Honda ZR-V VS Hyundai Santa Fe

Advantage: X-Trail. Families seeking space in a larger-than-usual mid-sized SUV need look no further.

Before we go on, remember, our photos show the Ti but the base ST-L that matches the ZR-V LX’s price point features an 8.0-inch (rather than 12.3-inch) central screen, more-traditional analogue instrumentation cluster with a 7.0-inch TFT screen, non-leather seat trim and conventional, rather than camera, interior mirror.

Regardless, you’re also likely to notice how large and airy the X-Trail interior is, with easy access to all five seats thanks to very wide-opening doors, revealing an interior offering heaps of legroom, headroom and shoulder room.

Nissan – just like Honda – got its interior right, with most of the important stuff thoughtfully executed – superb build quality, broad yet comfy front seats, ample ventilation, an excellent driving position with good all-around vision and completely logical control and button layout/access.

There's also more storage than you would know what to do with. Big bottle holders in the doors is another boon.

Remember when the X-Trail’s dash used to have chilled/cupholders, a centrally-located analogue instrument binnacle and two storage cubbies on either side, all to give it a rugged and utilitarian 4x4 feel?

That’s all gone now, with our Ti being the most opulent in the series’ 23-year (and four iteration) history.

More high points? Attractive and yet hardy, the long, low instrument panel features premium finishes, backed up by a chunky little steering wheel, an informative and multi-configurable digital instrument cluster, bi-level centre console bisecting the front seats for a cosier feel, and a big central touchscreen that’s simple to figure out and operate.

Out back, the quite flat yet supportive rear seats are remarkable for being slide-able as well as reclinable, while – as with the Honda – occupants are treated to rear air outlets, USB-A and USB-C port access, a centre folding armrest with cupholders and even more bottle storage in the doors.

Plus – predictably – the deep side windows lend a lot of light and vision out, adding yet another dimension of family friendliness. The substantially larger CR-V would have been a better fit for this showdown.

That all said, it’s not as if Honda was sitting on its hands when creating the ZR-V’s interior.

Strangely enough, it’s not as tight inside as its smaller length and wheelbase measurements suggest – especially if you’re a human and not, say, a tumble dryer trying to be shoved in the back. More on that later.

Up front, the ZR-V is typical modern Honda, with a simple – say might even say sparse – dashboard layout that, with plenty of soft-feel surfaces and strip of honeycomb trim, manages to look classy as well as sensible.

The leather front seats are cushy and nicely bolstered, providing an absolutely superb and immersive driving position ahead of elegant and crystal-clear digitalised instrumentation.

Along with the thick-rimmed sports steering wheel with paddle shifters (for regen-braking effort), it feels inclusive in here, like you’re about to drive a low-slung sports sedan. Thin A-pillars provide better-than-usual forward vision, too.

However, over-the-shoulder vision is poor due to the slim side and back glasshouse, and the black trim does make it seem smaller inside than it actually is, while having no factory sunroof availability – even as an option – is an oversight. That would at least shower the cabin with more light.

On the other hand, a high-set digital speed readout renders the absent head-up display almost superfluous, the cupholders, smartphone charger pad and under-console shelf are thoughtfully placed, the climate control is beautifully intuitive to operate and the tactility of the toggle and switchgear controls are right up there with luxury car alternatives.

Likewise, the back-seat area is also inviting, with ample room for even taller adults, proving the ZR-V’s rear isn’t cramped, just cosy due to the well-padded seating and high window line.

And the backrest has a 40/20/40 split, meaning the centre bit can be folded down for additional longer-load-through accessibility from the back. Great for skis or broomsticks.

Note, though, that, unlike in the X-Trail, neither the base nor backrest slide or recline, respectively, it’s dark enough to be a gloomy Smiths album out back, the back doors can’t hold a bottle, there are no overhead grab handles, and what’s with that fiddly roof-mounted centre rear lap/sash seat belt location?

Further back, it’s a no-brainer... on paper.

The X-Trail trumps the ZR-V with 205 litres more cargo capacity at 575L versus 370L. But in reality, both offer a decently-sized opening to help make loading bulky things inside easy.

There are low flat floors with sufficient depth and width for plenty of gear and a few nooks and crannies for additional items.

Keep in mind that neither carry spare wheels. You get a can of goo and an air pump instead. Not good enough for many rural drivers.

And that X-Trail hybrid's boot space is 10L less than the five-seat petrol-only versions, but much bigger than the 465L offered up in the seven-seat variants (also petrol-only). And speaking of internal combustion processes…

Not all SUVs are created with equal practicality and even though the Santa Fe and Sorento are much the same in many ways one of these vehicles is more spacious, has better storage and a bigger boot. Oh, and it has two wireless phone chargers, not one.

Yes, it’s the Santa Fe. Not just the more practical one because it’s shaped like a box, although that does have something to do with it. What makes the Santa Fe so much more practical is the interior design with storage more of a priority.

Look at the area under the centre console - there’s a tray big enough for a backpack or handbag. And above it are the two wireless phone chargers, USB ports and cupholders.

There’s the glove box, of course, but above that is a shelf with a grippy surface for keys or wallets and purses. And above that is one of the weirdest contraptions I’ve seen not just in a car, but anywhere - a sterilisation compartment.

It looks like another glove box but it’s actually a space to put anything you want decontaminated - freed from bacteria and germs using UV-C radiation. Stop looking at me like that, I’m serious.

You put your phone in, shut the door, press the UV-C button on the dashboard and 10 minutes later - bing! - your phone is sanitised. Have a look at the video we've made if you still don’t believe me.

The second row of the Santa Fe has excellent legroom, even for me at 189cm tall, and good headroom, too.

For storage, I love the way the centre console box between the driver and front passenger can also be opened from the back by the second row passengers. And below that is a long, deep drawer.

The second row also has door pockets, cupholders and directional air vents, plus USB ports in the sides of the front seats.

Third row seats in SUVs are never the most accommodating for someone my height, but the Santa Fe’s offer good leg and headroom for children. There’s also a USB port on either side along with air vents with fan control and cupholders.

Worth noting the Santa Fe’s large and tall rear doors made putting our toddler into her car seat easier than in the Sorento with its more angular aperture.

The Santa Fe and Sorento have dark-tinted privacy glass for the rear windows and pull-up sunshades.

The six-seat option for the Santa Fe reduces this SUV’s practicality in a couple of ways. Obviously, you lose the capability of carrying seven people, but not being able to have a middle section to slide across to the other side or even just place items on is a problem.

A hire car company might prefer the six-seat option, but if you have a family the seven-seater is the way to go. Not only does it cost less, it's more practical. 

The Sorento is by no means impractical, but compared to the Santa Fe there are fewer storage areas in what feels a more compact cabin.

Up front in the Sorento there’s a wireless phone charger forward of the shifter but it’s in a small hidey hole which makes retrieving the phone tricky.

There are USB ports there, too, as well as cupholders and big door pockets. You won’t find a floating centre console with storage underneath as in the Santa Fe, or shelves and there's no sign of a sterilisation compartment.  

In the second row the Sorento has little buckets in the doors, bottle holders and more cupholders in the centre folding armrest. USB ports are in the sides of the front seats along with power adjustment controls.

There’s good legroom and headroom in the second row,  and directional air vents in the rear of the centre console.

The third row is on the cramped side for me, but most third rows are and they’re really for kids. My eight-year old son wanted me to let you know the windows for back seats in the Sorento are tiny, while the Santa Fe has much larger windows. There are still storage wells, USB ports and fan controls with air vents, though.

The Santa Fe and Sorento both have small cargo capacities when the third row is in place but there's enough space for one carry-on luggage-sized suitcase. With the third-row seats folded flat the Sorento has a volume of 608 litres while the Santa Fe is slightly larger at 628 litres.