2024 Land Rover Defender vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile was reminiscent of older models, yet it incorporated contemporary features like angular headlights that aligned it with the current Land Rover lineup. Inside, the Defender felt rugged and adventure-ready, with a durable cabin that shared more similarities with a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco than with other Land Rovers. Despite its robust nature, the interior offered soft-touch materials, enhancing its appeal. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each with various trims. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, equipped with the County visual package, highlighted its retro charm with white wheels and vintage graphics, appealing to those who appreciated its nostalgic design.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe took a bold step in design, diverging from the sleek, futuristic aesthetics of its Ioniq siblings. It embraced a boxy shape, which Hyundai's design chief, SangYup Lee, described as optimal for storage capacity. Despite its unconventional appearance, the Santa Fe exuded an upscale vibe, turning heads even in rural settings. The exterior featured sophisticated color options and anodized-finish badging, while the XRT trim added dark chrome and black cladding. Inside, the Santa Fe offered premium styling, with the XRT and Calligraphy trims showcasing a mix of hard and soft materials. The interior was thoughtfully designed, with features like a cocooning fabric headliner that added a touch of luxury.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. For those seeking more power, the Defender offered two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options: the P500 with 493 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, and the P525 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender excelled in towing, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender's off-road capabilities were impressive, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system enhancing its performance on rugged terrain.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's base powertrain was a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, producing 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. 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 modes. Later in the model year, a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid engine would be available, offering 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe's fuel economy was competitive, with FWD models rated at 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. The XRT model, with its extra ground clearance and all-terrain tires, offered a towing capacity of 4,500 pounds. On the road, the Santa Fe provided a smooth and stable ride, with the Calligraphy trim showcasing classic Hyundai driving dynamics.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender balanced luxury and functionality, featuring soft-touch materials alongside practical elements like grip handles and rubberized floors. It offered seating for five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 had an optional third row, best suited for children, while the Defender 130 offered three seats in the third row, increasing seating capacity to eight. Cargo capacity varied by model, with the Defender 130 providing 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 offered 34 cubic feet behind the second row in the two-row version and 69 cubic feet with both rows folded in the three-row configuration. The two-door Defender 90 provided 15.6 cubic feet of space behind the second row and up to 58.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a longer wheelbase and body compared to its predecessor, with most of the extra space dedicated to the cargo area. Inspired by the concept of "chabak," the Santa Fe's design focused on creating a comfortable space for car camping and tailgating. The cargo area offered 14.6 cubic feet of space, expanding to 40.5 and 79.6 cubic feet with the third and second rows folded, respectively. The Santa Fe's interior was spacious, with the first and second rows providing ample room. Depending on the trim, the Santa Fe offered a choice of bench or reclining captain's chairs in the second row. The interior materials ranged from stain-resistant cloth in the base SE to plush quilted Nappa leather in the Calligraphy trim. The Santa Fe also featured a UV sanitization compartment in the glovebox, a nod to modern health concerns.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came equipped with a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen. While the touchscreen seemed small compared to competitors, it complemented the Defender's utilitarian persona. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup, with home buttons on the left and right rails, made it easy to navigate features like Apple CarPlay.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's cabin featured a curved panoramic display, making the XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy trims feel luxurious. The touchscreen display was intuitive, with easy access to controls and crisp graphics. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a 12-speaker Bose stereo, dynamic voice recognition, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The SE and SEL trims had a simpler 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the Calligraphy trim offered wireless charging and Hyundai's BlueLink system for vehicle access. Hyundai Pay and a biometric fingerprint scanner were also available, enhancing convenience and security.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender included a comprehensive list of standard driver assistance features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the lane-departure and lane-keeping assist features were overly sensitive, which could be jarring for drivers.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe had not yet been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it came with a robust suite of standard safety features. The base SE trim included a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, intersection assist, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, safe-exit assist, lane-keep assist, lane-following assist, driver-attention monitoring, and a rear-occupant reminder system. Higher trims added features like a 360-degree camera system, blind-spot view monitor, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a head-up display. The Santa Fe also introduced driver monitoring, combining an infrared camera and capacitive sensors to track alertness and ensure safety.