Compare the2022 Kia SportageVS 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

Both the Sportage and the Santa Fe Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sportage’s reliability 11 points higher than the Santa Fe Hybrid.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage first among compact suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Santa Fe Hybrid isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 8th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 7th.

The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 11 more horsepower (237 vs. 226) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 258) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 14 more horsepower (240 vs. 226) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 258) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Sportage 4 cyl. is faster than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid:

The Sportage stops shorter than the Santa Fe Hybrid:

For better traction, the Sportage SX Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Santa Fe Hybrid (245/45R19 vs. 235/65R17).

The Sportage LX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Santa Fe Hybrid Blue’s standard 65 series tires. The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Santa Fe Hybrid Limited’s 55 series tires.

The Sportage offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Santa Fe Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Santa Fe Hybrid Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Santa Fe Hybrid Limited (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 750 pounds less than the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.

The Sportage is 12 inches shorter than the Santa Fe Hybrid, making the Sportage easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Sportage to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Sportage’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Sportage is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $630 less than the Santa Fe Hybrid over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Sportage will be $1682 to $5731 less than for the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid.

The Kia Sportage has won recognition from these important consumer publications: