2024 Hyundai Santa Fe vs. 2024 Kia Sorento Comparison Test: Korean Cousins Face Off

It’s not often that two competing brands, both owned by the same parent company, offer two mainstream options that are priced, powered, and sized basically the same. Cannibalization, as some “business minds” would call it, but that’s the Hyundai Motor Group’s problem, not yours. All you have to do is decide which midsize three-row SUV is better for your needs: the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe or the 2024 Kia Sorento. Seeing as this is a comparison test review, we’re here to help.

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Familial Ties

The recently revamped 2024 Santa Fe, for this test in dressed up in its luxury-leaning Calligraphy HTRAC trim, and the 2024 Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige, also decked out in its best duds, both are optioned with all-wheel drive, use the same eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and are powered by the same 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Both engines make 311 lb-ft of torque, though the Hyundai produces a claimed 277 hp and the Kia puts down 281. Trust us, you won’t be able to tell the difference from the driver’s seat.

They have the exact same wheelbase, as well, though the Sorento’s X-Pro trim does come with 1.2 inches more ground clearance than the Santa Fe’s 7.0 inches. Cargo volumes are similar, too, with the Santa Fe pulling ahead of the Sorento by a few cubic inches here and there. Finally, the Sorento can tow up to 4,500 pounds, while the Santa Fe can only haul 3,500 in all.

Santa Fes in Calligraphy trim are fitted with 21-inch wheels, black roof rails, second-row captain’s chairs, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, a head-up display, quilted door panels, and a two-tone leather-wrapped steering wheel among the premium standard features.

Kia’s X-Pro is an adventure-ready trim that was just added as an option for the 2024 model year Sorento. It gets 17-inch wheels wrapped in big-sidewall BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, increased towing capacity (as noted above), earth-tone interior colors, and imitation wood cabin trim. The SX Prestige adds retractable rear-door sunshades, a 14-way powered driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a powered tailgate.

Both SUVs also come with the Hyundai Group’s top-shelf Highway Driving Assist 2 adaptive cruise control system with assisted lane changes.

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Related but Different

The Sorento has been wearing a version of Kia’s latest corporate fascia since this generation’s debut four years ago. It’s still crisp and modern-looking, but the freshly redesigned Santa Fe hits like a jab between the eyes. In a good way.

Between the outgoing fourth generation and this current fifth, you’d be forgiven if you thought the new Santa Fe was styled by a completely different automaker. The front now wears a slim and sleek horizontal light beam, and its daytime running lights are shaped like H’s (for Hyundai, heh). From nose to C-pillar, there’s something very Land Rover Defender–ish about its profile.

Then there’s the rear. It’s polarizing, thanks in large part to the low taillight positioning that some on staff believe makes the entire back end look bulbous, unbalanced, and ungainly. The taillights themselves are h-shaped like dog bones, which some also found to be off-putting. One thing’s for sure, the Santa Fe has an undeniable style to it—whether you like it or not.

Both SUVs are fitted with the big, single-piece dual-screen setup across the dash that’s already prevalent in other Hyundai and Kia models. In these two models, at least, the Sorento’s two-tone layout looks better than the Santa Fe’s plain black, and the Kia’s “wood” trim certainly brings warmth to everything; those earth tones were really the right avenue to take. However, by moving the transmission lever from the center console to the steering column, Santa Fe stylists were able to use the space to add not one, but two wireless charging pads. Plus, it just looks airier. And the climate controls and radio are far easier to figure out and use in the Santa Fe because you don’t have to toggle between the two on the lower screen as you do in the Sorento.

In the second row, the captain’s chairs employed by the pair have the same seat comfort. Third-row roominess across both isn’t the most generous, but the Santa Fe adds climate vents back there, while in the Sorento, there aren’t any.

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Driving the Sorento and Santa Fe

Behind the wheel, the Sorento is relaxed and agreeable. It has plenty of power and torque to get up to speed (though you’ll hear that engine work) and remain there. But its slightly higher ride height and all-terrain BFGoodriches work against it some, as the ride quality is a little jittery and you can hear the tires humming against the road. However, note that this is the more rugged version of the Sorento, so these criticisms are to be expected. At low speeds, the steering can be vague and loose, but it becomes much more accurate once you pick up the pace. In our figure-eight test of the Sorento, we noted its excellent handling, with very little understeer if you don’t drive it too hard. A squishy brake pedal means you must be firmer with your stops, and the transmission could be more refined in stop-and-go situations, but overall, the Sorento is a wonderful daily driver with plenty of passenger space and amenities.

We also want to send a shout-out to the Sorento’s version of Highway Driving Assist 2, the previously mentioned advanced driver assist cruise control system. With the addition of automatic lane change, it’s truly a standout suite of driver aids. It keeps the vehicle perfectly centered in the lane, manages speed with moving traffic in a calm way, slows down subtly around corners, and is easy to engage and disengage.

But despite the Sorento’s strong points, everything in the Santa Fe just feels newer. There’s no other way to say it. The throttle was more responsive, the transmission smoother, the brakes better, and the ride more comfortable. Oh, and the handling is improved over the Sorento thanks in part to the different rim and tire package and lower ride height. Under aggressive driving, two of our test drivers reported a long-travel, delayed-reaction brake pedal, so that’s something to keep in mind. Otherwise, vehicle dynamics are good with no other adverse characteristics.

The only major demerit against the Santa Fe was, strangely, surrounding its cruise control. It also uses Highway Driving Assist 2 with assisted lane changes, but rather than steady itself in the middle of the lane like the Kia so flawlessly did, the Santa Fe’s system wandered some between the lines. A couple of times, it brought us so concerningly close to the center double yellow that we were forced to seize control again. For this, we recommend maybe using the adaptive cruise without the lane centering function.

So, Which One Won?

The Santa Fe came out on top without much contest, yet we reiterate both cars are excellent at what they do and, on their own, would satisfy any buyer.

But seeing how similarly set up and priced they are, the Santa Fe is a better place to park your money. Most everything about it, short of its strange driver assist behavior (which could have been unique to this vehicle) and brake pedal operation, feels newer and more polished. Keep in mind that the Sorento came out in 2021 and is thus riding around on 2021 tech. The all-new fifth-generation Santa Fe made its debut last year for the 2024 model year, so everything about it is brand spanking new.

It’s funny: After spending back-to-back time in both SUVs, the Santa Fe feels like what a Sorento refresh would almost certainly be. We’ll likely see soon enough.

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2nd Place: 2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige

Verdict: The Sorento pulls out all the stops for what you can get on a near-luxury midsize three-row SUV, things just need a little more refinement.

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1st Place: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe HTRAC Calligraphy

Verdict: Being similarly sized, shaped, priced, and powered, the newer Santa Fe is the more improved and comfortable of the two.