Kia Sorento vs Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe represented a significant departure from Hyundai’s previous design language. While earlier models such as the Hyundai Palisade, Ioniq 5, and Ioniq 6 hinted at a radical yet gradual shift in aesthetics, the Santa Fe's design felt like a culmination of these efforts with a fresh, boxy silhouette. According to Hyundai’s design chief, SangYup Lee, the boxy shape was selected for its optimal storage capacity. This aesthetic effectively married elegance with practicality, making the Santa Fe stand out notably, even catching the eye of a rural Tennessee motorcycle gang. The sophisticated exterior color palette, featuring matte options and anodized-finish badging, further enhanced its upscale look. The XRT trim introduced dark chrome and black cladding accents that provided an edgier appearance. Alloy wheels ranged from 18-inch on most trims to up to 21-inch on the Calligraphy trim, adding a touch of grandeur. Inside, the Santa Fe boasted premium styling and materials across its trims. Hard plastics on out-of-the-way surfaces blended seamlessly with plush, soft-touch areas, offering a balance of durability and comfort. The headliner fabric in the Calligraphy trim was noted for its luxurious feel, comparable to a winter scarf and hat, according to reviewers. The 2024 Kia Sorento also received a significant visual update, aligning more closely with its siblings—the Telluride and EV9. It featured a bold new grille, vertically-stacked LED headlights, and wing-like amber LED daytime running lights, all contributing to a more formidable and modern appearance. Higher trims also boasted LED taillights and redesigned bumpers, while new wheel designs added a refreshed touch. The rugged X-Line and new X-Pro trims enhanced the Sorento's adventurous appeal, with blacked-out wheels and earth-tone paints making it look clean and outdoorsy. Inside, these trims introduced faux open-pore wood grain and quality stitching on the leather-wrapped steering wheel and seats, evoking a sense of luxury. The dashboard, redesigned with a vast horizontal panel, provided a cleaner and more modern look reminiscent of the EV9. The twin 12.3-inch displays in higher trims made for a high-tech, premium-feeling cockpit that integrated seamlessly with the Sorento's updated design.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option across most trims, except for the off-road-focused XRT trim, where AWD was standard. Driving modes included Normal, Sport, and Snow, with the XRT trim adding off-road-specific modes. Later in the model year, a hybrid powertrain featuring a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine coupled with an electric motor would become available, offering a combined 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy for the base FWD model rated at 20/29/24 mpg, while the AWD trims dipped slightly in efficiency. The XRT model saw a further drop due to its higher ground clearance and all-terrain tires but compensated with a towing capacity of up to 4,500 pounds. The 2024 Kia Sorento retained most of its mechanical components from the previous year, including a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, but its performance was lackluster due to the vehicle's weight. Higher trims, however, featured a more potent turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, mated to a more responsive dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission. The Sorento's AWD system was available for an added cost and included the X-Line package on certain trims, providing additional ground clearance and off-road capability. The new X-Pro trim enhanced this further with 17-inch rims and all-terrain tires, making for smoother rides and improved grip on loose surfaces. Both turbocharged engines offered a lively performance with zero-to-60 times in the mid-seven-second range, though fuel economy for the turbo models was mediocre, clocking in at 23 mpg combined.

Hyundai designed the 2024 Santa Fe with a "chabak" concept, focusing on maximizing cargo space without compromising passenger comfort. The vehicle's extended wheelbase added significant cargo capacity, resulting in 14.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 40.5 and 79.6 cubic feet with the third and second rows folded down, respectively. Hyundai’s attention to detail, such as the extra-wide tailgate and integrated grab handle, made loading and organizing cargo straightforward and hassle-free. Passenger comfort remained a priority, with spacious first and second rows, and a choice between a bench seat or reclining captain’s chairs in the second row, depending on the trim. The variety of materials used, from stain-resistant cloth to quilted Nappa leather, catered to different tastes and budgets. Storage solutions, including pockets and bottle holders in all three rows, emphasized the Santa Fe's focus on functionality. The 2024 Kia Sorento, while slightly smaller than the larger Telluride, provided ample space in the first two rows with 41.4 inches and 41.7 inches of legroom, respectively. The third row, however, was tight with only 29.6 inches of legroom, making it suitable primarily for children or short trips. Despite this, the Sorento offered more room in its third row than many competitors. Cargo capacity in the Sorento varied from 12.6 cubic feet with all seats up to 38.5-45 cubic feet with the third row down and up to 72.1 cubic feet with both rows folded, making it competitive within its class. Higher trims featured conveniences like a power liftgate, enhancing ease of use.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe showcased advanced technology, with a curved panoramic display that spanned across the dashboard in higher trims, including the XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. This setup combined a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a digital gauge cluster, delivering clear and crisp visuals. Features like wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 12-speaker Bose stereo, dynamic voice recognition, and a Wi-Fi hotspot enhanced connectivity and entertainment. Entry-level trims offered a simpler yet efficient 12.3-inch touchscreen with essential features. Wireless charging and the innovative BlueLink system, which could substitute for a physical key fob, provided modern convenience. Hyundai Pay and a biometric fingerprint scanner added layers of security and ease for everyday transactions. The 2024 Kia Sorento, following trends in the industry, moved towards a twin-screen setup for its gauge and infotainment displays. All trims now featured a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with updated software, offering simplified and customizable user interfaces. Even lower trims enjoyed the cohesive design, though they featured only one large screen alongside a smaller TFT display for driver information. Kia’s new software, CCnC, made navigation and media controls more accessible, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard across the lineup. Over-the-air updates ensured the system remained up-to-date, and abundant USB-C outlets in all rows addressed passengers’ charging needs. Higher trims benefitted from a Bose 12-speaker surround sound system and Digital Key 2.0, enabling phone-based vehicle access and control.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe came packed with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, intersection assist, blind-spot monitors, and rear cross-traffic alert with automatic emergency braking. Higher trims added advanced systems like a 360-degree camera, remote automatic parking, and a biometric fingerprint scanner for added security. New for 2024, the Santa Fe introduced driver monitoring across the lineup, using infrared cameras and capacitive sensors to monitor driver alertness and manage hands-off alerts. This system ensured that if the driver became incapacitated, the vehicle would safely come to a stop and summon emergency services. Similarly, the 2024 Kia Sorento was equipped with extensive safety technology through its Drivewise suite. Standard features included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-following assist, and more. Advanced options like Highway Driving Assist 2 provided semi-autonomous driving capabilities. Kia emphasized refining its adaptive cruise control for better precision and included surround-view cameras and a rear-view camera mirror for enhanced visibility. Though crash tests for the 2024 Sorento were pending, past models had performed well, promising robust safety for the latest model.