2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Kia Sorento

The 2024 Kia Sorento underwent its first major visual update since its 2021 debut, aligning its design more closely with Kia's other SUVs like the Telluride and EV9. The refreshed Sorento featured a robust new front end, enhanced taillights, and a more upscale cockpit. Its exterior boasted a large, muscular grille, vertically stacked LED headlights, and wing-like amber LED daytime running lights, giving it a more imposing presence. The rear updates were subtler, with higher trims receiving attractive LED taillights and new bumpers across all versions. The Sorento's trims in Canada included LX, EX, X-Line, X-Line Limited, and the new X-Pro, each offering distinct visual elements, with the X-Line and X-Pro sporting more aggressive looks and earth-tone paint colours.

Inside, the Sorento showcased a redesigned dashboard with a vast horizontal expanse reminiscent of the EV9, providing a cleaner look. The gauge cluster and infotainment displays were combined under a single pane of glass, with X-Line Limited and X-Pro trims featuring twin 12.3-inch displays. The cabin materials were upgraded, with improved quality and luxurious touches like faux open-pore wood grain and quality stitching on the optional leather-wrapped steering wheel and seats. A brown interior colour option added character, and overall, the 2024 Sorento felt solidly assembled and more upscale than some competitors like the Chevrolet Blazer or Honda Passport.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in three trims—XRT, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy—maintained its chunky, boxy design introduced in 2024. The three-row SUV featured a long wheelbase, flat hood, and snub nose, with pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps fitting Hyundai's design aesthetic. The Santa Fe offered vibrant colours like Terracotta Orange and Atlantis Blue, breaking away from the typical greyscale of many SUVs. However, the rear design suffered from mismatched proportions, with pixelated H-shaped LED taillights positioned lower than ideal, affecting visual balance.

Each trim had specific wheel designs, ranging from 18 inches on the XRT to 21 inches on the Ultimate Calligraphy. The off-road-focused XRT trim added chrome and black trim, along with black roof rails. Inside, the Santa Fe accommodated seven passengers, except for the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which featured captain's chairs in the second row. Upholstery options varied from leatherette to Nappa leather, depending on the trim. While the fit and finish were generally good, some squeaks and rattles were noted during testing. The inclusion of physical dials for HVAC temperature was appreciated, though the fan speed buttons were less user-friendly.

The 2024 Kia Sorento retained most of its mechanical components, with the base engine being a 2.5-litre four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, struggled with the Sorento's weight, resulting in underwhelming performance. The EX and higher models featured a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine delivering 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, mated to a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission. Turbocharged Sorentos achieved zero-to-100 times in the mid-seven-second range, offering lively acceleration and ample passing power.

In Canada, all Sorentos came with all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard. The LX and EX trims had 17.6 centimetres of ground clearance, while the X-Line and X-Pro trims offered 20.9 centimetres. The Sorento handled confidently, with well-weighted steering and effective brakes. The X-Line's large wheels could transmit vibrations on rough surfaces, but the X-Pro's 17-inch rims with all-terrain tires provided a smoother ride and better grip on loose terrain. The X-Pro also featured improved engine cooling, resulting in a towing capacity of 2,040 kilograms, compared to the X-Line's 1,587 kg and the standard Sorento's 900 kg.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a standard 2.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. AWD was standard across the lineup. The Santa Fe Hybrid, a separate model, combined a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, delivering 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, also with AWD.

The Santa Fe felt stable in corners, with firm brakes and responsive steering. However, noticeable turbo lag and occasional delayed downshifts were observed. The gear selector, located on a stalk on the steering column, required some getting used to. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and 21.2 centimetres of ground clearance, enhancing off-road capabilities. The Santa Fe's off-road geometry was suitable for graded dirt roads but not for rugged rock crawling.

The 2024 Kia Sorento's cabin was upscale and modern, offering comfort in the first two rows but limited space in the third. Despite this, the Sorento provided advantages over smaller models like the Mitsubishi Outlander and Volkswagen Tiguan, and it wasn't much less roomy than larger alternatives like the Toyota Highlander. The front seats offered 1,052 millimetres of legroom, while the second row had 1,060 mm, providing ample space compared to two-row SUVs like the Chevy Blazer and Honda Passport. The third row had 752 mm of legroom, which, while tight, was better than some competitors.

The Sorento's third row was suitable for occasional use, accommodating children or extra passengers when needed. With optional captain's chairs in the second row, access to the third row was easier. The Sorento's new dash lacked convenient storage areas but featured logically ergonomic controls. Cargo space was compromised with the third row in use, offering 357 litres, but folding it down increased capacity to 1,090 to 1,274 litres, depending on trim. With all seats down, the Sorento provided up to 2,139 litres of cargo space.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered generous interior space, with the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats had an adjustable cushion angle, and both the second and third rows could be folded with a button in the rear cargo area. Folding the third row provided 1,148 litres of space, while folding the second row expanded it to 2,267 litres. With all three rows occupied, the Santa Fe still offered 413 litres of cargo space. The rear opening was wider and taller, facilitating the loading of large items.

The Santa Fe's towing capacity varied by trim, with most able to tow 1,587 kilograms, while the XRT trim could tow 2,040 kilograms. The Santa Fe's interior featured heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a sunroof, and a 115-volt outlet in the XRT trim. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added heated second-row seats, ventilated front seats, and a premium audio system.

The 2024 Kia Sorento featured a single-pane, twin-screen setup for its gauge and infotainment displays, with all models now using a 12.3-inch screen. The gauge cluster in lower trims consisted of two dials and a 4.3-inch TFT information display, while X-Line Limited and X-Pro models had a second 12.3-inch digital display. The infotainment system, called "Connected Car Navigation Cockpit" (CCnC), prioritized popular features on the home screen and offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The Sorento's infotainment system received over-the-air updates, and USB-C outlets were available in all three rows. Most trims had a six-speaker audio system, while the top two trims featured a Bose 12-speaker surround sound setup. X-Line Limited and X-Pro models offered Digital Key 2.0, allowing certain phones or NFC smart cards to lock, unlock, and drive the vehicle without a key.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster of the same size. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clear graphics and quick response times. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad were available. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display.

Standard on every Santa Fe trim was Bluelink app connectivity, allowing users to preset climate control, receive alerts, and access a surround view monitor. Over-the-air updates ensured the latest software was always available. The Santa Fe's digital key feature allowed users to unlock and start the car with their phone or Apple watch, and the digital key could be shared with up to three trusted individuals.

The 2024 Kia Sorento offered an extensive suite of active safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-following and lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included navigation-based adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Highway Driving Assist 2 with automated lane changes. The Sorento's adaptive cruise control systems learned from driver behaviour, though sensors could be blocked by foul weather. The Sorento had not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but previous models received four-star overall ratings.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe also offered a comprehensive range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision avoidance assist. Highway Drive Assist combined adaptive cruise control and lane following assist, though it occasionally exhibited abrupt braking and acceleration in traffic. The top trim featured a blind spot avoidance system and Blind View Monitor. The Santa Fe received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings from the IIHS, except for "Acceptable" scores in the headlight and LATCH categories.