Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vs Lexus TX

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid was reminiscent of a pair of "dad jeans"—practical and offering great value, yet lacking modern flair. Despite a refresh in 2021, its design appeared outdated compared to newer crossovers like the Hyundai Palisade or Kia Sorento. The Santa Fe's exterior featured a squared-up grille and flush-mounted headlights, but its overall silhouette was soft and lacked the chiseled strength of contemporary SUVs. The vehicle's length, at 188.4 inches, placed it awkwardly between compact and three-row crossovers, resulting in a two-row midsize configuration. The rear design was casual, with a high-mounted window and a rounded lower half, emphasizing function over form. Inside, the Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized practicality with a button-filled center console, offering ease of use but lacking the sleekness of modern interiors.

In contrast, the 2024 Lexus TX, based on the Toyota Grand Highlander, presented a more upscale appearance. The Luxury trim test model boasted 22-inch wheels, enhancing its presence. The TX's styling was conservative, appealing to those who found previous Lexus designs too bold. Available in multiple trims, the TX offered a range of prices, with the TX 350 being the likely volume seller. Equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the TX 350 provided adequate performance, though its engine note and torque steer were minor irritations. The interior, while luxurious with features like premium leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof, felt dark. The TX's third-row seating was a significant improvement over previous Lexus models, offering adult-friendly space and decent cargo capacity.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid delivered a balanced performance with its 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 44.2-kW electric motor, producing a combined 226 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It offered impressive fuel economy estimates of 33 mpg city, 30 highway, and 32 combined. The hybrid's power was managed through a six-speed automatic transmission, and its HTRAC AWD system could distribute power between the front and rear wheels as needed. While not the quickest, the Santa Fe Hybrid excelled in noise insulation and ride comfort, handling rough roads with ease. Its handling, steering, and braking were adequate for a vehicle focused on comfort and utility rather than speed.

The 2024 Lexus TX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. Lexus claimed a 0-60 mph time of eight seconds for the FWD model, with the AWD version slightly quicker. The TX 350's performance was adequate, with a combined fuel economy rating of 23 mpg. The AWD option, costing an additional $1,600, provided better traction and slightly improved acceleration. The TX 350's ride and handling were well-balanced, offering a comfortable ride with commendable body motion control. The interior remained quiet on highways, though the brake pedal felt soft in the pre-production test vehicle.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid utilized a shift-by-wire, push-button transmission, freeing up space below the center stack. However, the stack itself was large, with limited storage. Rear passengers enjoyed 40.8 inches of legroom, comparable to other large two-row SUVs. The Santa Fe Hybrid offered 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The interior featured heated and ventilated front seats with leather upholstery, and the SEL Premium trim received H-Tex leatherette upholstery.

The 2024 Lexus TX addressed previous shortcomings in Lexus's three-row SUVs. The TX 350 Luxury model featured premium leather and suede upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, and a heated steering wheel. The second-row bench seat was standard, with captain's chairs as an option. The third-row seat was adult-friendly, offering leg support and a good view. Cargo space measured 20.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 57.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, and 97 cubic feet with both rear rows down. The TX provided numerous storage options, though some lacked lining, potentially causing noise.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid came standard with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, offering Over-The-Air map updates and dynamic voice recognition. The infotainment system supported wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster provided essential driving information, and the Hyundai digital key allowed for remote connectivity. The Limited trim featured a 12-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system.

The 2024 Lexus TX, equipped with the optional Technology Package, featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, surround-view camera, and semi-autonomous parking assist. However, the unmarked steering wheel controls and head-up display visibility issues were drawbacks. The Lexus Interface infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen, offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a digital assistant and cloud-based navigation. The TX included free subscriptions to various connectivity services, and the optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system provided impressive sound quality.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid prioritized safety with features like a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Standard safety equipment included adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance, blind-spot collision avoidance, and more. The Santa Fe Hybrid received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.

The 2024 Lexus TX featured the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and more. Proactive Drive Assist offered additional braking and steering assistance. The TX also included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and optional parking sensors. The traffic jam assist system provided hands-free driving at low speeds on approved highways.