Both the Sportage and the Santa Fe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.
Compare the2023 Kia SportageVS 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
Safety
Reliability
J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 17th, below the industry average.
J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.
Fuel Economy and Range
On the EPA test cycle the Sportage gets better mileage than the Santa Fe:
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MPG |
Sportage |
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FWD |
2.5 DOHC 4-cyl. |
25 city/32 hwy |
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AWD |
2.5 DOHC 4-cyl. |
23 city/28 hwy |
Santa Fe |
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FWD |
2.5 DOHC 4-cyl. |
25 city/28 hwy |
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2.5 turbo 4-cyl. |
22 city/28 hwy |
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AWD |
2.5 turbo 4-cyl. |
21 city/28 hwy |
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2.5 DOHC 4-cyl. |
22 city/25 hwy |
Suspension and Handling
The Sportage has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.
For greater off-road capability the Sportage has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe (8.3 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Sportage to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.
Chassis
The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Hyundai Santa Fe.
The Sportage is 4.9 inches shorter than the Santa Fe, making the Sportage easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.
The front grille of the Sportage uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer active grille shutters.
Cargo Capacity
The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Santa Fe with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 36.4 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Santa Fe with its rear seat folded (74.1 vs. 72.1 cubic feet).
Towing
The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Santa Fe’s (2500 vs. 2000 pounds).
Ergonomics
On a hot day the Sportage’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Santa Fe can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.
Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Sportage (except LX/EX/X-Line) to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.