2026 Hyundai Santa Fe vs. 2026 Kia Sorento Comparability

November 18, 2025

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The three-row midsize SUV phase continues to develop, not simply within the variety of autos supplied with three rows but additionally within the dimension of these autos. For consumers, contemplate it the Goldilocks Conundrum. Some SUVs could also be too huge to deal with, some SUVs could also be too cramped for a 3rd row, and a few, just like the autos in contrast right here, are good.

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe and the 2026 Kia Sorento dimension up smaller than the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluridehowever nonetheless have enough room within the third row to deal with carpool responsibility. They’re additionally extra environment friendly, simpler to maneuver, and higher to suit into garages and parking spots than their bigger counterparts.

The Hyundai Santa Fe nonetheless seems contemporary after its 2024 redesign, however that newness is mirrored in a better beginning value than the growing older Sorento. Remember the fact that the Sorento’s decrease beginning value features a much less highly effective, non-turbocharged engine.

For 2026, Hyundai changed its troublesome 8-speed dual-clutch computerized transmission (DCT) with a extra conventional 8-speed transmission that includes a torque converter, paired to the usual engine. The DCT led to a recall requiring new transmissions in sure Santa Fes. Curiously, though some variations of the Kia Sorento make the most of the identical DCT, Kia didn’t change it for the 2026 mannequin 12 months.

Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Santa Fe’s boxy design made it longer, taller, and broader than its predecessor, which opened up the car’s cabin and made it roomier than the Sorento.

Just like the Sorento, the Santa Fe provides three rows of seats commonplace, permitting seating for seven. The exception is the Calligraphy trim that options captain’s chairs within the second row, lowering seating to only six passengers. The cabin options its new Panoramic Curved Show, which integrates the digital gauge cluster and the infotainment display screen into one cohesive show.

The Santa Fe is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that produces 277 horsepower, which is distributed to the entrance wheels or to the optionally available all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. There’s additionally a Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid that trades energy for effectivity. It includes a 231-hp hybrid system and an EPA ranking of 36 mpg mixed, in comparison with 24 mpg mixed for the non-hybrid Santa Fe with FWD. The Hybrid solely prices about $1,500 extra.

Hyundai Santa Fe Highlights

Semi-autonomous: Hyundai’s Freeway Driving Help combines numerous applied sciences, together with adaptive cruise management and lane centering, to make freeway driving safer and simpler. It’s accessible in two variations, together with Freeway Driving Help 2 on the Calligraphy fashions, including performance like lane-change help.

Further room: These SUVs are related in dimension, however because the specs desk under highlights, the Santa Fe is the roomier of the 2. The Hyundai provides barely more room within the third row and cargo space in comparison with the Kia, enhancing its consolation and flexibility.

Easy accessibility: The brand new Santa Fe includes a built-in seize deal with on the aspect, offering customers with simpler entry to the SUV’s roof. The deal with stays flush with the aspect of the car till you push it in and use it. It’s additionally lockable to stop others from utilizing it.

Verify this week’s Truthful Buy Value or see the Santa Fe fashions close to you.

2026 Kia Sorento

Sitting someplace between a compact and a midsize, the Sorento enjoys simply sufficient area to incorporate an optionally available third row. It’s good to have when you’ll want to haul smaller individuals round for brief journeys. Nonetheless, average-sized adults can’t match for any affordable size of time.

One of many causes the Sorento is cheaper than the Santa Fe is as a result of it has a smaller 191-hp 4-cylinder base engine. On EX and above trims, it has the identical 281-hp 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder because the Santa Fe. Including the turbocharged engine will increase the worth by roughly $4,000 and reduces the gas economic system from 26 mpg to 25 mpg. It’s additionally accessible with AWD.

For the fuel-conscious shopper, Kia provides the Sorento Hybrid, which is solely $600 greater than the Sorento EX non-hybrid. In contrast to the Santa Fe, Kia additionally sells a Sorento Plug-In Hybrid that allows you to journey on electrical energy just for 31 miles, excellent for tailpipe emission-free driving for many every day errands. When the electrical juice runs out, it nonetheless will get about 33 mpg mixed. The draw back is that it prices almost $10,000 greater than the Sorento Hybrid.

Kia Sorento Highlights

Easy accessibility: Sorento fashions with the EX trim and better characteristic the Good Energy Tailgate, permitting hands-free opening and shutting. This provides appreciable comfort to loading and unloading the cargo space.

X-Line: The X-Line fashions within the Sorento lineup characteristic a rugged look package deal, together with an additional inch of floor clearance, high-utility roof rails, and distinctive wheels and bumpers. All of them come commonplace with torque-vectoring AWD for added functionality.

Drive Smart: Normal on each Sorento, it’s a set of security know-how that features computerized emergency braking, lane-keep help, computerized excessive beams, driver consideration warning, and extra.

Verify this week’s Truthful Buy Value or see the Sorento fashions close to you.

Similarities

The Santa Fe and Sorento are enticing on the skin whereas offering loads of room and comfort options on the within. They each come commonplace with 3-row seating and primarily the identical infotainment tech.

Pricing

New 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Costs

	Retail Value	Truthful Buy Value (92620)
SE	$36,295	TBD
SEL	$38,835	TBD
XRT	$43,285	TBD
Restricted	$45,845	TBD
Calligraphy	$48,845	TBD

New 2026 Kia Sorento Costs

	Retail Value	Truthful Buy Value (92620)
LX	$33,635	TBD
S	$36,535	TBD
EX	$39,735	TBD
SX	$43,535	TBD
X-Line EX	$44,035	TBD
X-Line SX	$45,335	TBD
X-Line SX Status	$48,035	TBD
X-Professional SX Status	$49,035	TBD

The Kelley Blue Ebook Truthful Buy Value for any particular person used car can differ tremendously in keeping with mileage, situation, location, and different elements.
The costs right here mirror what consumers are at the moment paying for New 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe autos and New 2026 Kia Sorento autos in typical situation when buying from a dealership.
These costs are up to date weekly. The producer’s urged retail value (MSRP) quoted consists of the vacation spot price, however doesn’t embrace tax, license, doc charges, and choices.

Specs

	2026 Hyundai Santa Fe	2026 Kia Sorento
Common Powertrains
Engine	2.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder	2.5-liter 4-cylinder
Towing Capability	3,500 kilos	2,000 kilos
Horsepower	277 hp @ 5,800 rpm	191 hp @ 6,100 rpm
Torque	311 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm	181 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Transmission	computerized, 8-speed w/shiftronic	computerized, 8-speed
Gasoline Financial system	20 metropolis/29 freeway/24 mixed mpg	N/A
Specs
Primary Guarantee	5 years/60,000 miles	5 years/60,000 miles
Powertrain Guarantee	10 years/100,000 miles	10 years/100,000 miles
NHTSA General Security	Not rated	Not rated
Max Seating Capability	7	7
Wheelbase	110.8 inches	110.8 inches
General Size	190.2 inches	189.6 inches
Width	74.8 inches	74.8 inches
Peak	67.7 inches	66.7 inches
Turning Diameter	37.9 ft	37.9 ft
Headroom, Entrance	41.1 inches	40.3 inches
Headroom, 2nd Row	40.6 inches	39.1 inches
Headroom, third Row	37.7 inches	36.8 inches
Legroom, Entrance	44.4 inches	41.4 inches
Legroom, 2nd Row	42.3 inches	41.7 inches
Legroom, third Row	30.0 inches	29.6 inches
Shoulder Room, Entrance	59.5 inches	59.1 inches
Shoulder Room, 2nd Row	58.1 inches	58.1 inches
Shoulder Room, third Row	53.5 inches	53.0 inches
Cargo Behind Final Seat	14.6 ft	12.6 ft
Cargo Behind Second Seat	40.5 ft	45.0 ft
Cargo With All Seats Down	79.6 ft	75.5 ft

Specification desk displays the everyday configuration of autos proven.

Conclusion

The Kia Sorento provides a broader vary of powertrain choices and a corresponding vary of costs, making it each extra inexpensive and costlier than the Santa Fe. The Santa Fe has extra daring styling and a luxury-leaning Calligraphy trim line. Its third row and cargo space are additionally barely bigger. These two autos had been lately put by means of their paces by KBB editors, and the Santa Fe completed on high—barely.