2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT trim did not impress with its new treatment. A suspension lift and more aggressive tires would have been more convincing. The side steps, while useful for roof rack access, impeded entry and exit and reduced the breakover angle for off-roading. Unless the roof rack was used regularly, skipping the XRT and its visual frippery was recommended. The XRT trim, priced higher than the SE and SEL trims but lower than the Limited and Calligraphy trims, included all equipment from the SEL and its Convenience Package. The test vehicle, dressed in Portofino Gray with a black cloth interior, offered little visual contrast and felt like viewing an old black-and-white image. However, the interior patterns and brightwork made the cabin a pleasant place to spend time, demonstrating thoughtful design and high quality for the price point.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid models, specifically the RX 350h and RX 500h F Sport Performance, were tested in Santa Barbara, California. The RX 350h Luxury test vehicle, in Iridium silver with 21-inch wheels, lacked any hybrid-specific badging, which was preferred. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, with its Copper paint job, blacked-out grille, and matte-black 21-inch wheels, visually distinguished itself as a performance-tuned version. The 2023 RX models, though popular, were not considered gorgeous, with a blunt-nosed design and a wheelbase stretch that reduced the rear overhang, making the SUV look smaller. Inside, the RX adopted a cleaner, more minimalistic appearance with fewer switches and a new Lexus Interface infotainment system. The RX 350h Luxury featured Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance had an all-black interior with artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. With nearly two tons of curb weight, the engine was adequate for freeway speeds and cruising but lacked power for quick acceleration. An eight-speed automatic transmission handled shifting, with Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes available. The default Smart mode was best for low-demand driving, while Sport mode helped with more responsive acceleration. The test vehicle averaged 22.3 mpg, with an official EPA rating of 24 mpg. The ride quality was good, with excellent suspension isolation and a quiet cabin. Handling, steering, and braking were fine, and the SUV felt secure and under control. The XRT treatment was cosmetic, and the running boards could detract from performance, so off-roading was not tested.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid models offered different powertrains. The RX 350h had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque, with an expected average of 36 mpg in combined driving. It accelerated to 60 mph in about 7.4 seconds. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission and Direct4 AWD system, producing 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. It accelerated to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds but had an estimated fuel economy of 27 mpg. The RX 500h F Sport Performance featured an adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and rear-wheel steering, making it more athletic and fun to drive. However, accessing drive modes required navigating the infotainment system, and the test vehicle averaged 20.9 mpg. The RX 350h averaged 32 mpg, with a quieter cabin and better gas mileage, making it a preferred choice over the standard RX 350.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT included dual-zone automatic climate control with a Clean Air ionizer and rear air conditioning vents. The eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat was comfortable, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The rear seats offered plenty of room and comfort, with rear side-window shades and USB charging ports. Storage space was adequate, with a hands-free power-opening “Smart Tailgate” that could be turned on or off. The Santa Fe had 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 72.1 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded down.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid models offered ten-way power-adjustable front seats with premium leather and standard seat heating and ventilation in the RX 350h Luxury trim. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had eight-way power-adjustable front seats with larger side bolsters and standard leather. The hybrids’ battery packs were placed under the back seat, resulting in excellent leg support but tight rear headroom. The new RX had 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, an improvement over the old model but still short compared to some rivals.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and Bluelink connected services. The infotainment system was simple and easy to use, with large knobs and clean on-screen graphics. The test vehicle did not have the infotainment system upgrade, so voice recognition capabilities were not assessed. Hyundai’s digital key technology allowed Android-based smartphones to unlock doors and start the engine. The Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system was useful for traffic situations.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid models received a new infotainment system, requiring activation of free trial subscriptions to connected services plans. The Lexus Interface offered Drive Connect with a cloud-based navigation system and Intelligent Assistant digital voice assistant. The system worked reasonably well, but there were some complaints, such as the inability to view multiple screen menus simultaneously, screen reflections, and the lack of a tuning knob. The available head-up display had dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel, which were unmarked and distracting. The test vehicles also had an available head-up display, but it was difficult to see with polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT came with Hyundai SmartSense, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Junction Turning Detection system and Safe Exit Assist were also standard. The ultrasonic rear occupant alert system monitored the interior for movement and could respond to a baby waking up. Bluelink provided additional safety features, such as automatic emergency assistance and vehicle speed alerts. The Santa Fe earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance score.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid models came with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including a motorcycle detection system, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance with front cross-traffic alert, and curve-speed reduction for adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist automatically slowed the RX when the accelerator pedal was released. The front cross-traffic alert system provided visual indicators on the HUD, but these were not visible with polarized sunglasses. The curve-speed reduction tech was reactive, and the driver monitoring system could be blocked by a forearm. The new Traffic Jam Assist system allowed low-speed, hands-free driving, and Advanced Park was available for semi-autonomous parking.