The relationship between Hyundai and Kia is a lot like that between quarreling siblings.
Despite sharing a common parent company – in this case, Hyundai Motor Group – these Korean brands are locked in a fierce competition where neither side is willing to back down.
It can be confusing at times, especially when you look at Hyundai SantaFe And Kia Sorento large SUV
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Hyundai SantaFe -
Kia Sorento
Although the automakers are closely related, they both compete for the same customer base for these vehicles.
With the Santa Fe getting a complete overhaul for 2024, this is the obvious choice… especially in top-of-the-line Hybrid Calligraphy AWD trim, right?
Not really. The flagship Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD is cheaper, and not everyone likes Hyundai’s new boxy design language.
Let’s try to split this pair on paper.
Price
Both SUVs featured here are top-of-the-line hybrid variants that start at over $70,000 before on-road costs. The Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD is $1,670 cheaper than the Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD.
It’s similar at the lower end; the base petrol V6 Sorento S retails for just over $50,000 before on-road costs, while the base 2WD Santa Fe Hybrid is $55,500 before on-road costs.
A gasoline-powered version of the Santa Fe is expected to launch in the domestic market in late Q4 2024, potentially closing that starting price gap of around $5,000.
| Model Variation | Price before rolling |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD 2024 | $75,000 |
| 2024 Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line All-Wheel Drive | $73,330 |
Powertrain and efficiency
It’s basically impossible to separate the Santa Fe and Sorento because they share the same powertrain.
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Hyundai SantaFe -
Kia Sorento
The Hyundai gets a slight edge when it comes to power, torque, and fuel economy because it has a newer version of the hybrid powertrain, but this is really a hair’s breadth comparison.
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Callography AWD | Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.6L turbocharged 4-cylinder | 1.6L turbocharged 4-cylinder |
| Engine power | 132kW | 132kW |
| Engine torque | 265Nm | 265Nm |
| Electric motor power | 44kW | 44kW |
| Torque of electric motor | 264Nm | 264Nm |
| Battery | 1.5kWh | 1kWh |
| Total system capacity | 172kW | 169kW |
| Total system torque | 367Nm | 350Nm |
| Transmission process | 6-speed automatic | 6-speed automatic |
| Drive wheel | Full-time four-wheel drive | Full-time four-wheel drive |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 5.6L/100km | 5.7L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 67L | 67L |
| Fuel type | 91 RON | 91 RON |
| C02 (combined) | 128g/km | 129g/km |
Size
There are also a lot of similarities to be found here as the Santa Fe and Sorento are built on the same platform.
However, the Hyundai is a larger car, longer, taller and 91kg heavier.
That doesn’t mean there’s much of an advantage in terms of trunk space. With two rows of seats, the Santa Fe has an extra 20L of space, but Kia claims the Sorento has more maximum space with the second and third rows folded.
Both cars are boxy and have a braked towing capacity of 1650kg.
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Callography AWD | Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4830mm | 4810mm |
| Width | 1900mm | 1900mm |
| Height | 1770mm | 1700mm |
| The standard long | 2815mm | 2815mm |
| Ground clearance | 177mm | 176mm |
| Starting capacity | None/628L/1949L | 179L/608L/1996L |
| Curb weight | 2105kg | 2014kg |
| Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) | 2680kg | 2640kg |
| Towing capacity (with brakes) | 1650kg | 1650kg |
Maintenance and warranty
Hyundai and Kia have different warranty policies.
The Sorento offers a seven-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, compared to the Santa Fe’s five-year warranty.
However, you’ll pay more to service a Kia through your local dealer. A fourth service on a Sorento costs $1,098, more than double the cost of a comparable service on a Santa Fe.
Both the Santa Fe Hybrid and Sorento HEV have a shorter logbook maintenance interval of 12 months/10,000km compared to the usual interval of 12 months/15,000km.
According to Hyundai and Kia, this is because the hybrid engine is turbocharged.
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Callography AWD | Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5 years, unlimited km | 7 years, unlimited km |
| Distance | 12 months or 10,000km | 12 months or 10,000km |
| First Service | $459 | $352 |
| Service 2 | $459 | $732 |
| 3rd party service | $459 | $426 |
| 4th Service | $459 | $1098 |
| 5th Service | $459 | $396 |
| Total first 5 years | 2405 dollars | 3004 dollars |
| Average service price for the first 5 years | $459 | $600.80 |
Safety
The Hyundai Santa Fe has not yet been tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.
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Hyundai SantaFe -
Kia Sorento
The 2024 Kia Sorento retains the five-star ANCAP safety rating of the pre-2020 update, based on Euro NCAP tests.
Here’s a breakdown of the standard safety equipment on each vehicle:
| Hyundai SantaFe | Kia Sorento | |
|---|---|---|
| Air bag | 10 airbags | 7 airbags |
| Automatic emergency braking (AEB) | Correct | Correct |
| Lane keeping assist | Correct | Correct |
| Blind Spot Monitoring | Correct | Correct |
| Adaptive cruise control with stop/go function | Correct | Correct |
| Traffic sign recognition | Correct | Correct |
| Reverse camera | Correct | Correct |
| Surround view camera | Correct | Correct |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | Correct | Correct |
| Parking sensors | Correct | Correct |
| parking assist | Correct | Correct |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring | Correct | Correct |
Standard Features
The biggest difference you’ll notice between the new Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD and the flagship Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD is in the design and standard equipment.
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Callography AWD | Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel | 20 inch alloy wheels | 19 inch alloy wheels |
| Spare wheel | Full size alloy | Full size alloy |
| Headlight | LED night light sensor, dual projector with DRL | Dusk Sensor LED Light with DRL |
| Fog lights | Yes, LED lights | Yes, LED lights |
| Windshield wiper | Automatic rain sensor | Automatic rain sensor |
| Rearview mirror | Heated, auto-dipping when reversing, auto-folding | Heated, auto-dipping when reversing, auto-folding |
| Sunroof | Panoramic glass sunroof | Panoramic glass sunroof |
| Back door | Hands free, with power | Hands free, with power |
There are many common features on the outside of these cars, although the Santa Fe gets larger 20-inch alloy wheels with the Calligraphy version.
Neither vehicle lacks anything, they both come fully loaded with features you’d expect from a premium family SUV.
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Callography AWD | Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture | Ink Black Nappa Leather Interior | Quilted Nappa leather seats |
| Front seat | With heating, ventilation and massage functions, 14-way power adjustment (10-way passenger seat) | With heating, ventilation and massage functions, 14-way power adjustment (10-way passenger seat) |
| Back seat | Boil | Boil |
| Steering wheel | Heated, leather covered | Heated, leather covered |
| Number selector | Mounting column | Rotary gear selector with wire shift |
| Gear shift lever | Correct | Correct |
| Rearview mirror | Auto dimming | Auto dimming |
| Climate control | Two regions | Two regions |
Many specifications are relevant here, so it comes down to personal preference regarding materials, aesthetics, and layout.
One difference? The Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD is available in a six-seat configuration, with second-row captain’s chairs a $500 option. The Sorento HEV, by contrast, is only seven-seat.
You can also opt for Forest Green and Pecan Brown seat upholstery for an additional $295 on the Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy AWD. Conversely, the Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD is only offered with black seat upholstery.
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Callography AWD | Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| The instrument cluster | 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster | 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster |
| Head-up display | Correct | Correct |
| Infotainment | 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen (with OTA software update) | 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen (with OTA software update) |
| Satellite positioning | Correct | Correct |
| Smartphone Mirroring | Wired and Wireless Apple CarPlay Wired and Wireless Android Auto |
Wired and Wireless Apple CarPlay Wired and Wireless Android Auto |
| Phone charger | Dual Wireless Charger | Single wireless charger |
| USB | USB-C all three rows | USB-C all three rows |
| Sound system | Bose Premium 12-speaker sound system | Bose Premium 12-speaker sound system |
| Key | Smart key with push button start, keyless entry and remote start | Smart key with push button start, keyless entry and remote start |
If you were still hesitant before reading this, that doesn’t change.
In terms of interior technology, the Santa Fe and Sorento are nearly identical, although each vehicle has its own custom-designed user interface.
Hyundai also wins on connectivity, with passengers getting an additional wireless smartphone charger.
With so little separating these SUVs at launch, which one would you choose? Let us know in the comments.
THAN: Buy Hyundai Santa Fe
THAN: Everything about Hyundai Santa Fe
THAN: Buy Kia Sorento
THAN: Everything about Kia Sorento
