The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Still Outranks the 2021 Kia Sorento
The 2021 Kia Sorento is supposed to be all that and a bag of chips, but something must be missing. The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe still outranks the new Sorento as a better SUV option for 2021. But what does the Hyundai Santa Fe have that the Sorento doesn’t?
The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe outranks the 2021 Kia Sorento
According to U.S.News, the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2021 Kia Sorento are tied for first place on their list of the best midsize SUVs for 2021. I know what you’re thinking. How can the Santa Fe be ahead of the Sorento if they’re tied? They both have a score of 8.1 out of 10!
Well, the Hyundai Santa Fe also comes with a Best Cars for the Money badge, and the Sorento doesn’t. This means that the Santa Fe packs more value than the Sorento. But another takeaway here is the fact that an older 2020 model can hang on against a freshly-redesigned 2021 model. So, let’s see how these rides compare.
The Kia Sorento vs. the Hyundai Santa Fe
You can get started in the 2021 Kia Sorento for about $29,390, while the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe begins at around $26,275. So, the Sorento is about $3,000 more before dealership fees and transportation fees have been added to the prices.
The Santa Fe comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 185 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. You can also pay to upgrade to the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that pumps out 235 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. Also, when properly equipped, the Santa Fe can tow up to 3,500 lb.
With the Kia Sorento, you get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. There isn’t a V6 option with the 2021 model. Also, it can tow up to 3,500 when properly equipped.
Both SUVs have a similar fuel economy. The Santa Fe gets an estimated 22 mpg in the city and up to 29 mpg on the highway. The Sorento gets an EPA estimated 24 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. But the Hybrid Sorento will have a much better fuel economy once it arrives.
Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe features
According to U.S. News, the Sorento has comfortable seats in the first and second rows, but the third row is uncomfortable. There are 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space with up to 75.5 cubic feet total.
The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe has 35.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and up to 71.3 cubic feet total. Both of these SUVs have less cargo space than rivals. Also, the Santa Fe can only seat five passengers, so go with the Sorento if you need third-row seats.
Both the Sorento and Santa Fe have upscale cabins with quality interior materials. The Santa Fe comes with a 7-inch infotainment center that can be upgraded to an 8-inch screen. The Sorento has an 8-inch screen that can be upgraded to 10.25 inches, and both SUVs can connect to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Also, the 2021 Kia Sorento and 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe are both pretty safe. But you have to pay more for optional safety features such as blind-spot warning and forward collision warning. If you don’t need a third row, the Santa Fe provides what the Sorento has to offer for less.
