Wilderness trim, made it suitable for off-road adventures. The Outback's ride was smooth and comfortable, with a soft suspension and powerful brakes. However, the CVT's response was sometimes slow, and the stop/start technology could be intrusive.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's design focused on maximizing cargo space, with a wheelbase two inches longer than its predecessor. The cargo area offered 14.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 79.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The interior was spacious, with options for bench or captain's chairs in the second row. The Santa Fe featured stain-resistant cloth, synthetic leather, or Nappa leather upholstery, depending on the trim. The cargo area was designed for car camping, with an extra-wide tailgate and ample storage. Limited and Calligraphy models included a UV sanitization compartment in the glovebox.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape provided practicality, with 32.6 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Outback's total passenger volume of 109 cubic feet was larger than many crossovers, offering more front headroom and legroom. The lower roof height made loading the roof rack easier, and the flat-four engine design contributed to a low center of gravity. Buyers could choose between different trims, each offering unique features and driving experiences. The Outback's towing capacity increased to 3,500 pounds with the turbocharged engine.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a curved panoramic display in the XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy trims, offering intuitive controls 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 had a simpler 12.3-inch touchscreen. Hyundai's BlueLink system allowed for keyless vehicle access, and Hyundai Pay enabled secure payments at partnered vendors. The Santa Fe also introduced a biometric fingerprint scanner for valet mode.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's technology package included an 11.6-inch touchscreen with large icons, though the Starlink infotainment system was slow to respond. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, with wireless connectivity on most trims. The Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system was effective, though navigation alerts could disrupt audio. The dashboard featured a mix of physical controls and touchscreen functions, and the 2025 Outback Touring included a CD player. USB-A and USB-C ports were available for device connectivity.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe had not yet been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it came with a comprehensive suite of safety features. Standard equipment 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 was the first Hyundai with driver monitoring, using infrared cameras and capacitive sensors to ensure driver alertness.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured EyeSight driver-assist technology, offering adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. The system kept the Outback in its lane, though with some side-to-side movement. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The DriverFocus system monitored for driver distraction, though it occasionally issued false notifications. The 2024 Outback earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and the 2025 model was expected to perform similarly.