Compare the2025 Kia TellurideVS 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

Both the Telluride and the Santa Fe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Telluride is much safer than the Santa Fe:

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Kia Telluride is safer than the Santa Fe:

The Kia Telluride has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Santa Fe is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Telluride third among upper midsize suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Santa Fe isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Hyundai is rated below average.

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.

The Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 14 more horsepower (291 vs. 277) than the Santa Fe’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

The Telluride has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Fe (18.8 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

The Telluride stops shorter than the Santa Fe:

For better traction, the Telluride has larger tires than the Santa Fe (245/60R18 vs. 235/60R18).

The Telluride has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Telluride’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the Santa Fe (114.2 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Telluride is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 2.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Santa Fe.

For greater off-road capability the Telluride has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe (8 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Telluride to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Telluride X-Line’s minimum ground clearance is .1 inch higher than on the Santa Fe XRT (8.4 vs. 8.3 inches).

The Kia Telluride may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 200 pounds less than the Hyundai Santa Fe.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Telluride SX 4x4 is quieter than the Santa Fe Calligraphy AWD:

The Telluride has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Santa Fe can only carry 7.

The Telluride has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Santa Fe (155 vs. 152).

The Telluride has 2.4 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear legroom, 3.1 inches more rear hip room, 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room, .4 inches more third row headroom, 1.4 inches more third row legroom, 1 inch more third row hip room and 1.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the Santa Fe.

The Telluride’s cargo area provides more volume than the Santa Fe.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Telluride. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Telluride’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Santa Fe’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Telluride’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Santa Fe’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Telluride EX/SX has standard front air conditioned seats and the Telluride SX Prestige also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Santa Fe doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Telluride has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Santa Fe SEL/XRT/Limited/Calligraphy.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Telluride, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Telluride was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 4 more times in the last 5 years. The Santa Fe has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the Telluride as their 2020 Sport Utility of the Year. The Santa Fe has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Telluride as the 2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Santa Fe has never been chosen.