Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vs Kia Sorento HEV 2025 comparison review: Which hybrid family car is best?

If you're in the market for a new hybrid family car, you're in luck because it's boom time at the moment. The 2025 Hyundai Sante Fe Hybrid has just launched, with the next-gen large SUV debuting a boxy but divisive exterior design. That said, the mechanically related – and relatively conventional-looking – Kia Sorento Hybrid has recently been given a midlife facelift. In other words, it's the perfect time for a head-to-head.

In this expert comparison review, CarsGuide Senior Journalist Richard Berry puts the flagship hybrid versions of the new Santa Fe (Calligraphy) and Sorento (GT-Line) up against each other to find out which one is best. With both models offering three-row practicality with up to seven seats, he discovers which one is the most practical as well as which one offers buyers the best value for their money.

And yes, the performance and efficiency of their shared 'self-charging' series-parallel hybrid powertrain – which is based around a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine – is also assessed.

#Hyundai #SantaFe #Kia #Sorento #Review
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Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
00:46 Pricing and features
02:40 Design
05:09 Practicality
09:07 Under the bonnet
10:08 Efficiency
10:52 Driving - Sorento
13:59 Driving - Santa Fe
16:30 Ownership
17:02 Safety
17:46 Verdict
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CarsGuide - Go beyond the test drive

[lukepasqualotto]

Richard Berry's outfits are always top tier 😂

[msxyz-]

If the Hyundai Santa Fe is higher than the Kia Sorento, does this difference also reflect to the seat height from the ground? 🤔

[rayor]

Santefe is game changing this all new design…but so pricy😢

[kulaak-krii]

We love our new Santa Fe Calligraphy. It's streets ahead of anything else in the class and price point and with awesome and bold new styling which we also think is top notch! Styling is very subjective but fact is, we haven't had so many head turns or people complimenting us on a new car, EVER! It even beats the Palisade which just looks old and outdated now. Especially the interior.
For $80, 000 drive away you won't find anything that even comes close from the Europeans and they still cost up to twice as much or MORE!
Combined with our other new car, the Sonata N Line and Hyundai are kicking goals that's for sure.

[jaceau]

Good comparison. I’m surprised there aren’t more given the two are such natural competitors/sibling rivals. I thought we were set on the Sorrento but ended up ordering the new Santa Fe after trying both!

[madhavamadhav]

Hyundai back profile is looks 🤮 looks worst in real world low profile doesn’t suit the design

[jamaicasysbm]

Somebody looks like a divorce single mom of three with a mortgage to pay on a 3 bed room 3 garage house