Hyundai Santa Fe vs Kia Sportage

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a midsize, three-row SUV that sits at the smaller end of the segment, while the Hyundai Palisade lives among the larger players in the class. Nevertheless, thanks to its boxy shape and thoughtfully crafted interior, shoppers might decide bigger isn’t necessarily better. The 2026 Santa Fe gets a new transmission, added safety features, and minor equipment and packaging updates. The Santa Fe Hybrid returns, too, but we’ll cover that in a separate review.

Verdict: Polarizing design aside, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe is a brilliant, family-friendly crossover SUV. We tested the XRT version, which trades fuel economy for off-road capability, so buyers who don’t need that should pick a different trim level.

No model demonstrates Kia’s growth like the Sportage compact crossover SUV. The nameplate has been around since Kia’s early days in the United States, and has evolved into a true rival for popular crossovers like the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4. The current-generation Sportage was introduced for the 2023 model year; it gets revised styling for 2026.

Verdict: The refreshed Sportage arrives with the competent execution we’ve come to expect from Kia, but the X-Pro Prestige model doesn’t live up to the brand’s reputation for value.