The Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento are likened to professional football’s Kelce brothers, Travis and Jason, each with distinguished careers and unique strengths, offering a choice for potential buyers. These SUVs, from the same family of Hyundai and Kia, share similar hardware and powertrains, making them comparable in many aspects. The Santa Fe now includes a third-row seat in its redesigned 2024 model, aligning it more closely with the Sorento’s seating capacity, catering to occasions that require extra passengers.
Both the Santa Fe and Sorento are competitively priced, starting around $33,000 and $35,000, respectively, and reaching up to $48,000 for fully loaded versions. Additionally, they both feature excellent warranty coverage with a five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
The Hyundai Santa Fe stands out with its superior power, offering a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 277 horsepower, in contrast to the Kia Sorento’s 191-horsepower non-turbo four-cylinder engine. The Santa Fe also excels in towing capacity, capable of hauling up to 3,500 pounds or 4,500 pounds with the off-road-oriented XRT trim.
On the other hand, the Kia Sorento presents a plug-in hybrid powertrain option, offering increased efficiency with an EPA-estimated 36 mpg combined and up to 32 miles on electric power alone before transitioning to a regular hybrid mode. While this model provides environmental benefits and potential fuel savings, it comes at a higher price compared to the standard hybrid or gas models.
In terms of design, the Santa Fe boasts a rugged and boxy profile reminiscent of classic off-road vehicles, while the Sorento features a sleeker and sportier appearance with rounded corners and a bold front end, appealing to different tastes in style.
In conclusion, both the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento have their unique advantages – the Santa Fe with more power and towing capacity and the Sorento with a plug-in hybrid option for efficiency. Depending on individual preferences and needs, either SUV could be a suitable choice for buyers.