Compare the2022 Hyundai Santa Fe HybridVS 2022 Kia Niro

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Santa Fe Hybrid and Niro have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Santa Fe Hybrid has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Niro’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Santa Fe Hybrid Limited has standard Parking Collision Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Niro doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Santa Fe Hybrid has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Niro doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Santa Fe Hybrid Limited offers an optional Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Niro only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Santa Fe Hybrid has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the Niro LXS/LXS SE/Touring SE/EX Premium offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Santa Fe Hybrid has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Niro LXS/LXS SE/Touring SE/EX Premium has a rear cross-path warning system.

The Santa Fe Hybrid has a standard Blue Link, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Niro doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Santa Fe Hybrid and the Niro 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, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid weighs 844 to 1110 pounds more than the Kia Niro. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

	Santa Fe Hybrid	Niro
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	16%	27%
Neck Stress	149 lbs.	291 lbs.
Neck Compression	13 lbs.	37 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	50/51 lbs.	74/269 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	27%	80%
Neck Stress	99 lbs.	207 lbs.

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 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is safer than the Kia Niro:

	Santa Fe Hybrid	Niro
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	61	138
Abdominal Force	164 lbs.	196 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	148	170
Spine Acceleration	54 G’s	77 G’s
Hip Force	736 lbs.	993 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	576 lbs.	712 lbs.

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Santa Fe Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Niro has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The Santa Fe Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the Niro’s (7/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Santa Fe Hybrid for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Niro.

Reliability

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 Santa Fe Hybrid’s reliability 16 points higher than the Niro.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 9 places higher in reliability than Kia.

Engine

The Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 87 more horsepower (226 vs. 139) and 63 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 195) than the Niro’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is faster than the Kia Niro:

	Santa Fe Hybrid	Niro
Zero to 60 MPH	8.2 sec	9.9 sec
Quarter Mile	16.2 sec	17.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87.6 MPH	80.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Santa Fe Hybrid has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Niro (17.7 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Santa Fe Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Niro:

	Santa Fe Hybrid	Niro
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	12 inches	10.3 inches

The Santa Fe Hybrid stops much shorter than the Niro:

	Santa Fe Hybrid	Niro
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	138 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	152 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Santa Fe Hybrid has larger tires than the Niro (235/65R17 vs. 205/60R16). The Santa Fe Hybrid Blue’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Niro (235/65R17 vs. 225/45R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Santa Fe Hybrid Blue has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Niro LX/LXS/EX Premium. The Santa Fe Hybrid Limited’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Niro Touring SE.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Santa Fe Hybrid’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the Niro (108.9 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Santa Fe Hybrid is 3.5 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Niro.

The Santa Fe Hybrid Limited handles at .79 G’s, while the Niro LXS pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Santa Fe Hybrid Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Niro LXS (28 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Santa Fe Hybrid has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front legroom, 3.8 inches more front hip room, 3.1 inches more front shoulder room, 3.4 inches more rear legroom, 8 inches more rear hip room and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Niro.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Santa Fe Hybrid’s rear seats recline. The Niro’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Santa Fe Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Niro with its rear seat up (36.4 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The Santa Fe Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Niro with its rear seat folded (72.1 vs. 54.5 cubic feet).

The Santa Fe Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the Niro’s in almost every dimension:

	Santa Fe Hybrid	Niro
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	42.4”/77.4”	31.8”/64”
Max Width	54”	48.2”
Min Width	43.4”	41”
Height	31”	36”

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Santa Fe Hybrid’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Niro doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Santa Fe Hybrid’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Santa Fe Hybrid’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Niro doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The Santa Fe Hybrid has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Niro has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Assist on the Santa Fe Hybrid uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Niro doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The Santa Fe Hybrid uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Niro uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

When different drivers share the Santa Fe Hybrid Limited, the memory system makes it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The Niro doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Santa Fe Hybrid Limited’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Niro doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Santa Fe Hybrid’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Niro’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Santa Fe Hybrid’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Niro’s standard power windows’ front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The Santa Fe Hybrid’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Niro’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Santa Fe Hybrid Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Niro’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Santa Fe Hybrid to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Niro doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Santa Fe Hybrid’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia only offers heated mirrors on the Niro Touring SE/EX Premium.

The Santa Fe Hybrid has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Niro EX Premium. The Santa Fe Hybrid Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Niro.

Both the Santa Fe Hybrid and the Niro offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Santa Fe Hybrid has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Niro doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Niro Touring SE/EX Premium offers wireless charging.

The Santa Fe Hybrid Limited has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Niro doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Santa Fe Hybrid Limited’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Niro doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The Hyundai Santa Fe outsold the Kia Niro by over five to one during the 2021 model year.