Compare the2024 Kia SportageVS 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

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.

The Kia Sportage achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Santa Fe has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 above average in initial quality. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated lower.

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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 1 place higher in reliability than Hyundai.

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage gets better mileage than the Santa Fe:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sportage higher (7 out of 10) than the Hyundai Santa Fe (5 to 7). This means the Sportage produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Santa Fe every 15,000 miles.

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.

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.

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).

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Santa Fe’s (2500 vs. 2000 pounds).

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 standard on the Sportage X-Pro 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.

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $160 less than the Santa Fe over a five-year period.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Santa Fe, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Kia Sportage outsold the Hyundai Santa Fe by 7% during 2023.