Comparison review: Kia Sorento v Hyundai Santa Fe

Big SUVs have replaced the Toyota Tarago as the go-to choice for large families. Find out which of two popular options is the best.

The Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe are twins under the skin.

They have the same engine, transmission and core structure, but differ in their execution — their design, cabin layout, equipment and pricing.

Essentially, while they start with the same ingredients, the recipes differ.

KIA SORENTO

The Sorento is an incredibly important model for Kia. The previous model won our Car of the Year trophy and helped transform the brand from a cheap-n-cheerful bargain proposition to something genuinely desirable.

The Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe share the same platform. Picture: Mark Bean

Presented as an all-new model for 2020, the Sorento range starts from about $50,290 drive-away and runs to the $65,290 figure of the range-topping GT-Line tested here.

That’s a lot of cash, but there’s no denying the Sorento is stacked with equipment.

The GT-Line is loaded with luxuries such as heated and cooled seats trimmed in quilted black leather, a digital dashboard, ambient mood lighting and more.

Tech includes a 10.25-inch infotainment screen linked to a Bose stereo and wireless smartphone charging. The driver display shows a live feed of your blind-spot when you’re changing lanes, working with a head up display and comprehensive suite of driver aids to keep you safe on the road.

Fitted with seven seats as standard, the Sorento has eight USB outlets, air vent controls to all three rows and clever one-touch folding seats that make it easy to access the third row.

Kia’s contender has only partial airbag coverage to the rearmost seats, a design flaw that also affects the Hyundai.

The Sorento has plenty of gear included. Picture: Mark Bean

Customers can choose from two engines — a petrol V6 driving the front wheels, or a 2.2-litre turbo diesel with all-wheel-drive.

The latter has 148kW and 440Nm outputs, along with seriously impressive 6.1L/100km fuel economy made possible by a new dual-clutch automatic transmission.

It’s a reasonably smooth and quiet engine, helped by a broad choice of ratios that keep it on the boil.

More impressive is Kia’s local suspension tune — the Sorento shrugs off bumps with minimal fuss, yet maintains its composure better than any two-tonne SUV should.

It’s an impressive package — the defending champion of this class and a car that came within one vote of winning our 2020 Car of the Year title.

HYUNDAI SANTA FE

As with the Sorento, the Santa Fe is something of a star at the top of the Hyundai range.

Cheaper than the Kia at its $49,000 entry point, the Santa Fe is more expensive in top-grade Highlander trim at a touch more than $70,000 drive-away.

Heavily updated late in 2020, the Santa Fe gained a reworked motor and the same eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox as the Sorento, along with new front-end styling and a fresh cabin.

Core equipment is on par with the Kia, though Hyundai’s five-year warranty isn’t as generous as Kia’s seven-year guarantee.

The Sorento’s styling is very bold. Picture: Mark Bean

The interior update is sweet and sour. Tech bringing it into line with the Sorento (a digital dash, wireless charging and head-up display) is welcome, but a high and wide centre console festooned with buttons feels fussy in the touchscreen era.

We prefer the Sorento’s more spacious layout, but Hyundai’s premium materials and two-tone leather feel superior at this money. A slightly smaller boot and fewer USB points count against the latter’s day-to-day practicality.

Kia’s contender looks Stormtrooper chic in white with black details, but the Hyundai’s widemouth grille with dagger-like lights and sharp 20-inch alloys make a bigger statement in the metal.

The Santa Fe is a sweeter drive than the Kia. Picture: Mark Bean

Powered by the same engine as the Kia, the Hyundai’s motor feels fundamentally the same as its rival — quiet, effortless and efficient.

Lighter on the road and riding on a different suspension tune, the Santa Fe’s ride is a touch firmer than the Sorento. By no means uncomfortable, the Hyundai is a dynamically polished machine that impresses on twisty roads.

VERDICT

Both cars nail the luxury seven-seat brief. Keen drivers might prefer the Santa Fe but the Kia is without doubt the value pick thanks to a longer warranty and lower asking price. It’s our winner here.

KIA SORENTO GT

Price: About $65,290 drive-away

Engine: 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 148kW/440Nm

Warranty/servicing: 7-year, u’ltd km/ $3463 for 7 years

Safety: 5 stars, 7 airbags, auto-emergency braking, lane-keeping, adaptive cruise, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert

Thirst: 6.1L/100km

Spare: Full-size alloy

Boot: 616L (five-seater mode)

HYUNDAI SANTA FE HIGHLANDER

Price: About $70,093 drive-away

Engine: 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 148kW/440Nm

Warranty/servicing: 5-year, u’ltd km/ $2410 for 5 years

Safety: 5 stars, 8 airbags, auto emergency braking, active cruise control, blind-spot warning, lane keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert

Thirst: 6.1L/100km

Spare: Full-size alloy

Boot: 571L

Originally published as Comparison review: Kia Sorento v Hyundai Santa Fe