2024 Subaru Outback vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its rugged charm with minor updates to the Wilderness trim, featuring a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark gray cladding contrasted beautifully with the Autumn Green Metallic color, which was surprisingly appealing. The Outback's trims varied in their use of black and chrome, with the Touring trim showcasing the most chrome, which was tastefully done. Wheel designs differed by trim, with options ranging from black 17-inch alloy wheels to 18-inch machine-finished ones. Inside, the top-trim Touring XT impressed with Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, offering a luxurious feel unexpected from Subaru's typically utilitarian approach.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a bold departure from its predecessors, embracing a boxy design that prioritized storage capacity. This new look was both upscale and attention-grabbing, with sophisticated exterior colors and anodized-finish badging. The XRT trim added dark chrome and black cladding, while wheel sizes ranged from 18 to 21 inches depending on the trim. Inside, the Santa Fe offered premium styling, with the XRT and Calligraphy trims providing a luxurious experience. Despite some hard materials, the interior was mostly padded and comfortable, with features like a cocooning fabric headliner adding a touch of decadence.

The 2024 Subaru Outback featured a 2.5-liter flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, upgraded to a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, increasing towing capacity to 3,500 lbs. Standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a Lineartronic CVT provided a smooth ride, with the turbo engine offering better weight management. The Outback's ground clearance ranged from 8.7 to 9.2 inches, with the Wilderness trim adding all-terrain tires and advanced X-Mode for off-road adventures.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe's base powertrain was a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive optional, except on the XRT trim, which had AWD standard. The Santa Fe offered Normal, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the XRT adding off-road settings. A hybrid option with a 1.6-liter engine was also available. Fuel economy varied, with the base FWD achieving 20/29/24 mpg. The XRT's extra ground clearance and tires reduced its ratings but increased towing capacity to 4,500 lbs. The Santa Fe provided a smooth ride, with some body roll in turns, and the XRT handled off-road conditions well.

The Subaru Outback offered ample interior space despite its sleek design. It provided more front-row headroom and legroom than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Cargo space measured 32.6 cubic feet with seats up and 75.6 with them folded. Features included dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Outback's roof rails with retractable cross bars were a practical touch.

The Hyundai Santa Fe's design focused on cargo space, with a longer wheelbase and body. The cargo area was designed for car camping, with an extra-wide tailgate and ample storage. While the third row was snug, the first and second rows were spacious. Depending on the trim, seating options included stain-resistant cloth, synthetic leather, or quilted Nappa leather. Cargo space ranged from 14.6 to 79.6 cubic feet. Features included heated and ventilated seats, storage pockets, and a UV sanitization compartment in the glovebox.

The Subaru Outback Touring featured an 11.6-inch infotainment screen, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto becoming wireless from the Premium trim. The system included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, Wi-Fi capability, and a mix of USB-C and USB-A ports. Climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with some hard buttons for convenience.

The Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a curved panoramic display in higher trims, with a 12-speaker Bose stereo, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The SE and SEL trims had a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Features included wireless charging, Hyundai’s BlueLink system, and Hyundai Pay. The Santa Fe also introduced a biometric fingerprint scanner for added security.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included the EyeSight suite with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. The Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe had not yet been crash-tested but included a comprehensive suite of safety features. Standard equipment included adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, and blind-spot monitors. 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, enhancing safety through alertness tracking.