Are you in the market for a new SUV but unsure where to begin your search? Everyone loves a good deal, of course, but many nuances go into any vehicle purchase.
Do you need three rows of seating? Or does something smaller and easier to park make more sense? Perhaps you want something that makes a styling statement? Maybe you’re more focused on safety scores and standard features.
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe and Buick Envision are technically midsize and compact SUVs — the Hyundai is the larger of the two and has 3-row seating. Yet there is a lot of overlap in what they offer, particularly in their eye-catching exteriors and near-luxury cabin designs.
Let’s take a look at the highlights of each to see how they compare.
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe
Completely redesigned for the 2024 model year, the Hyundai Santa Fe starts at $35,345, including delivery charge, and offers in five trims: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. Every model comes with a 277-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder coupled to an 8-speed automatic and your choice of front- or all-wheel drive (AWD). The sole exception is the XRT, which comes standard with AWD. A hybrid version of the Santa Fe is available, but we review it separately.
Hyundai Santa Fe Highlights
Minecraft-inspired exterior: The very blocky and angular shape of the Santa Fe is a dramatic departure from the previous version. We’re not sure how SUV shoppers will react to this new shape, though we certainly have to credit Hyundai’s design team for trying something different.
All-terrain-themed XRT: The Hyundai Santa Fe XRT is geared toward SUV shoppers who want to venture off-road. It has an additional 1.3 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, 18-inch black-painted alloy wheels, AWD, and 4,500 pounds of towing capacity.
Panoramic Curved Display: This sleek and elegant display wouldn’t look out of place in a vehicle that costs thousands of dollars more. A digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen, sitting side-by-side, are fitted atop the dashboard. During testing, we’ve found it looks futuristic, is easy to navigate, and clearly broadcasts vehicle information.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see Santa Fe models near you
2024 Buick Envision
The 2024 Buick Envision has an entry price of $37,295 and comes in three trims: Preferred, Sport Touring, and Avenir. Under the hood is a 228-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission and AWD. While it has seating for five onboard, versus the 3-row arrangement found in the Hyundai Santa Fe, the interior is airy, spacious, and has a premium feel.
Buick Envision Highlights
Luxurious cabin: Buick does a very good job crafting whisper-quiet and comfortable interiors. Higher trims have niceties like perforated leather upholstery, a head-up instrument display, massaging front seats, a digital rearview camera, and automatic parking assist.
Avenir trim: The range-topping Buick Envision Avenir is a premium SUV full of luxurious features like the aforementioned massaging driver’s seat, a more sophisticated suspension system, a head-up display, and a panoramic moonroof, all for under $50K.
Comfort and Convenience Package: These features are included as standard equipment on the Avenir trim but are available to the Preferred and ST trims through this package. It costs $1,850 and brings a hands-free programmable power liftgate with LED logo projection, heated front seats and steering wheel, driver seat memory, dual-zone automatic climate control, air quality indicator, automatic air recirculation, universal home remote, and remote start.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Envision models near you.
Similarities
The Hyundai Santa Fe and Buick Envision pack a lot of punch if you’re looking for an SUV that doesn’t fade into the background. Granted, the Hyundai’s third row of seating is a crucial difference, though we’ve found both SUVs punch above their weight in terms of feature content.
Conclusion
We routinely suggest visiting a dealership and getting a firsthand feel for the vehicle you’re considering buying or leasing. This advice holds true with the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe and Buick Envision. They’re equally worthy of a test drive and have definite advantages over competing makes and models.
Of the two, however, the Hyundai Santa Fe takes the win thanks to its expressive design, added seating capacity, stronger engine, and high-tech interior. The fact that it has a significantly lower starting price is the frosting on this admittedly square-shaped SUV cake, so to speak.
| 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe | 2024 Buick Envision | |
| Starting Price | $35,345 | $37,295 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | Turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | Turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 277 hp @ 5,800 rpm | 228 hp @ 5,000 rpm |
| Torque | 311 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm | 258 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 9-speed automatic |
| Fuel economy MPG | 20 city/29 highway/24 combined mpg | 22 city/29 highway/25 combined mpg |
| Also Available | Turbo 1.6-liter gas-electric 4-cyl., AWD | |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | N/A | N/A |
| Max Seating Capacity | 7 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 inches | 109.4 inches |
| Overall Length | 190.2 inches | 182.5 inches |
| Width | 74.8 inches | 74.1 inches |
| Height | 67.7 inches | 64.6 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.9 feet | 38.0 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 41.1 inches | 39.6 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 40.6 inches | 38.9 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 37.7 inches | N/A |
| Legroom, Front | 44.4 inches | 40.4 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 42.3 inches | 39.3 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 30.0 inches | N/A |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 59.5 inches | 56.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 58.1 inches | 55.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 53.5 inches | N/A |
| Cargo Volume | 14.6 cubic feet | 25.2 cubic feet |
