2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Subaru Ascent

When it came to exterior styling, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe took a conservative approach compared to some of Hyundai's more recent, standout designs. However, this did not take away from its appeal as an attractive SUV, maintaining a balanced aesthetic. The 2023 model retained the styling from the previous year and featured five trim levels: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. Our test vehicle was the Calligraphy AWD trim in Stormy Sea paint, a deep, rich dark blue, with a black-on-black interior. The wide upper and lower grilles were the Santa Fe’s distinctive exterior features, complemented by thin LED headlights.

Inside, the Calligraphy trim exhibited a high-quality yet monotone black look. We recommended the beige or gray interiors for a more visually pleasing contrast. The Nappa leather seats were particularly comfortable and attractive, with heated and cooled front seats coming standard in the Calligraphy trim. The second-row seats also had heaters, enhancing comfort during spring weather conditions.

In contrast, Subaru's designers struggled with the 2024 Ascent’s styling. The most recent refresh added visually offensive tusks and an awkward spear across the grille. Despite this, the Ascent lineup remained unchanged for the 2024 model year, offering trims like Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Limited, Onyx Edition Limited, and Touring. Our test vehicle was the Touring trim, featuring a panoramic sunroof, premium Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and more.

Inside the Ascent Touring, the design adhered to the functional Subaru aesthetic but lacked sophistication and a modern feel. The materials were good quality, but the assembled modular components felt like a giant Lego set. Nonetheless, the Ascent was packed with practical features like a dashboard shelf, large cupholders conveniently placed for children, and backpack pegs, making it highly functional for everyday use.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a 2.5-liter engine and allowed shoppers to choose between a naturally aspirated version producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque or a turbocharged variant offering 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with different versions of an eight-speed transmission. The Calligraphy trim, which had the turbocharger, offered immediate acceleration without turbo lag and smooth driving, thanks to the refined turbocharged engine and smooth dual-clutch transmission.

On the other hand, every 2024 Subaru Ascent came with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that generated 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and all-wheel-drive. The Ascent's towing capacity ranged up to 5,000 pounds, depending on the trim. The vehicle excelled in various driving conditions, including urban settings, off-road trails, and highways, thanks to its responsive turbocharged engine. However, it struggled with twisty mountain roads due to its weight and suspension. Fuel efficiency was another drawback, delivering below-average mileage in city and combined driving tests.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe's decision to forego a cramped third row paid off, resulting in more legroom and cargo space. The rear-seat legroom measured a substantial 41.7 inches, one of the best in the class. Cargo space behind the second row was a competitive 36.4 cubic feet, expandable to 72.1 cubic feet by folding the rear seats. In addition, some trims offered features like an eight-way power driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, a power driver seat cushion extension, rear side-window sunshades, and more.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent focused on function over form, with features like nearly 90-degree rear door openings, a high mounting of the front passenger seat, and an array of practical storage solutions. Although the second row felt somewhat snug, the heated captain's chairs were comfortable. The third row was suitable for short trips and kids, with good support and plenty of storage space. Cargo space behind the third row was up to 17.8 cubic feet, expanding to 43.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and further to 75.6 cubic feet with the second row down. These measurements were slightly less with the panoramic sunroof.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe impressed with its wide array of in-vehicle technology. The base SE trim featured a basic 8-inch display, while higher trims boasted a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, voice recognition, wireless device charging, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Despite its clear and logically arranged icons, the Santa Fe's voice-recognition system struggled in noisy environments and had some difficulty with certain commands.

In comparison, the 2024 Subaru Ascent was equipped with the Starlink infotainment system, featuring an 11.6-inch touchscreen in portrait orientation with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Our test vehicle included Starlink connected services, navigation, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system. Despite these features, the screen washed out in direct sunlight, and the voice-recognition system underperformed, necessitating reliance on smartphone integration.

Safety was a strong suit for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver monitoring, safe-exit system, and more as standard. It received five-star ratings from the NHTSA and a “Top Safety Pick+” from the IIHS.

Similarly, the 2024 Subaru Ascent featured the EyeSight suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and more. The Ascent received five-star overall ratings from the NHTSA except for rollover resistance, and a “Top Safety Pick+” from the IIHS. However, the latest iteration of EyeSight's lane-centering assist system left much to be desired due to its instability and resistance to driver input.