When it comes to choosing your next mid size family SUV, there are plenty of choices out there, but making the right decision may become overwhelming.
To help you out, we focus on two strong Korean contenders, the Kia Sorento vs. Hyundai Santa Fe, that are corporate siblings sharing both powertrains and technology. Read on as we look at what these siblings offer buyers looking for a reliable mid-size family SUV.
2023 Kia Sorento
For 2023, the Kia Sorento makes do with no major changes for 2023. A few interior tweaks plus some changes to drivetrains across trims means that the 2023 Sorento is available in an impressive lineup of eight models.
The lineup choices provide families with versatility, whether venturing the city streets on the way to work or on a shopping expedition, plus providing enough off-road abilities to tackle some weekend adventures off the beaten track.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe continues from its last refresh in 2021 and has seen little change in the way of changes for the 2023 model year, with the next generation of Santa Fe due later in 2024.
There was some shuffling of standard equipment dependent on trim level. Acoustic-laminated front windows for increased sound insulation and puddle lamps that light the ground near the doors were features added to the upper trim.
Hyundai added further niceties to items like the infotainment system and its features. Five trims are available: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited and a fully loaded Calligraphy spec.
Interior Comparison
The Kia Sorento offers three-row seating with up to seven seats for larger families. Buyers can swap out the second row bench for a pair of comfy captain's chairs. Styling touches include rhombus-shaped air vents with ambient lighting and intricately stitched surfaces on the door panels and seat inserts.
The Sorento gets a standard 8.0-inch touchscreen or an optional 10.3-inch touchscreen, as well as a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. There are optional wireless charging pads, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, plus touch screens on the backs of the front seats offering entertainment for the rear passengers.
The Sorento offers up to 12.6 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the third-row seats, up to 45 cubic feet with the last-row of seats folded down and 75.5 cubic feet with all seats folded down.
To cater to passengers' belongings, a scattering of cubby storage spots and cup holders feature on the console.
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, like all of Hyundai's products, shows off a cabin with solid build quality and worthwhile features. The appealing layout of the Santa Fe interior offers a variety of modern options that include a digital gauge cluster, head-up display, heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, and more.
In 2022, the five-seater Santa Fe received some interior design tweaks, resulting in generous passenger space in both rows, which is highly valued for long road trips. The Santa Fe without a third row of seats offers a generous cargo space of 36.4 cubic feet behind the back seat, which extends to 72.1 cubic feet with the second row seats folded flat.
An 8.0- or 10.3-inch touchscreen with user-friendly controls is installed atop the dash of the Santa Fe. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard, as well as options for wireless charging and an upgraded 630-watt, 12-speaker audio system.
 
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Exterior Comparison
Built on the same platform means that when comparing Kia Sorento vs. Hyundai Santa Fe, both offer very similar dimensions, with slight differences because of bumper shapes and finishes.
LED headlights feature on all Sorento trims along with an impressive list of standard exterior treatments like a front and rear skid plate, lower body cladding, heated power-adjustable side view Mirrors with turn signal plus alloy wheels ranging from 17 inches to 20 inches on upper trims.
Like its sibling, the Santa Fe offers plentiful standard features which include LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, rear spoiler and skid plates. A standard hands-free smart liftgate with auto open and adjustable height setting is standard while the Hyundai runs on 18 inch alloy wheels up to 20 inch ones on the top Calligraphy trim.
Buyers paying out for the upper trims get further exterior niceties such as LED projector-type headlights, LED tail lights and chrome accents.
Kia Sorento vs. Hyundai Santa Fe Performance
The same powertrains are used when comparing Kia Sorento vs. Hyundai Santa Fe, offering similar outputs and performance.
Lower trims of both vehicles have a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 191 horsepower, while the pricier trim levels offer a more powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter engine producing 277 horsepower. Both units put power through an eight-speed automatic transmission to the standard front- or optional all-wheel drive.
Fuel Efficiency Comparison
The Sorento with a base 2.5 liter engine and FWD returns EPA estimates of 24/29/26 mpg city/highway/combined and 23/25/24 mpg for AWD versions. Turbo charged trims offer 21/28/24 mpg city/highway/combined.
Hyundai's Santa Fe fitted with the base engine and FWD offers EPA estimates of 25/28/26 mpg city/highway/combined while the turbo models with ÀWD are rated at 21/28/24 mpg‌ for city/highway/combined driving.
Safety and Technology Differences
Both these models share much of their safety and driver assistance technologies.
The Kia is standard with nine airbags, forward collision-avoidance assist, and top trims, which are available with evasive steering assist.
Other key safety features include:
- Automated emergency braking
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keeping assist
- Available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
The Hyundai Santa Fe offers a full suite of airbags, an anti-lock braking system with 4-wheel disc brakes and a Hyundai's SmartSense driver assistance system, which includes functions such as:
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Forward collision avoidance: Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Junction-Turning Detection function
- a Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control along with Stop & Go and Curve Control
Pricing and Value
Starting at $31,990 MSRP for the LX spec, the 2023 Kia Sorento lineup goes up to $43,990 for the fully loaded X-Pro SX Prestige Turbo AWD.
Kia's impressive limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles, and the powertrain warranty covers ten years or 100,000 miles.
The Hyundai lineup kicks off at $28,750 for a base SE trim and ends with the range-topping Calligraphy trim at $42,600.
The Santa Fe is standard with Hyundai's standard warranties of five years/60,000 miles and ten years/100,000 miles on the powertrain. The Santa Fe boasts a complimentary maintenance cover of three years or 36,000 miles.
Choosing the Right Model For You
Sharing very much the same dimensions, drivetrains and performance, choosing which of these siblings is right for you boils down to your personal needs, styling preference and brand loyalty.
The Kia Sorento offers seating up to seven passengers whereas the Hyundai offers a roomier cabin and seats only five passengers, however the Hyundai comes with that complimentary three year maintenance cover and is available at slightly lower pricing.
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 Get Your Hyundai Santa Fe at Granite Hyundai
Book a test drive with the Granite Hyundai Dealership and learn more about the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe lineup.
The Granite Hyundai team is more than willing to assist you with your next purchase, and with a full range of new and pre-owned Hyundai vehicles to choose from, we're able to help you find the Hyundai you've been looking for.
