Comparison Data
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2024 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT
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2024 Kia Sorento X-Line Limited
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Engine Displacement
2.5L
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2.5L
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Engine Cylinders
Turbo I4
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Turbo I4
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Peak Horsepower
277 hp @ 5,800 rpm
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281 hp @ 5,800 rpm
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Peak Torque
311 lb-ft @ 1,700-4,000 rpm
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311 lb-ft @ 1,700-4,000 rpm
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Fuel Economy
12.2 / 9.1 / 10.8 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb
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11.5 / 8.7 / 10.3 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb
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Cargo Space
413 / 1,148 / 2,267 L behind 3rd/2nd/1st
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357 / 1,090 / 2,139 L behind 3rd/2nd/1st
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Base Price
$46,999
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$50,975
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A/C Tax
$100
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$100
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Destination Fee
$2,000
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$2,050
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Price as Tested
$49,349
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$53,375
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Optional Equipment
$250 — Rockwood Green paint, $250
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$250 — Wolf Grey paint, $250
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Shopping for a three-row SUV can create something of a quandary.
Even a family of four can benefit from the extra space inside one of these machines, and yet hauling around extra metal and glass for the sake of it seems unnecessary. There are, however, a handful of sport utilities that offer extra seating when it’s needed, and all within dimensions that are nearly as tidy as those of the ever-popular Toyota RAV4.
Two of them happen to be rather closely related, with the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe sharing its underpinnings and mechanical components with the 2024 Kia Sorento. But for all they have in common, these corporate cousins manage to feel like entirely different SUVs.
Styling
They also happen to look different, with the redesigned Santa Fe in particular forging its own stylistic path in a segment of sameness. It’s certainly a polarizing look overall, but then that’s also true of the one that came before it, albeit in its own way. This time around, the emphasis has been placed on bold lines, a theme that carries over to the cabin.
Meanwhile, the 2024 Sorento stands out more than before, although it’s mostly understated next to the Santa Fe. Outliers include headlights and wheel designs inspired by the all-electric Kia EV9; otherwise it’s rather anonymous, which has its merits. The same is true inside, although the X-Line Limited version tested here has perforated leather and accent stitching that elevate the space at least a little.
Hyundai Santa Fe: 8/10; Kia Sorento: 7/10
Practicality
This pair shares a platform and powertrain, and the way the space inside them is split up is similar as a result. They ride on an identical 2,815-mm (110.8-in) wheelbase, which allows for roomy second-row seats to match the ones up front. Both the Sorento and Santa Fe also boast big doors that make climbing inside easy.
It’s in the deepest recesses of their cabins where the problems lie, at least when it comes to moving people, with equally cramped third-row seats that should be just fine when the in-laws are in town or a couple extra kids need a ride to soccer practice, but that’s about it. Likewise, cargo space with those rearmost seats upright is barely enough for a few grocery bags, with the Sorento offering 357 L to the Santa Fe’s 413 L.
Stow those seats, however, and there’s 1,090 L in the Kia compared to 1,148 L in the Hyundai – impressive both on paper and in practice. The spaces themselves are big and wide, although the Santa Fe’s massive tailgate opening gives it a slight edge in terms of overall usefulness. Ditto the storage solutions inside, with a big bin under the centre console armrest and another cubby up front that’s big enough for a handbag, plus door-mounted cup holders in the second row.
Hyundai Santa Fe: 8/10; Kia Sorento: 7.5/10
Power
Given they share a platform, it should come as no surprise that the Santa Fe and Sorento have similar powertrains. Their core lineups rely on a turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder for motivation, which is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. (The base Sorento uses the same engine sans turbo, as well as a conventional eight-speed automatic.)
Output and performance is pretty much identical, although the Sorento makes 281 hp to the Santa Fe’s 277 hp. More importantly, both generate 311 lb-ft of torque, all of which comes on at 1,700 rpm – and lasts through 4,000 rpm – and leaves no room for noticeable turbo lag. It’s only the transmission choice that leads to trouble, with subtle shuddering in both machines when accelerating from a stop with light throttle application. (This is a common characteristic amongst dual-clutch units.)
Hyundai Santa Fe: 9/10; Kia Sorento: 9/10
Fuel Economy
Both of these SUVs can also be had with hybrid power, although the 2024 Sorento doesn’t benefit from the facelift fitted to the gas-only version; that’s happening next year. Either way, picking that powertrain maximizes their efficiency, with fuel consumption ratings of a combined 6.9 L/100 km in the case of the Santa Fe and 6.8 for the Sorento.
Opting for the 2.5L found under the hoods of these testers sees that combined number register higher, with the Sorento rated at 10.3 L/100 km, according to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), while Santa Fe comes in at 10.6 or 10.8, depending on trim. During this week-long test the Sorento handedly surpassed its NRCan score, with an indicated average of 9.8 L/100 km across 730 km. That compared to 10.5 for the Santa Fe XRT over 500 km.
Hyundai Santa Fe: 6/10; Kia Sorento: 6.5/10
Driving Feel
That the Santa Fe tested here was done up in adventurous XRT trim matters, although it’s little more than a side note that speaks to some added capabilities courtesy of its all-terrain tires. And in fairness, the Sorento can be had the same way with its range-topping X-Pro trim.
Those tires surely have an impact on ride and handling, although it’s the Santa Fe’s suspension tuning that’s the real star of the show. Where the Sorento feels stiff and a little unforgiving out on the open road, the Santa Fe is supple and smooth. Yes, the tires help when rolling over uneven surfaces, but then their squishiness doesn’t lead to any appreciable body roll – that’s all reserved for the Sorento, which feels top-heavy by comparison.
Hyundai Santa Fe: 8/10; Kia Sorento: 6/10
Comfort
Ultimately, there’s refinement in the way the Santa Fe drives – a characteristic its corporate cousin lacks. Chalk it up to being a few years older, with this generation rolling out in 2021, but the components themselves are almost identical. The Santa Fe’s seats are also superior, with the Sorento’s feeling stiff and unsupportive by comparison. (That’s a typical Kia characteristic, with the same quality in the likes of the larger Telluride, whereas the seats inside the mechanically identical Hyundai Palisade are much friendlier, especially during long drives.)
Hyundai Santa Fe: 8/10; Kia Sorento: 6/10
Features
Where the Sorento gets back on level terms with the Santa Fe is with all the stuff it delivers across its lineup. Both SUVs offer a similar array of features – their cheapest trims have heated front seats, although the Santa Fe has a heated steering wheel to match, whereas the Sorento doesn’t – that includes everything from perforated leather upholstery to ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and as many as 12 speakers inside. However, it’s the Santa Fe that stands out once again, with extras like dual wireless chargers in its most expensive trim, along with over-the-air update capabilities across its lineup.
Hyundai Santa Fe: 9.5/10; Kia Sorento: 9/10
Safety
The advanced safety offerings are virtually identical, with standard systems including forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and collision avoidance, and adaptive cruise control that works in stop-and-go traffic. Meanwhile, extras like head-up display systems, surround-view cameras (to supplement the government-mandated back-up ones), and camera-based blind-spot monitoring are available in pricier trims.
Hyundai Santa Fe: 9/10; Kia Sorento: 9/10
User-Friendliness
The adaptive cruise control system in both the Sorento and Santa Fe offers some automated steering assistance, although the driver’s hands must remain on the wheel for it to work. That the same button on the steering wheel is used to toggle between that and conventional lane-keeping is perhaps the only function that requires a quick look at the owner’s manual to figure out.
The latest version of their shared infotainment interface – run through a 12.3-inch touchscreen – has been updated to eliminate the old smartphone-like icon menu. Instead, its streamlined functionality can be swiped through by touch or navigated using shortcut buttons. Graciously, the system now features wireless connectivity for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Unfortunately, the Santa Fe has been saddled with an almost entirely touch display for its climate features that’s inferior to physical switchgear for the inability to operate anything beyond cabin temperature without looking. The same is true of the Sorento, which uses a frustrating dual-function touch panel that requires constant toggling between climate and infotainment functionality.
Hyundai Santa Fe: 8/10; Kia Sorento: 8/10
Value
While these machines share plenty in common, the way they’ve been packaged is strikingly different. That’s because the off-road-inspired Santa Fe XRT tested here is the second in the four-trim lineup, whereas the similar Sorento X-Pro is the most expensive of the five ways it can be had.
The Sorento is the more affordable of the two in terms of starting price, ringing in at $41,025 before tax but including freight compared to the Sorento’s $42,999. But then it lacks standard turbocharged power, which helps explain the variance. From there, the Sorento EX has a pre-tax price of $45,025, while the X-Line rings in at $50,025. Meanwhile, the X-Line Limited tested here is $53,025, while the range-topping X-Pro touches $54,525 before the government’s share.
The cheapest Santa Fe Preferred can be had with an optional Trend package that makes it a $46,999 SUV before tax. Then there’s the XRT that’s $48,999, while the Luxury trim is $51,999. Finally, the top-of-the-line Ultimate Calligraphy is priced at $55,499.
Hyundai Santa Fe: 6/10; Kia Sorento: 6.5/10
The Verdict
While the 2024 Kia Sorento has an ever-so slight price advantage over its corporate cousin, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe has serious levels of refinement in its favour. From its superior ride quality to its use of space and technology, it feels like the more modern SUV – and that’s because it is. Even so, those inherent advantages are hard to ignore, and it’s easily the superior pick as a result. That doesn’t mean the Sorento is bad by any stretch, but in this rivalry, the Santa Fe comes out on top where the rubber meets the road.
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