Compared: 2022 Kia Sorento vs. 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe

Both of these midsize SUVs offer gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains, but only one has three rows of seating.

Nicole Wakelin | 

Sep 22, 2022 | 3 min read

Kia | Hyundai

The 2022 Kia Sorento and 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe both offer gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are available on all gas trims and the hybrid Sorento, but both plug-in hybrids and the hybrid Santa Fe are all-wheel-drive only. The biggest difference here is in seating. The Santa Fe is only a two-row SUV with seating for five while the Sorento is a three-row SUV with seating for up to seven people.

Kia

Kia Sorento vs. Hyundai Santa Fe: Price

The Sorento comes in eight gas trims. Front-wheel-drive variants range from around $31,000 to $43,000 while the three all-wheel-drive trims are priced from about $36,000 to $45,000. The two hybrid trims are priced around $36,000 and $38,000 with all-wheel drive available as an option on both for $1,800. The plug-in hybrid also has two trims available for just about $47,000 or $50,000.

Hyundai

The base prices for the Santa Fe come in lower no matter the configuration. Hyundai offers five gas trims for the Santa Fe priced from about $29,000 to $43,000 with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is optional for $1,700 on all trims. The hybrid has three trims priced from around $36,000 to $42,000, while the plug-in hybrid is available in two trims with prices of nearly $42,000 and $48,000.

Kia

Kia Sorento vs. Hyundai Santa Fe: Interior

These two SUVs provide similar first- and second-row space, comfortably accommodating four adults. The Kia’s third-row, however, is best suited for occasional use or small children. (The Hyundai Palisade or Kia Telluride offer more room and comfort if you plan to use the third row regularly). If you keep those extra seats folded, however, the Sorento delivers an extra 9 cubic feet of cargo room compared with the Santa Fe.

Hyundai

The three-row Sorento can be equipped with a second-row bench seat to accommodate seven. Second-row captain’s chairs take seating down to six. Base models of the Hyundai and the Kia are similarly outfitted with cloth seats, a six-way manual driver’s seat, and an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. The Sorento adds leatherette seats, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and a 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen to all but the base trim. The Santa Fe makes its 10.3-inch touchscreen standard only on the top trim. It also has no leatherette option for mid-range trims and only an eight-way power driver’s seat.

Kia

Kia Sorento vs. Hyundai Santa Fe: Fuel Economy

Both SUVs get up to 26 mpg combined with their gas engines, but the Sorento comes out ahead with its hybrids. It gets up to 37 mpg combined as a hybrid or 79 MPGe as a plug-in hybrid.

Hyundai

The Santa Fe posts a slightly lower 34 mpg as a hybrid or 76 MPGe as a plug-in hybrid.

Nicole Wakelin

I write about cars. A lot. That's because I’ve always loved cars and the fact that they regularly hand me the keys to shiny new automobiles so I can write about them is a constant source of amazement. I cover breaking news, write reviews, and attend auto shows and new vehicle launches across the country. The more winding the road and the more unknown the route, the better.