Hyundai Santa Fe vs Kia Sorento 2021 comparison review: 7-seater diesel AWD SUVs face off!

It's time for another car guide

comparison

test and this time we will feature two vehicles that are essentially twins under the skin, both are seven

seater

and both are from Korea, one is a Hyundai and the other is a Kia. The

hyundai

santa

fe we ​​have here is the elite grade and to maintain consistency we have opted for the all wheel drive

diesel

versions of each of these three row family SUVs, the elite is a step below the top of the range Santa Fe. The Sorento we have on test is also second best spec, it's the Sport Plus model and costs $750 more than the equivalent Santa Fe at the time of filming.

You can read all about what you get for your money in the full and detailed comparative written

review

that you'll find on the car guide site, if you're watching on YouTube you'll find the link to that story in the description below, you'll also see timecode markers there and they are also on your screen so you can move forward. and choose which one of this video is most important to you if you need to know something specific and also don't forget that if you are watching it on youtube, like and subscribe, press the bell icon to stay updated. our latest videos and also be sure to let us know in the comments section which of these two SUVs you choose, with less than a thousand dollars splitting these two vehicles I would expect them to be pretty close in terms of equipment and They both have full LED lighting with running lights daytime running lights, there are LED fog lights for the Kia and both have large 19 for the Sorrento and 20 for the Santa Fe alloy wheels and have roof rails and a rear spoiler, each has a full-size alloy. spare wheel 2.

Inside there is leather trim for both models and, although both have electric driver's seat adjustment, the kia only has manual adjustment for the passenger, the kia counters, although with heated front seats and steering wheel, the

hyundai

doesn't have either Both have power folding second row seats and a power tailgate, plus there is push button entry and keyless start. Both models have a 10.25-inch touchscreen multimedia system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto plus satellite navigation with live traffic. There are also 8 USB ports on the Kia. and 5 in the hyundai, but the hyundai has a 10-speaker harman kardon stereo, while the kia has a six-speaker unit.

Those are just some of the differences between the Sorrento and the Santa Fe. In the specifications we have here, you can read the full detailed

review

. For a more complete breakdown, there's a good chance you'll like the look of one of these SUVs more than the other, but there are some interesting elements in terms of their respective designs. The Santa Fe is a refreshed model for the untrained eye. Looking at many styling themes common to its predecessor model, it still looks striking with its bug-shaped headlights and distinctive grille treatment in profile, you'll probably be hard-pressed to tell the difference apart from those incredible wheels that look as big as their It measures 20 inches, while at the rear there is the modern tailgate lamp garnish that expands its appearance.

The rear of the Sorrento looks more like a Ford Mustang with its rear end looking a little sportier, it also has that shark fin on the window line and is a little longer. Both in the wheelbase and at the front, the Kia's grille has a more aggressive figure. For me, the Kia simply has the edge in terms of style. And how do they compare on the inside? The Santa Fe's interior design is probably more conservative and more focused on luxury. that what you have in the Sorrento and a lot of that comes down to the way things are laid out, so you have this big panel of buttons on the center console here and a floating screen on top, whereas in the Sorrento It's a sleeker finish and you have more media controls on the edges of the screen where they probably should be.

This design means you have to look down a little further to make use of the buttons you need which could be frustrating for some people and in terms of the materials, yes it looks and feels pretty good, there are storage caddies decent ones and stuff around it and this nice little hidden storage under this bridge section of the console, but I don't love some of the finishes they've chosen, it's a bit of an effort in my opinion, other people may love them and that's totally cool, that's the beauty of these types of designs, you can choose which one appeals to you more, but this car has some cool features including the electric passenger seat adjustment, which you can adjust from the driver's side or, if you're in the back you can even do it from the back seat so it's a pretty nice little touch it means you can give whoever is in the back a little more space if they need it if you don't have anyone in front without having to reaching across or under the seat is quite logically laid out it is comfortable the seats are really comfortable they are There is a lot more padding and body fit in this car than in the Sorrento and the storage is quite clever too.

Here you have a covered center cup holder with a USB port and you also have a wireless phone charger that you can drop in. phone like that and it means it's out of sight and out of mind which is really clever, there are bottle holders in the doors and there are even more cup and bottle holders in the rear if you take a look at the second row of the Santa Fe. The space is actually quite good. This seat is prepared for me. I'm six feet tall or 182 centimeters and as you can see I have a lot of knee room, foot room and head room, and this seat of course slides up four times, so if you want.

Put the people in the back who need a little more legroom, you can offer it to them and just as I slide back, you'll also find here a fold down armrest with cup holders and in the back there are a couple of map pockets . air vents and you also have a couple of USB ports down there, plus there are bottle holders in the doors, but they are a little too small to fit a larger bottle, one of the things I really like about the Santa Fe elite that No Don't go into Sorrento with similar specifications are these parasols which are fantastic if you have very young children and just want to keep them out of the harsh sunlight, especially in the warmer months.

Now we should probably check out the third one. row this should be fun in the third row of the

santa

fe things actually aren't that bad as long as the second row occupants are willing to give up a bit of their own space so with me back here what i would consider a spot Comfortable enough position in the second row, I have enough knee and foot room although it is quite narrow and the headroom is okay but not great now. If you plan to use the third row of any of these SUVs a lot, you should know that airbag coverage does not extend to head protection in the third row, so keep in mind that some of the competitors do offer it. , so be sure to shop around if that's what you value in your seven-seat SUV, but in terms of other third-row inclusions. there is a fan controller with vents for those in the back row there is a set of lights on here so you can read if you want to be in the back row reading there are also a couple of cup holders and a USB port there is also a huge difference between the presentation del santa fe and the sorrentos and here it feels like someone very modern and very future focused has designed the cabin here because it's much more contemporary, much more technical looking and advanced feeling, as a result, i love it.

There are some really nice design elements and finishes here, especially this trim section on the dash that looks like fish gills or fish scales. I'm not too sure, obviously I'm not a very good fisherman, but it's really a nice design on the dashboard, here you have the same size screen, but it looks much bigger and also has a wide screen design for Apple Carplay, something that The Hyundai doesn't have it and I appreciate that the Kia is brighter. I guess you could say experience here and there are some really well thought out storage options too. You've got a huge cubicle holder here, but sadly there's no wireless charger, which is a bit disappointing.

You get it in Santa Fe in Elite spec. get a couple of bottle holders or cup holders between the seats, there's another storage trolley here, another storage cutter here and another one here, so it's pretty well sorted from a practical point of view and there are bottle holders in the doors too. That could perhaps be improved - the stereo system has only six speakers in this spec and the sound isn't as good as the Harman Kardon system in the Santa Fe and the equivalent Elite spec - but you do get three USB ports here, which is really useful if you need to carry three devices, although one of my biggest criticisms is actually how flat the seats are, they're not very supportive and could be a lot more comfortable as a result.

I wonder if that is the case on the second and third devices. Rows As expected, space in the second row is quite good in the Sorrento, there is just a little more wheelbase in this model compared to the Santa Fe. I'm not saying it can necessarily be felt, but it still has a very spacious footprint. second row, as I mentioned before, 182 centimeters or six feet, this seat is configured for me. I have plenty of leg room, toe room, head room and basically a pretty spacious environment back here and we have a couple of cups too. supports here, there are directional air vents, as you'd expect, there's another USB port down here and also a 12 volt one, plus there are two additional USB ports mounted on the seat backs, which is actually quite nifty, too, There are also some really nifty map pockets.

We have a mesh section and then you also have a stretch fabric section so you can secure all kinds of different things in there. Also, I love the extra cup holders here on the doors, it just means they're a little easier to fit. get that if you have a bottle that's in your door pocket, for example, and speaking of which large bottles might also have a hard time fitting in there, should we check the third row? Oh, and interestingly, there is a problem with access to the third row and Well, it might depend on your opinion on this whether it is a problem or not, but for me to have the largest section of your second row seat with split folds 60 40 on the curb is the wrong location if you were thinking about where to park on a suburban street.

For example, you'll probably want the smaller section of the seat to move, not the larger section, because you're more likely to have the smaller section as an empty spot if you use the third row a lot and it should be on the curb side. , so that's a bit of a mistake on Kia's part if you ask me, but otherwise, like the Santa Fe, the space back here isn't too bad for someone my size, there's plenty of knee and leg room. toes and this seat gives me a little room. The headroom is almost the same and the shoulder room too, just like the Santa Fe, there are vents with air controls back here and you will find a USB port on both sides, which is better than the Santa Fe again, so it's a really interesting pair these two.

The Kia also has child seat anchor points in the third row, something the Hyundai doesn't and that could well make the decision for you. If you're shopping for a seven-seat SUV, you probably want to know how much space you can fit behind the third row. and the answer for both models is well, not much, but as you can see from the screen, the sorrento offers a little more space with all the seats in use and improves on the santa fe in boot space with only five seats in play. The SUVs are identical when it comes to engine specifications because both are powered by identical 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbo

diesel

engines, both have on-demand all-wheel drive systems, and both also run eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions if you don't want it. diesel there are gasoline versions of each of these models both with a 3.5 liter v6 but both with front wheel drive only if you plan to tow you should know this the santa fe has an advantage over the sorrento it is capable of towing two and a half tons of trailer with brake, while the Sorrento is only capable of two tonnes, there is no towing in this test today, but now we are going to take these two for a spin starting in the Santa Fe elite diesel and you would think that because they have With the same powertrain, your handling will be very similar, but in fact, the characteristics of the experience ofhandling are quite different between the two vehicles in this test, obviously, there are those similarities under the hood, they both have the same engine after.

The only thing they both have is an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, so what that means is that you may have to deal with a slightly slower feel at low speeds in both models and you'll notice it more when you're going. between park and reverse and you're trying to park in a tight spot, for example, it may feel like you're using the clutch, but it's supposed to feel like that, so if you're new to a dual clutch, don't do it. Surprise, the added benefit of a dual clutch transmission is that it offers really precise and fast gear changes, so as you move up the rev range and through the gears, you will notice that it is very quick to change gears, but We have noticed a slight difference between the two in terms of behavior, but note that they both drive very well in terms of engine and transmission.

Both the Hyundai and Kia have locally tuned suspension and steering and there are differences in terms of how they feel. When it comes to the driving experience, the Hyundai isn't as fun or as involving, it has heavier steering that's a bit boring at times, and it can mean you just don't feel as confident when it comes to changing direction at speeds. taller, for example, but the Santa Fe's suspension is a little soft at the rear and that can mean it can warp a bit in corners if you drive a little more enthusiastically, most people probably won't. , but it has a softer suspension setting, probably to help it deal with those slightly larger wheels.

Now the ride is pretty good, although you can feel it. Those wheels pick up a lot of those smaller inconsistencies in the road sur

face

and that comes down to the fact that it has a very narrow low profile tire. It may seem like I'm being critical of the Santa Fe, but I have to say why. It's because of what it's designed to do and because of the size of the wheels and the way it's been tuned for Australian tastes, I have to say it's a really comfortable and practical family SUV when it comes to urban and even highway driving. , we are going now.

Try the faucet and see how it compares. We've jumped up to the Sorrento Sport Plus Diesel now and I have to say I like the driving experience in this car better and a lot of that comes down to the steering which is just a little more direct and responsive and makes driving feel a little more sporty. Part of that also comes down to suspension tuning. It's different to the Santa Fe after all, it feels a little firmer over bumps, but I like it, I think it makes the drive a little sportier. It feels a little more connected to the road under the steering and suspension, which means it's a more enthusiastic car to drive and will appeal more to an enthusiast driver if they're the type of person who wants to drive places rather than just need it.

Take a look at the Kia over the Hyundai and there is no difference between the powertrains per se although, as I mentioned on the Santa Fe, the driving experience is slightly different in the Sorrento because the transmission seems to be a little more settled and in both cases This engine is really good stuff, it moves very well, is relatively refined and offers pretty good power when you need it. It may seem like a small thing, but having a conventional gear selector in the Sorrento makes it easier to live with. The buttons on the Santa Fe simply add a level of complexity that you don't need in your life.

To me, it seems like the engine is a little more audible in the Kia than in the Santa Fe, although Mitch, who was also in this test. with me he said he found the kia to be a little quieter in the rear so yeah it doesn't really matter the driving experience for the passengers is interesting and the seats in the kia are a little flatter for the two people in it they go ahead. and in the rear and that means you can move a little more but fortunately the suspension is firm so the whole body doesn't move as much while in the santa fe the seats are more comfortable and more padded but also I realize which shake you around more, especially if you are a back seat passenger, so if your kids are prone to car sickness, make sure you take them on your test drive, so for me, of these two seven-seat SUVs, I would choose the Sorrento. as my pick, but you might have a different thought process and if you do, none of these models will disappoint you;

You may have already guessed it, but the claimed fuel consumption figure for both vehicles is identical: 6.1 liters per 100 kilometers is the combined cycle figure offered by each of the brands. That's what they say should be used in a driving combination. During our mix of driving, which included testing on back roads and city roads, we saw a small discrepancy and of course, it was honestly a bit surprising. Safety inclusions are vital for family SUV buyers, and fortunately, both models have plenty of tech covered. Both cars have five-star and top safety ratings, but the Sorrento earned its top rating under the strictest 2020 criteria.

And as a result it has some extra gear, both have automatic emergency braking that works at city and highway speeds. with pedestrian and cyclist detection. There are also lane-keeping systems with intersection turn assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, and driver attention monitoring. There are rear-seat occupant alerts for both models, and both have safe exit assist to prevent children from opening their doors to oncoming traffic. Each SUV has a reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors. In these specifications, the Santa Fe has six airbags, while the Sorrento has eight airbags, including a pair of front center airbags to prevent head-on collisions, crucially, although neither have airbag coverage.

Third-row airbags for rear-row occupants. The KS still offers a brilliant seven-year unlimited kilometer warranty, which is two years longer than you get from Hyundai. You also get a seven year capped price service plan where the Hyundai has lifetime capped price maintenance available and roadside assistance is included for the duration of the warranty, plus another plus for the kia, it looks good for the Be careful, but with Hyundai you can pre-purchase your service and apply it. your financial payments, which simply means there is one less thing to budget for each year, so which of these two family SUVs is the better choice.

You can read our full review on the car guide site. You will find the link on your screen. and that will tell you how they compared according to our review criteria, but in this test it was the sorrento sport and plus the kia simply offers a more complete package, it feels more modern inside and out and has some of those extras that you expect While a couple of extra safety features are included at this price, that's not to say the Santa Fe Elite is a bad family SUV, far from it, it's still a great option and you can see why people would choose this over Which really comes down to your personal preference Now tell us what you think in the comments below, would you choose the Kia Sorento Sport Plus or the Hyundai Santa Fe Elite Diesel or would you choose something completely different?

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