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2025 Car Mileage with the Best Gas MileageHead-to-Head: 2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs Hyundai Santa Fe
Two favorites go head-to-head with 2023 Chevy Equinox against the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. We’re breaking down the specs, performance, and features!
Two Battle-Tested SUVs Duke it Out
The 2023 Chevy Equinox is a third-generation SUV with a couple of minor updates compared to the 2022 model, and the Hyundai Santa Fe has been popular since it debuted in 2000, so it probably doesn’t come as a big surprise that these two SUVs have battled it out before. Earlier this year, we set out to find the better budget buy for under $25,000: the Chevrolet Equinox or the Hyundai Santa Fe. Those were used models, though. Today, we’re pitting a brand-new 2023 Equinox to the test against a 2023 Santa Fe.
Recent Equinox models have certainly held up against the competition. We put the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox up against the 2023 Ford Escape already. The 2022 Chevy Equinox fared well against another Chevy SUV: the 2022 Blazer. Meanwhile, we gave the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe a lot of praise in our full review. Which of these crossovers has more impressive specs? Which performs better, is more comfortable, and has more up-to-date features? Those answers are all right here, so let’s get to it!
Specs
There’s not a lot of decision-making to do when it comes to the 2023 Chevy Equinox and powertrain options. It’s the same 1.5L turbocharged inline-four on every model. With the help of a six-speed automatic transmission, that 1.5L delivers 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, but all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional on some 2023 Equinox models.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the 2023 Equinox getting 26 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 31 mpg on the highway with FWD. Those numbers don’t drop much by switching to AWD. The 2023 Equinox is good for 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway with AWD.
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe is the better SUV if you’re looking for powertrain diversity. First, there’s a standard 2.5L four-cylinder engine that pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission to make 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. A turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder mates with the same transmission to put out 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. It doesn’t end there, though.
Unlike the 2023 Equinox, the 2023 Santa Fe is also available with a hybrid setup. That’s one change we’ve seen as we’ve followed all the Hyundai Santa Fe generations through the years. Hyundai has electrified the Santa Fe. The hybrid delivers 226 horsepower with a turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder, a pair of electric motors, and a six-speed automatic transmission. Yet another option is the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). It has the same 1.6L turbocharged engine and an electric motor. That setup delivers 260 horsepower.
Of course, the fuel efficiency varies as much as the engine choices do. The base 2.5L with FWD earns 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Those numbers drop to 22 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway with AWD. The hybrid version gets 36 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway with the two higher trims. Finally, the PHEV has a 76 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) rating and 30 miles of travel on electricity alone.
Driving and Performance
If off-roading is your goal, then the 2023 Chevy Equinox probably isn’t the SUV for you. The Equinox isn’t a power vehicle. In fact, it’s kind of sluggish. Besides taking some work to get up to highway speeds, the biggest problem is probably downshifting. It’s not consistent enough. Even though the Equinox won’t fulfill a need for speed, it does well in regular driving situations. The suspension certainly covers day-to-day needs. There’s some capacity to go adventuring with it because the 2023 Equinox does have 3,500 lbs of tow capacity.
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe is similar to the Equinox in that it’s a stable ride for daily driving. The power is unrefined, but it does get up to speed quickly. Meanwhile, the suspension in the Santa Fe does soak up bumps, dips, and ruts. Just like the Equinox, the 2023 Santa Fe does have a towing capacity of up to 3,500 lbs. Hybrid and PHEV models don’t tow as much, but can still handle up to 2,000 lbs.
Comfort and Interior
The 2023 Chevy Equinox has a fairly comfortable cabin. The seats are pleasant, even on a longer ride. Heated seats are standard for both the driver and passenger up front on most trims. Rear outboard seats are available. There’s a good amount of front legroom, measuring 40.9 inches. Rear passengers get 39.9 inches of legroom, so there’s not much of a decrease for them. There’s not an excessive amount of hard plastics throughout the Equinox, so most passengers should find it relaxing enough to sit back and enjoy the ride. Convenience is included with cubby space, center console storage, and cupholders. When it comes to larger storage space, there’s 29.9 cu. ft. of cargo space. With rear seats folded, the Equinox has 63.9 cu. ft. of cargo space.
Compared to the Equinox, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe cabin is also situated well with soft-touch materials. There are available options for leather-appointed seat trims, but only on the top trim levels. A leather-wrapped steering wheel is standard on most trims, though. Space in the Santa Fe exceeds that in the Equinox by quite a bit, actually. Front-row passengers have 44.1 inches of legroom and second-row passengers have 41.7 inches to stretch out in. The Santa Fe also wins when it comes to cargo numbers. There’s 36.4 cu. ft. of space behind the second row, and there’s 72.1 cu. ft. when the second-row seats are folded.
Trims and Features
The 2023 Chevy Equinox comes in four different trims: the LS, LT, RS, and Premier. The price range isn’t that large on the Equinox. The LS has a manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of $29,595. The Premier maxes out at a price tag of $34,795, so that’s a difference of only a little over $5,000.
Starting off the lineup is the LS with standard AWD, a keyless start, automatic stop/start, an automatic stop/start disabling switch, 17-inch all-season tires and aluminum wheels, and heated outside power mirrors. The cabin has four-way adjustable front-row seats, but they are manually adjusted, not automatic. A six-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, a seven-inch touchscreen, a Wifi hotspot, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are all standard. Safety features include lane keeping assist with a lane departure warning, a forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, a rearview camera, cruise control, and a rear seat occupant reminder.
The LT adds LED daytime running lamps, deep-tinted rear glass, remote start, a powered liftgate, an eight-way power driver seat, front and rear parking assist, and a lane change alert. An eight-inch touchscreen is available as well. A surround-view camera is available on the LT, too. Moving up to the RS trim gets you 19-inch aluminum wheels and all-season tires, LED taillights, roof-mounted side rails, and available leather-appointed seat trim.
At the top of this trim ladder is the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox Premier. It’s packed with a 120-volt power outlet, an eight-inch HD touchscreen, front USB data ports, an auxiliary input jack, an HD rearview camera, a heated steering wheel, a dimming rearview mirror, driver’s seat memory settings, leather-trimmed seats, USB ports, and wireless charging. Though not standard, jet black leather-appointed seat trim, heated rear outboard seats, and automatic parking assist are all available.
There are five trims for the regular 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. There are also three hybrid trims: the Blue, SEL Premium, and Limited. PHEV trims include the SEL Convenience and Limited. With more trims and more powertrain options, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe naturally has a larger price range. The most cost-effective option is the $28,750 SE. On the other end of the spectrum is the Limited, a PHEV set at $47,670.
Highlights of the 2023 Santa Fe SE include an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, four USB ports, HD radio, and a six-way adjustable driver seat. The SE is equipped with the 2.5L four-cylinder engine, eight-speed automatic transmission, 18-inch alloy wheels, and LED headlights. The driver assists at this level are rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, forward collision avoidance, smart cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, lane keeping assist, a driver attention warning, lane following assist, hill-start assist control, and a rear occupant alert. Not bad to start off the lineup!
Upgrades on the 2023 SEL trim include a heated side mirrors, LED turn signal indicators, a hands-free liftgate, roof rails, a push button start, and proximity keyless entry. It also comes with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, SiriusXM, navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (not wireless this time), and wireless device charging. Front seats are heated and the driver seat has eight-way power capability. In addition, the cabin features a leather-wrapped steering wheel and dual-zone automatic temperature control.
Up next is the specialized XRT trim. It’s got 18-inch alloy wheels, black side mirror covers, body-colored door handles, and exclusive side moldings. The Santa Fe has more than just traditional engines, though.
Switching over to the Santa Fe hybrid options, the Blue is the base in that instance. It’s kind of a mix between the features of the SE and SEL but with the inline 4-cylinder turbo, a six-speed automatic transmission, an electric motor, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
The SEL Premium hybrid is essentially the same as the SEL trim, but there are a few minor differences. The SEL Premium has 19-inch alloy wheels instead of 18-inch alloy wheels. The hybrid is also automatically given the 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. That’s available as a package on the traditional SEL. The SEL Convenience, a PHEV, doesn’t get the leather seat treatment. Instead, it has cloth seats. It does have most of the other SEL features, though.
Moving up to the Limited secures leather-trimmed seats, ventilated front seats, a driver’s seat with memory settings, and heated rear seats. The Limited rides on 19-inch alloy wheels and has LED taillights. Driver assists are beefed up by a surround-view camera and blind-spot monitoring. Infotainment additions include a heated steering wheel, a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and LED interior lighting. Rounding up the features on the Limited are rain-sensing windshield wipers and a panoramic sunroof. The Limited is also available as a hybrid and as a PHEV. The features on the Limited trim with the internal combustion engine carry over into the other versions of the Limited for the most part.
The highest trim with a gasoline-powered engine is the Calligraphy. It’s got 20-inch alloy wheels and a head-up display on the windshield. The cabin gets some extra luxury in the form of quilted Nappa leather seats and expanded interior accent lighting.
The Verdict
A lot of this boils down to price. The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe can’t beat the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox on pricing. The most well-equipped Equinox is positioned over $5,000 below the top gasoline-powered Santa Fe. Considering that the two SUVs perform similarly on the road, have the same towing capacity, and only differ in small ways (like the Santa Fe having more legroom and cargo space), the Equinox is your best bet if you’re basing this decision on money alone.
However, the 2023 Santa Fe certainly offers more powertrain options. The Santa Fe doesn’t just have a hybrid option, it also has a PHEV option. There are multiple trim levels for each of those configurations, too. That engine setup is going to cost you more, but at least it’s there if you want it. Outside of the electrified Santa Fe choices, the 2023 Chevy Equinox stacks up nicely against the Santa Fe. While the winner here isn’t as clear-cut as in some other head-to-head comparisons, it’s the consumer who actually wins. Car buyers have two solid traditional SUVs and plenty of choices in the hybrid and PHEV realm, too.
