The midsize SUV segment continues to thrive, with the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sportage standing out as strong contenders in the market. Both vehicles offer a compelling blend of style, comfort, and performance, making it challenging for potential buyers to choose between them.
In this comprehensive comparison, we will explore the key aspects of these two popular SUVs to help you determine which one best suits your needs and lifestyle.
Exterior Design
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe sports a bold and aggressive design, accentuated by its distinctive front grille and T-shaped LED daytime running lights. The muscular lines and sculpted body give it a strong presence on the road, while the rear is adorned with sleek LED taillights and a dual exhaust system.
The 2023 Kia Sportage features a more futuristic design with its sharp lines, tiger-nose grille, and distinctive boomerang-shaped LED daytime running lights. The dynamic silhouette exudes a sense of motion, complemented by its coupe-like roofline, and unique C-pillar design. The rear showcases modern LED taillights and a bold spoiler, enhancing its sporty appeal.
Interior Design
The interior of the Santa Fe offers a comfortable and sophisticated environment with high-quality materials and a driver-focused layout. The dashboard is clean and minimalist, featuring a large 10.25-inch infotainment display and digital instrument cluster. Ambient lighting and the panoramic sunroof create an inviting atmosphere.
The cabin of the Sportage is equally impressive, boasting a modern and stylish design. The dashboard features a dual-display setup with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The use of premium materials, soft-touch surfaces, and customizable ambient lighting contribute to its upscale ambiance.
Seating
The Santa Fe can comfortably accommodate up to five passengers, offering ample headroom and legroom for all occupants. The seats are well-cushioned and supportive, with available leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats.
Similarly, the Sportage provides seating for up to five passengers, with generous space for both front and rear occupants. The seats are comfortable and offer ample support, with options for leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats.
Storage
The Hyundai Santa Fe offers a practical cargo space of 36.4 cubic feet behind the second row, which expands to 72.1 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down. The hands-free smart liftgate makes loading and unloading more convenient.
The Kia Sportage also provides a decent amount of cargo space, with 31.0 cubic feet behind the second row, which can be expanded to 62.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The power tailgate adds convenience to the loading process.
Performance
The Santa Fe offers a choice of two engines: a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque, or a more powerful 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine generating 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and offer available all-wheel drive.
The Sportage comes with a standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, or an optional 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that delivers 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The base engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the turbocharged engine features a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. All-wheel drive is available on both engines.
Fuel Efficiency
The base engine of the Hyundai Santa Fe achieves an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 25 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. The more powerful turbocharged engine delivers slightly lower ratings at 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined.
The Kia Sportage’s base engine offers an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. The optional turbocharged engine provides 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined.
Safety
The Hyundai Santa Fe comes standard with an extensive suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, and adaptive cruise control. Additional safety options include blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, and a surround-view monitor.
The Kia Sportage also boasts an impressive array of standard safety features, such as forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional safety features include blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, a 360-degree camera system, and rear occupant alert.
Trim Levels
The Santa Fe is available in four trim levels: SE, SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy. Each trim offers varying levels of standard features and options, allowing buyers to customize their vehicle based on their preferences and budget.
The Sportage comes in four trim levels as well: LX, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. Each trim offers a range of standard and optional features, catering to a variety of needs and budgets.
Pricing
The starting price for the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe SE is around $27,000, while the top-of-the-line Calligraphy trim can reach up to $42,000, depending on the options and packages selected.
The base 2023 Kia Sportage LX starts at approximately $25,000, with the fully-loaded SX Prestige trim reaching up to $40,000, depending on options and packages.
Key Differences
Interior Design:
The Santa Fe’s interior offers a clean, minimalist dashboard with a large 10.25-inch infotainment display and digital instrument cluster. Meanwhile, the Sportage features a dual-display setup, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, creating a more modern and high-tech feel.
Storage:
The Santa Fe comes out ahead in terms of cargo space, offering 36.4 cubic feet behind the second row (expanding to 72.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down). The Sportage provides slightly less cargo room, with 31.0 cubic feet behind the second row (expandable to 62.7 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down).
Performance:
The Santa Fe offers two engine options, with the more powerful 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine generating 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. In contrast, the Sportage’s optional 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine produces 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, indicating that the Santa Fe has the advantage in terms of power.
Pricing:
The starting price for the base trim of the Sportage is marginally lower than that of the Santa Fe, with the Sportage LX starting at around $25,000 and the Santa Fe SE starting at approximately $27,000. However, the top trims of both vehicles are similarly priced, with the fully-loaded Santa Fe Calligraphy reaching up to $42,000 and the Sportage SX Prestige costing up to $40,000.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, both the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sportage are impressive midsize SUVs that cater to a wide range of preferences and budgets. While they share several similarities, there are distinct differences in areas such as exterior design, interior design, storage, performance, fuel efficiency, and pricing.
By carefully considering these factors, you can make an informed decision about which vehicle is the perfect match for your unique requirements. We recommend scheduling test drives for both models to experience them firsthand and solidify your choice. Happy car hunting!
Features Breakdown
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Features:
- Exterior Design:
- Bold, aggressive design
- Distinctive front grille
- T-shaped LED daytime running lights
- Sculpted body and muscular lines
- Sleek LED taillights and dual exhaust system
- Interior Design:
- Comfortable and sophisticated cabin
- High-quality materials
- Minimalist dashboard with 10.25-inch infotainment display and digital instrument cluster
- Ambient lighting and panoramic sunroof
- Seating and Storage:
- Seating for up to five passengers
- Ample headroom and legroom
- 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row (expands to 72.1 cubic feet with rear seats folded down)
- Hands-free smart liftgate
- Performance:
- 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (191 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque)
- 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine (277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque)
- 8-speed automatic transmission
- Available all-wheel drive
- Fuel Efficiency:
- Base engine: 25 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined
- Turbocharged engine: 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined
- Safety:
- Standard forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, and adaptive cruise control
- Optional blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, and surround-view monitor
- Trim Levels:
- SE, SEL, Limited, and Calligraphy
- Pricing:
- Starting price of $27,000 for SE trim
- Up to $42,000 for fully-loaded Calligraphy trim
2023 Kia Sportage Features:
- Exterior Design:
- Futuristic, dynamic design
- Tiger-nose grille
- Boomerang-shaped LED daytime running lights
- Coupe-like roofline and unique C-pillar design
- Modern LED taillights and bold spoiler
- Interior Design:
- Modern and stylish cabin
- Premium materials and soft-touch surfaces
- Dual-display setup with 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Customizable ambient lighting
- Seating and Storage:
- Seating for up to five passengers
- Generous headroom and legroom
- 31.0 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row (expands to 62.7 cubic feet with rear seats folded down)
- Power tailgate
- Performance:
- 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque)
- 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine (227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque)
- 8-speed automatic transmission for base engine and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission for turbocharged engine
- Available all-wheel drive
- Fuel Efficiency:
- Base engine: 26 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined
- Turbocharged engine: 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined
- Safety:
- Standard forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, and adaptive cruise control
- Optional blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, 360-degree camera system, and rear occupant alert
- Trim Levels:
- LX, EX, SX, and SX Prestige
- Pricing:
- Starting price of $25,000 for LX trim
- Up to $40,000 for fully-loaded SX Prestige trim
