2023 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Kia Sorento

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe had a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's recent models. While it was still an attractive SUV, it didn't stand out as much as other vehicles in the brand's lineup. The 2023 model continued with the same look and feel as the 2022 version, available in five trim levels: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. Our test vehicle was the top-of-the-line Calligraphy AWD trim, featuring Stormy Sea paint and a black-on-black interior, with a total MSRP of $45,845.

The Santa Fe's exterior was marked by its wide upper and lower grilles and thin LED headlights, giving it a distinctive front look. Inside, the Calligraphy trim had a high-quality black interior with Nappa leather seats, which were both comfortable and attractive. Heated and cooled front seats were standard, and the second row also featured seat heaters. The cabin, while high-quality, was dark and monotone, and we recommended the beige or gray interior for more visual contrast.

The 2024 Kia Sorento received its first major visual update since its 2021 redesign. The new look made it more aligned with Kia's other SUVs, featuring a bold new front end, prettier taillights, and a more contemporary and upscale cockpit. The exterior updates included a big, bluff grille, vertically-stacked LED projector-beam headlights, and wing-like amber LED daytime running lights, making the Sorento look bigger and more intimidating. The rear updates were more subtle, with new bumpers and LED taillights on higher trims.

Inside, the Sorento featured a new dashboard with a vast horizontal expanse, similar to the EV9. The gauge cluster and infotainment displays were combined under a single pane of glass, with twin 12.3-inch displays on SX and SX-Prestige trims. The cabin materials were upgraded, with faux open-pore wood grain and quality stitching on the optional leather-wrapped steering wheel and seats. The Sorento also offered green and brown interior colors for added character, making it feel more upscale than some other midsize SUVs.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-liter engine, available in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions. The SE, SEL, and XRT trims featured the naturally aspirated engine, producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. The Limited and Calligraphy trims had a turbocharged engine, boosting output to 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission.

FWD was standard on all trims, with AWD available as an option. The Santa Fe also featured a drive-mode selector with four customizable modes: Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart. The turbocharged engine provided a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and no discernible turbo lag. Handling was smooth, with only slight body lean during cornering. The turbocharged Santa Fe could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the non-turbo version could tow 2,000 pounds.

The 2024 Kia Sorento retained most of its mechanical components from previous years. The base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine struggled with the Sorento's weight, resulting in sluggish performance. The EX and higher trims featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, producing 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, mated to a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission.

FWD was standard, with AWD available as an option. The AWD system included the X-Line setup, which added more aggressive styling, blacked-out wheels, and increased ground clearance. The Sorento handled confidently, with well-weighted steering and effective brakes. The X-Pro trim featured 17-inch rims with all-terrain tires, providing a smoother ride and better grip on loose terrain. The Sorento's towing capacity was 4,500 pounds for the X-Pro and 3,500 pounds for the X-Line, with standard models rated at 2,000 pounds.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a spacious interior with two rows of seats, providing 41.7 inches of rear-seat legroom and 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. Folding down the second row increased cargo space to 72.1 cubic feet. The SEL and higher trims featured an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats, with additional comfort and convenience features on higher trims, such as dual-zone climate control, a hands-free smart liftgate, and Remote Smart Parking Assist.

The 2024 Kia Sorento's cabin was modern and upscale, with comfortable seating in the first two rows and a tighter third row. The front seats offered 41.4 inches of legroom, while the second row provided 41.7 inches. The third row had 29.6 inches of legroom, suitable for children or short trips. The Sorento's new dashboard was ergonomic, with controls and layout logically arranged. Cargo space was limited to 12.6 cubic feet with the third row in use, but folding it down increased space to 38.5 to 45 cubic feet, depending on the trim. With all seats down, the Sorento offered up to 72.1 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch color LCD multi-information display on lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster on higher trims. The base SE trim featured an 8-inch display audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims had a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, voice recognition, wireless device charging, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The 2024 Kia Sorento featured a single-pane, twin-screen setup with a 12.3-inch central infotainment touchscreen running the new "Connected Car Navigation Cockpit" (CCnC) software. Lower trims had a gauge cluster with two dials and a 4.3-inch TFT information display, while higher trims had a second 12.3-inch digital display. The infotainment system prioritized popular features and offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The SX-Prestige models included a Bose 12-speaker surround sound system and Digital Key 2.0, allowing keyless access and driving with certain smartphones.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, driver monitoring, a safe-exit system, and a rear-seat reminder system. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS.

The 2024 Kia Sorento featured the Drivewise suite of active safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward automatic emergency braking, intersection assistance, lane-following and lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, and safe exit warnings. Optional features included navigation-based adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Highway Driving Assist 2 with automated lane changes. The Sorento earned "Good" ratings in several IIHS tests, though its LATCH system received an "Acceptable" rating.