Subaru Forester vs Hyundai Santa Fe comparison

Domestic buyers are spoiled enough by a wide selection of SUVs and crossovers in car dealerships. At the same time, most car enthusiasts need to objectively compare models that are quite similar in characteristics. Often such a popular pair, where the cars are looking for advantages and disadvantages, are the Forester and Santa Fe.

Features of the models

Both models are from Asian companies. Although the presented car brands have long been globalized and have found fans all over the world, they still bear the imprint of their region. In most independent ratings, cars get fairly close scores. At the same time, users have more positive ratings than negative ones.

Appearance

Subaru looks great in metallic color. These cars are assembled in the Japanese city of Ota, in contrast to Santa Fe, which comes off the Kaliningrad conveyor. The sporting inclinations of the "Forester" are embodied in the general style of the car. The designers have provided it with sculpted, muscular sidewalls that instill confidence and reliability.

Santa Fe maintains the styling of the entire Hyundai lineup. This is facilitated by elegant, thin lines, tapered new head-up optics and a large grille with the company logo. In the 2019 model, the car received L-shaped daytime running lights. In the front lower part of the bumper, there are such important elements for a modern car:

• radars;
• security sensors;
• parking sensors.

The car looks more adapted for urban conditions and country roads. Subaru fits more seamlessly into suburban space and road primers.

Salon and trunk

The latest Forester uses high quality materials for finishing. The smooth lines of the dashboard allow you to focus on functionality without being distracted by design. Due to the introduction of new technologies, engineers have managed to reduce the noise level inside, which allows you to enjoy music or quiet conversations. There is also good protection against the sounds of the engine compartment.

Designers for the Korean car tried to introduce a premium interior with horizontal, strict lines and rounded corners. The finish looks more luxurious than the competitor. The range of modern options, including touchscreens, multimedia and Wi-Fi, is impressive.

The trunk lid of Hyundai is decorated with a large spoiler with LED-insert. The downside is the large rear bumper, which creates inconvenience when loading a heavy load. But there is no step when folding the seats, which provides a flat platform for transporting bulky items. The rear door can be opened using a proximity sensor under the bumper or a remote control. Unassembled, the volume is 547 liters, and when the seats are folded down - 1625 liters.

Forester has ample opportunity to transform the luggage compartment. The new model has received increased dimensions, which makes it easier to transport large cargo. The window opening has expanded to 1300 mm, so any household appliances can be installed there for transportation. The dimensions of the luggage space with the rear seats raised or folded are 505/1775 liters.

Engines and transmissions

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe has three engine types:

• gasoline GDI 2.4 liters. (8 st. Automatic transmission);
• turbocharged R 2.0 l. diesel (6 speed manual transmission or 8 speed automatic transmission);
• turbocharged CRDi 2.2 liters. Automatic transmission).

The first hundred km / h on a gasoline engine with a six-speed automatic is achieved in 11.5 seconds. The maximum is electronically limited to 190 km / h. A turbodiesel with a similar gearbox reaches a hundred in 9.6 s. with a maximum of 203 km / h. Power - 145 hp. from.

Assembled for our roar in Japan, the Forester is equipped with 2.0 liter gasoline engines. - 150 l. from. and 2.5 liters. from 185 hp under the hood. Its suspension perfectly filters road trifles, and the side skirts are well protected from dirt. The Lineartronic variator setting is considered by many to be a reference. The Santa Fe is offered in both FWD and AWD, while the Forester comes in AWD.

Dynamics and fuel consumption

When comparing Santa Fe Korean or Japanese Forester (which turns out to be better for a car enthusiast), you need to focus on performance. In the first car brand, the consumption for gasoline internal combustion engines is 9.3 liters in the combined mode, and for diesel engines the mark drops to 7.3 liters.

For the second car brand, developers in 2019 introduced direct fuel injection for gasoline units. This provided an increase in power and an increase in traction characteristics. A thermoregulation system has been introduced, which has created the following advantages:

• the warm-up time of the internal combustion engine has been reduced;
• improved fuel efficiency;
• the efficiency of heating the passenger compartment has improved.

The weighted average fuel consumption is within 7.1 liters. for a five-seater model. In city mode, the figure rises slightly. A hundred "Forester" is gaining in 9.5-10.3 seconds, and the maximum for the car is set at 193-207 km / h.

Controllability and cross-country ability

The high seating position in the Forester provides comfortable road visibility. This provides confidence and control of the situation. The weight distribution along the axes is almost perfect. The center of gravity is lowered as much as possible for good handling. Passage in difficult areas is provided by a clearance of 220 mm.

For comparison, the Santa Fe's ground clearance is 185mm. The "Korean" has a responsive electric power steering. It is mounted directly on the rail for good controllability. However, in terms of practicality off-road, this car is inferior to its competitor when compared.

Safety

Compared machines have a fairly high degree of safety. Subaru has seven aerobatics airbags that protect the driver and passengers from frontal and side collisions. Ventilated disc brakes are used to reduce stopping distances. The car is equipped with modern security systems, including ABS and EBD.

In Santa Fe, engineers installed 6 airbags. Rear parking sensors help you to park comfortably. In addition to the anti-lock braking system, the car uses EBD and ESC.

Price of all configurations

In 2019, the fourth generation Hyundai Santa Fe is offered in four trim levels: Family, Lifestyle, Premier and High-Tech. For the basic "family" version in car dealerships they ask from 2 million rubles. It comes with a standard 188-horsepower engine. More expensive assemblies "Lifestyle" and "Premier" will cost buyers of crossovers 2.16 and 2.33 million rubles, and a turbocharged diesel engine will cost 170 thousand more. The top version of High-Tech is offered for 2.7 million rubles.

The fifth generation Subaru Forester in Russia is offered in Standard equipment for 1.94 million. The rich base attracts many motorists. The Elegance version costs 2.4 million rubles, since it has a more powerful 185-horsepower engine. If you want to get the most from the brand, then you need to choose Premium ES with a price tag of $ 2.55 million.

Which car to give preference to

What to choose, every motorist decides for himself. It is necessary to be guided by the future operating conditions and the available amount.

When you are expected to frequent out of town or travel on a bad road, then you should choose a Korean brand that is more adapted to such conditions. If comfort on a city road is required, then it is fashionable to give preference to the creation of Japanese engineers.

Both cars are well adapted to domestic fuel brands. It is also easy enough for them to find spare parts and pick up branded quality service. Then it all depends on the car owner's careful attitude to servicing his crossover.