2024 Toyota Sienna vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was available in multiple trims: LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum. Toyota had ensured that the Sienna stood out with its unique design. The minivan featured sleek front and rear fascias and came in appealing colors like deep blue, red, or green. LED lighting was standard, while higher trims received Bi-LED projector headlamps to enhance visibility. The XSE model, our tester, was the sporty version, sporting a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition was tailored for light off-roading, boasting roof rails with crossbars, a tow hitch, and a nominal increase in ground clearance to 6.9 inches.

Inside, the Sienna came with standard cloth seats, three-zone climate control, and room for eight. The XSE trim with the optional Premium package upgraded to heated and cooled leather-trimmed front seats and second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven but boosting comfort. The interior featured horizontal design lines that contributed to a spacious feel, with the fixed center console adorned with satin accents. Despite not being luxurious, the cabin was practical and family-friendly, even including an option for a built-in vacuum cleaner.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a radically different aesthetic, leaning heavily into boxy design principles to optimize storage capacity. This departure from Hyundai's previous sleek designs resulted in a distinctive, upscale look that turned heads. Available in sophisticated colors, some in matte options, the Santa Fe added elegance with anodized-finish badging seen in Hyundai’s Ioniq models. The XRT trim emphasized a ruggedly elegant appearance with dark chrome and black cladding and trim, while higher trims rode on larger alloy wheels, up to 21 inches on the Calligraphy model.

Inside, the Santa Fe offered a premium and inviting cabin. While the first and second rows provided ample space and comfort, the third row was snug, typical for midsize SUVs. Depending on the trim, seating ranged from stain-resistant cloth in the SE to plush quilted Nappa leather in the Calligraphy. Heated front seats were standard from SEL trim upwards, with ventilation features added in the Limited and Calligraphy trims. The cargo area was meticulously designed for practicality, with a total of 79.6 cubic feet of space when the second and third rows were folded, supporting outdoor activities like car camping.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was propelled by a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, delivering a total of 245 horsepower. The available all-wheel drive models included an additional electric motor for the rear wheels. Despite its hybrid advantages, the Sienna’s performance was underwhelming. The CVT transmission, while ensuring smooth acceleration, often felt sluggish and noisy, especially during highway merges or steep inclines. The sport-tuned suspension in the XSE trim did little to enhance the driving experience, though Normal and Eco modes were preferable for city driving.

In comparison, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a robust 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 where AWD was standard. The Santa Fe’s Sport mode improved throttle response and steering for a more spirited drive. Later in the model year, a hybrid option with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine will provide 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. Santa Fe’s fuel economy varied by configuration, with the FWD base version achieving 24 mpg combined, while the hybrid variants promised up to 36 mpg combined.

On the road, the Santa Fe Calligraphy delivered a smooth and stable ride with excellent acceleration and handling, although it exhibited noticeable body roll through turns. The XRT trim performed commendably off-road, comparable to other rugged SUVs, thanks to its enhanced ground clearance and all-terrain tires.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in practicality but had areas that could have been user-friendlier. The front storage pass-through was ideal for larger items, supplemented by multiple cupholders and a convenient shelf above the glovebox. The second-row captain’s chairs offered substantial legroom, but their complex slide mechanism and inability to be removed limited cargo space flexibility. Nevertheless, the third row was accessible and comfortable for adults, redefining legroom with up to 39 inches when the second row was pushed forward. The rear liftgate opened to reveal 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 75 cubic feet with the third row stowed and 101 cubic feet with the second row folded.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe was designed with cargo space in mind, featuring a longer wheelbase and body. The result was a spacious cargo area, ideal for camping and tailgating. The wide tailgate and organized floor layout made the cargo area feel inviting and functional. The Santa Fe offered 14.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 40.5 cubic feet with the third row folded and 79.6 cubic feet with the second row down. While the first and second rows provided significant comfort and space, the third row was best suited for short trips due to its limited space. Various seating options included stain-resistant cloth, synthetic leather, and real leather, with top trims featuring luxurious quilted Nappa leather.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna lagged in technology, still relying on an older infotainment system. The nine-inch touchscreen included physical buttons for easy navigation but lacked the finesse seen in newer models. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were wired, and the backup camera's grainy resolution detracted from the overall experience. Although a standard Wi-Fi hotspot and the optional 12-speaker JBL stereo provided some tech comfort, features like the 11.6-inch rear-seat entertainment system and a head-up display were only available on higher trims.

Contrastingly, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe shone with its technological offerings. The curved panoramic display in higher trims provided a visually striking and functional centerpiece, incorporating crisp graphics and intuitive controls. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a 12-speaker Bose stereo enhancing audio experiences. BlueLink system allowed for seamless phone integration, and innovative features like Hyundai Pay and biometric fingerprint scanner added a modern touch to security and convenience.

The safety suite of the 2024 Toyota Sienna included comprehensive features such as lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring. Despite advanced features, lane-keeping assist showed some inconsistencies. The Sienna received high safety ratings, with four stars in frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars in side crash protection from NHTSA, and “Good” ratings in most IIHS categories, although scoring “Average” in front crash prevention.

For the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, the safety package was extensive even in the base trim, encompassing forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and a rear-occupant reminder system. Higher trims added features like a 360-degree camera, blind-spot view monitor, and highway hands-free driving system. Hyundai’s driver monitoring system used infrared and capacitive sensors to enhance driver safety.