We’ve been doing what we love by spending time behind the wheel of popular SUVs like the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe and the 2022 Mazda CX-5. Now we know that the Mazda CX-5 has sporty advantages to consider while the Hyundai Santa Fe takes comfort to the next level. 

2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs. 2022 Mazda CX-5 

Both the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2022 Mazda CX-5 are attractive, alethic, and comfortable SUVs to consider. But they have unique pros and cons to consider, making it difficult to determine the best option. 

The Hyundai Santa Fe has an MSRP of $27,200, while the Mazda CX-5 starts at $26,250. Higher trim levels of the Santa Fe increase the price to $41,410, and the CX-5 tops out at $39,000. 

Families may like the Santa Fe a little more. It has 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats with up to 72.1 cubes total. Plus, it has an underfloor cargo bit. The CX-5 has 29.1 cubes behind the rear seat, with up to 58.1 cubes total. 

Does the CX-5 or Santa Fe have a better performance? 

Our 2022 Mazda CX-5 tester came with the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 258 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. 

The 2.5-liter four-cylinder base engine only cranks out 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. With the more powerful engine, the CX-5 can reach 60 mph in about 6.6 seconds. 

With the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe, you get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. Our tester had the upgraded turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. It can reach 60 mph in about 6.6 seconds. 

Edmunds agrees that the CX-5 feels more stable and confident around curves. The Santa Fe feels light and floaty with a bit of body lean. Passengers can notice the feeling around curves. Also, the CX-5 has more confident brakes. 

The Santa Fe has a smoother ride over the pavement, but the CX-5 feels connected to the road. Also, the Stan Fe is a bit quieter at highway speeds, but the safety systems are a little more sensitive and intrusive. 

Both SUVs can be equipped with AWD, but the Santa Fe has an AWD lock, downhill brake control, and a snow mode. The CX-5 has a 7.6-inch ground clearance, while the Santa Fe has an 8.6-inch ground clearance. 

Does the Santa Fe or CX-5 have better features? 

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe feels more modern and upscale than the 2022 Mazda CX-5. It has a larger sunroof, two-tone leather upholstery, more space for organizing personal items, and larger seats. 

Both vehicles have ventilated seats, a wireless phone charger, a head-up display, ambient interior lighting, and power-folding seats. But you can customize a lot more of the Santa Fe’s features. 

The Santa Fe has a touchscreen, while the CX-5’s infotainment system is controlled b a rotary dial. Also, the Santa Fe has Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But the navigation system beeps quite a bit more in the Santa Fe. 

While the Mazda CX-5 is more engaging with a sportier ride and more control, the Hyundai Santa Fe has more passenger and cargo space, more tech, and a more modern design. 

We recommend taking both SUVs for a spin, but deciding between them comes down to making daily drives more comfortable or more fun.