Compare the2024 Buick EnclaveVS 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

For enhanced safety, the Buick Enclave’s middle seat shoulder belts have child comfort guides to move the belt to properly fit children. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages children to buckle up. The Hyundai Santa Fe doesn’t offer comfort guides on its middle seat belts.

The Enclave has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Enclave and the Santa Fe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

There are over 26 percent more Buick dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Enclave’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Enclave has a standard 170-amp alternator. The Santa Fe’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Enclave second among midsize suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Santa Fe isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 17th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick second in reliability, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.

The Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 33 more horsepower (310 vs. 277) than the Santa Fe’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

The Enclave FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Fe (19.4 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Enclave AWD’s standard fuel tank has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Fe (21.7 vs. 17.7 gallons).

The Enclave has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Buick Enclave, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Santa Fe.

The Enclave’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Santa Fe are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Enclave has larger tires than the Santa Fe (255/65R18 vs. 235/60R18).

The Buick Enclave’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Hyundai Santa Fe only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Enclave has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Enclave offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Santa Fe’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Enclave’s wheelbase is 10.1 inches longer than on the Santa Fe (120.9 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Enclave is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Santa Fe.

For greater off-road capability the Enclave has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe (7.5 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Enclave to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Enclave uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Enclave Essence is quieter than the Santa Fe Calligraphy AWD (67 vs. 68 dB).

The Enclave has 5.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Santa Fe (157.3 vs. 152).

The Enclave has 1.5 inches more front headroom, 2.5 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear hip room, 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.5 inches more third row legroom, 5.8 inches more third row hip room and 3.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the Santa Fe.

The Enclave’s cargo area provides more volume than the Santa Fe.

Maximum trailer towing in the Hyundai Santa Fe is limited to 4500 pounds. The Enclave offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 41% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 29th.

The Enclave’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Santa Fe’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Enclave the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Santa Fe can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Enclave’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Blue Link can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Enclave’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Proximity Key standard on the Santa Fe doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Enclave’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Santa Fe offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Enclave has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Santa Fe Limited/Calligraphy.

The Enclave Premium/Avenir has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Santa Fe.

The Enclave has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Santa Fe SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Buick Enclave has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Santa Fe SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy offers wireless charging.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Buick Enclave, based on reliability, safety and performance.