Hyundai Tucson vs Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson was introduced as part of the fourth generation in 2022. Its design featured a strikingly modern aesthetic with taut angles and unique choices like headlights that seamlessly integrated into the grille. This bold design combined to form an athletic, contemporary look that even in a color like white, typically unflattering in vehicle photography, the Tucson managed to appear sharp. Each of the Tucson trims—from SE to Limited—delivered unique stylistic elements, enhancing its appeal. The SE featured 17-inch alloy wheels and roof rails, while the SEL added 19-inch alloy wheels with an available convenience package. The XRT trim stood out with black 19-inch alloy wheels, side steps, dark exterior trims, and functional roof racks. The top-tier Limited trim included a dark chrome grille and upgraded headlights.

Inside the Tucson, the design was modern and refined, showcasing the vehicle's advanced technology in an approachable manner. Despite some less-than-favorable features such as a missing volume dial replaced by touch-capacitive buttons, the interior remained highly functional. The center console had well-placed controls, away from the touchscreen and climate controls, enhancing usability.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe presented an entirely different aesthetic. It embraced a “boxy” design concept focused on maximizing storage capacity, which was a stark departure from the sleek and futuristic look prevalent among Hyundai’s other models like the Ioniq 5 and 6. This new Santa Fe design, although different, looked upscale and drew considerable attention even in rural settings. It featured a more aerodynamic build than its predecessor with sophisticated exterior colors, and trims highlighted by standard 18-inch alloy wheels or larger wheels on higher trims. The XRT trim, in particular, featured dark chrome accents and black cladding for a rugged appearance.

The Santa Fe’s interior was premium, especially in the high-end Calligraphy trims, which included luxurious touches like a soft, fabric-covered headliner. While hard surfaces were present in some out-of-the-way areas, the overall feel was one of comfort and opulence.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson came equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Power delivery was either to the front wheels or via the available all-wheel drive (AWD). While this powertrain sufficed for urban driving, it struggled with highway speeds and passing maneuvers, requiring aggressive throttle inputs and resulting in noticeable engine noise. The Tucson was also available in hybrid variants, offering 226 hp in the Hybrid and 261 hp in the Plug-In Hybrid, though these options introduced a button-style shifter design.

Despite its engine limitations, the Tucson excelled in handling and ride quality, combining comfort and agility. It managed road imperfections well, making it suitable for long journeys or daily commutes. Steering responsiveness was another highlight, providing a balanced driving experience albeit less sporty than rivals like the Mazda CX-5.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, on the other hand, was powered by a more robust 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, delivering 277 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain came with FWD as standard, but AWD was available across the lineup, except for the XRT trim which had AWD as standard. The Santa Fe also featured Normal, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the XRT trim adding off-road capabilities.

Later in the model year, a hybrid version with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine was expected, offering 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. The base Santa Fe showcased decent fuel efficiency, with the FWD versions rated at 20/29/24 mpg. The XRT, despite its lowered fuel ratings due to enhanced ground clearance and all-terrain tires, had a superior towing capacity of up to 4,500 pounds.

The Hyundai Tucson provided up to 74.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 38.7 cubic feet with the seats in use. These numbers placed it among the leaders in its segment, second only to the Honda CR-V. The SEL and higher trims featured a hands-free power liftgate, an intuitive system that required merely standing behind the vehicle with the key fob to open.

The Tucson’s interior could comfortably accommodate up to five passengers, offering ample headroom and legroom in both rows. It excelled in practicality with deep cup holders and a center tray for additional storage, along with a wireless device charging pad.

Conversely, the 2024 Santa Fe, influenced by the concept of “chabak” (car + stay), emphasized a spacious cargo area ideal for car camping and tailgating. It featured an extended wheelbase and body dimensions focused on maximizing cargo space, with an extra-wide tailgate. The Santa Fe offered 14.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 40.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 79.6 cubic feet with the second row folded, surpassing the Tucson in overall cargo capacity. The interior design didn’t compromise passenger comfort, providing spacious and welcoming first and second rows, but with a snug third row.

The Santa Fe's various trims offered choices of seating materials, with higher trims like Limited and Calligraphy featuring luxurious options such as quilted Nappa leather and ventilated front seats, adding to passenger comfort.

The 2024 Tucson’s base trims included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly with intuitive home buttons and an operationally straightforward layout. Higher trims, beginning with the SEL Convenience Package, XRT, and Limited, upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a fully digital instrument panel. However, this upgrade lost wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and utilized a haptic volume toggle.

Notably, the remote start system had been modernized. When started remotely, the Tucson detected the key upon entry, allowing the driver to simply put the vehicle in drive and go.

The Santa Fe showcased a more advanced infotainment system with a class-leading curved panoramic display on higher trims, setting it apart visually and functionally. Its interface was intuitive, with quick phone pairing, easy access controls, and sharp graphics. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with a 12-speaker Bose stereo and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The base trims featured a simpler, yet effective 12.3-inch touchscreen.

Advanced features included Hyundai’s BlueLink and new Hyundai Pay for digital payments. The Calligraphy trim even introduced biometric fingerprint scanning for enhanced security and user convenience.

The Tucson came standard with a robust suite of driver assistance features: automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and others. Higher trims, like the Limited, added advanced features such as front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, and Hyundai's Smart Park. This model had received high marks from the IIHS and partial ratings from the NHTSA, reflecting excellent crash-prevention technology and safety standards.

The Santa Fe incorporated similar comprehensive safety features across its lineup, including a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, and more. Upgraded trims added advanced features like a 360-degree camera system, blind-spot view monitor, and remote automatic parking. The Calligraphy trim further enhanced safety with a head-up display and sophisticated monitoring systems. The 2024 Santa Fe also introduced driver monitoring, combining infrared cameras and capacitive sensors to ensure driver alertness, a first for Hyundai vehicles.