Head-to-head
2027 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2027 Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage wins clearly, 95.4 to 87, on tech & comfort, price, fuel & range. The Hyundai Santa Fe is ahead on performance and space & cargo.
A
2027 Hyundai Santa Fe
The 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Santa Fe Hybrid F…
vs
A2027 Kia Sportage
The 2027 Kia Sportage is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sport…
Verdict · default weights
2027 Kia Sportage
Clear winThe Kia Sportage wins clearly, 95.4 to 87, on tech & comfort, price, fuel & range. The Hyundai Santa Fe is ahead on performance and space & cargo.
Tech & comfort 2027 Kia Sportage leads by 38.8
Price 2027 Kia Sportage leads by 17.9
Performance 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe leads by 30.6
| Category · weight | 2027 Hyundai Santa Feoverall 87 | 2027 Kia Sportageoverall 95.4 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 82.1 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 88.7 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 96.8 | 100 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 89.3 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 69.4 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 61.2 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 87 | 95.4 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Hyundai Santa Fe: base trim SE FWD · Kia Sportage: base trim LX FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2027 Kia Sportage wins
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (49 points against 30 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It starts $6,310 lower ($28,990 against $35,300 base MSRP).
- It lists 37 standard driver-assist features against 31.
Where the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe answers
- It turns out 311 lb-ft of torque against 178.
- It makes 277 hp against 187.
What they share
- A Safety Signal of 100.
- 1 owner complaints.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
53 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SportageLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $35,300 | $28,990 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,497 cc | 2,497 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | Smartstream 2.5L Turbo GDI + MPI DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder | 2.5L 4-cylinder gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | DOHC |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 277 hp | 187 hp |
| Torque | 311 lb-ft | 178 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 20 mpg | 25 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 24 mpg | 28 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 29 mpg | 33 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.510 | 3.648 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 7 in | 7.1 in |
| Overall height | 67.7 in | 65.4 in |
| Overall length | 190 in | 184 in |
| Overall width | 74.8 in | 73.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 111 in | 109 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 79.6 cu-ft | 69.3 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 40.5 cu-ft | 36.6 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 14.6 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 167 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 7 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 41.1 in | 39.6 in |
| Second-row headroom | 40.6 in | 39.4 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.7 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 44.4 in | 41.4 in |
| Second-row legroom | 42.3 in | 41.3 in |
| Third-row legroom | 30 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,343 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,343 lbs | 3,434 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 5,534 lbs | 4,740 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson strut with coil springs | McPherson strut |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link Independent, separated spring & shocks | Multi-Link |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS), rack and pinion, column-mounted | Column Type - Motor Driver Power Steering (MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 37.9 ft | 19.3 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 325 mm | 320 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | Electric with Auto Vehicle Hold | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 325 mm | 300 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 17 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | 7.5 in | 7 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 235/60 R18 | 235/65R17 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 17.7 gal | 14.3 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Blue Link | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 59.5 in | 57.5 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 58.1 in | 55.6 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 53.5 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
165 features · differences first, then sharedSafety24 differ · 46 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SportageLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind-Spot Collision Warning | std | — |
| Highway Driving Assist (HDA2) | — | std |
| Blind-spot View Monitor (BVM) | — | std |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Fusion (FCA-JT) with Car, Pedestrian, Cyclist Detection and Junction Turning | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | — | std |
| Navigation based Smart Cruise Control Curve (NSCC-C) | — | std |
| Parking Collision Avoidance - Reverse (PCA-R) | — | std |
| Blind Spot-Collision Warning (BCW) | — | std |
| Burglar Alarm | std | — |
| Driver's knee airbag | std | — |
| Electric Parking Brake with Automatic Vehicle Hold | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Hold | — | std |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Fusion+ with Car, Pedestrian, Cyclist Detection and Direct Oncoming Detection and Avoidance | — | std |
| Height adjustable up/down headrests | — | std |
| Height-adjustable front seat-belt anchors | — | std |
| Highway Driving Assist (HDA) | — | std |
| Impact sensing auto door unlock | — | std |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) | — | std |
| Rear Occupant Alert (ROA, door-logic only type) | std | — |
| Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) | — | std |
| Roof-mounted Side-curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensors | std | — |
| Speed sensing auto door locks | — | std |
| Traction Control System | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management | std | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Fusion+ with Car, Pedestrian, Cyclist Detection and Direct Oncoming Detection and Avoidance | std | std |
| Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go (SCC with S&G) | std | std |
| Lane Following Assist 2 (LFA) | std | std |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA) | std | std |
| Dual front advanced airbags | std | std |
| Front seat-mounted side air bags | std | std |
| Full-length side curtain airbags | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) | std | std |
| Rearview camera with dynamic guidelines | std | std |
| Downhill Brake Control (DBC) | std | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) with Leading Vehicle Departure Alert | std | std |
| Parking Distance Warning - Front and Rear (PDW-F/R) | std | std |
| Parking Distance Warning - Front and Rear (PDW-F/R) | std | std |
| Rear seat-mounted side airbags | std | std |
| Safe Exit Warning (SEW) | std | std |
| Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) | std | std |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | std | std |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | std |
| High-Beam Assist (HBA) | std | std |
| Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) High-Line | std | std |
Infotainment16 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SportageLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, SAT, HD Radio, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto (ccNC Lite) | — | std |
| 6 speakers (including 2 tweeters) | — | std |
| Blue Link® Connected Car System | std | — |
| Bluetooth phone and streaming audio hands-free | — | std |
| Bluetooth® Hands-free with Wireless Audio Streaming | std | — |
| Center speaker (front x1) | — | std |
| Front high-power USB Charge Ports (2) / Rear USB Charge Ports (2) | std | — |
| Front USB c-type charging and connection (x1) | — | std |
| Harman Kardon Premium Audio system | — | std |
| HD Radio® | std | — |
| Over-The-Air (OTA) updating compatibility | std | — |
| Rear Seat Quiet Mode | std | — |
| Rear USB c-type chargers (x2 ports rear console) | — | std |
| SiriusXM® | std | — |
| Subwoofer speaker (front x1) | — | std |
| Wireless phone charging pad with integrated cooling fan | — | std |
| 12.3-inch touchscreen navigation with Satellite Radio, Kia Connect, HD Radio, Voice Recognition, Wi-Fi, Map OTA, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (ccNC Navigation) | std | std |
| Paddle shifters | std | std |
| Steering wheel mounted audio controls | std | std |
Convenience9 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SportageLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Key 2.0 Premium | — | std |
| Proximity Key System with remote engine start (on key fob) | std | — |
| 12V power outlet (console x1, cargo x1) | — | std |
| Power Door and Liftgate Locks | std | — |
| Power window with one-touch auto up/down (driver window) | — | std |
| Powered front and rear windows | — | std |
| 12-volt Power Outlet | std | — |
| Driver and Passenger's central door lock | — | std |
| Power windows with front one-touch auto up/down and safety | — | std |
| Height adjustable Smart power liftgate | std | std |
| Smart Key with Push Button Start with burglar alarm and panic function | std | std |
Climate4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SportageLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd row air vents | — | std |
| Dual FATC with Touch Segment LCD | std | — |
| Dual-zone full automatic temperature control (FATC) | — | std |
| Automatic defog system | — | std |
Seating10 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SportageLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 10-way power adjustable driver's seat with 2-way lumbar support | — | std |
| Heated front seats | — | std |
| SynTex premium artificial leather seating | — | std |
| 2-position Integrated Memory System (IMS) for driver's seat and outside mirrors | — | std |
| 3rd row seating with Room Lamp | std | — |
| 4-way manual adjustable front passenger seat | — | std |
| 60/40 split second row fold-flat seats with Recline and Center Armrest | std | — |
| Front passenger seatback pockets | — | std |
| Rear 60:40 folding with recline | — | std |
| Rear center padded armrest with cup holders | — | std |
| 6-way manual adjustable driver's seat | std | std |
| 10-way power adjustable driver's seat with 2-way lumbar support | std | std |
| Cloth seating | std | std |
Interior20 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SportageLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2" TFT Color LCD Multi-information Display | std | — |
| Bi-directional Center Console Armrest with Two-Level Storage Compartment | std | — |
| Day and night rear-view mirror | — | std |
| Door pocket bottle holder | — | std |
| Extendable sunvisor | — | std |
| Hydrographic wood center fascia | — | std |
| Interior Lights, Map lights and Cargo-area Light (LED) | std | — |
| Metal paint center fascia | — | std |
| Metal paint inside door handle | — | std |
| Padded front center armrest with storage box and cupholders | — | std |
| Soft PVC Trans gearshift knob | — | std |
| Soft-touch crashpad | — | std |
| Tilt and telescopic steering column | — | std |
| Tilt-and-Telescopic Steering Wheel | std | — |
| Manual day/night inside rearview mirror | std | — |
| Cloth headliner | std | — |
| Front passenger seatback pockets | — | std |
| LED luggage lamp | — | std |
| LED map lamp | — | std |
| Trip odometer | std | — |
| Leather wrapped steering wheel | std | std |
| Illuminated sunvisor mirrors | std | std |
Exterior30 differ · 35 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SportageLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Panoramic sunroof with power shade | — | std |
| Full LED Projector Headlights with LED Headlight Accents | std | — |
| Power folding outside mirrors | — | std |
| 18-inch Alloy wheels | — | std |
| 18" Alloy Wheels (black machine finished / hyper silver) | std | — |
| Black radiator grille with silver trim | — | std |
| Body-color outside mirrors | — | std |
| Front variable intermittent windshield wipers | — | std |
| Gloss black outside mirrors | — | std |
| Gloss black radiator grille with dark trim / Gloss black unique design radiator grille with dark trim | — | std |
| Gloss black window DLO surround | — | std |
| Heated tailgate glass | — | std |
| Hidden rear tailgate glass wiper | — | std |
| LED fog light | — | std |
| LED Low Projection and High MFR Beam Low and High Beam, Cube type | — | std |
| Matte black over fender trim | — | std |
| Matte black side sill trim | — | std |
| Power adjustable outside mirrors | — | std |
| Power adjustable outside mirrors with integrated LED turn signals | — | std |
| Privacy rear windows (PHEV: Privacy rear windows) | — | std |
| Rear quarter glass Privacy | std | — |
| Rear spoiler | — | std |
| Silver finish window DLO surround | — | std |
| Tire Mobility Kit (TMK) | — | std |
| Auto light control | — | std |
| Rear window defroster with timer | std | — |
| Solar Front Glass | std | — |
| Bodycolor Rear Spoiler | std | — |
| LED high mounted stop lamp | — | std |
| Temporary Compact Spare Tire | std | — |
| Acoustic Laminated Windshield | std | std |
| Heated outside mirrors | std | std |
| LED daytime running lights (DRL) Amber Type | std | std |
| LED rear combination lights | std | std |
| Privacy glass (tailgate and rear windows) | std | std |
Powertrain5 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SportageLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| All Wheel Drive (AWD) | — | std |
| Terrain mode, Snow, Mud, Sand modes (AWD only) | — | std |
| 6-Speed Automatic Transmission | — | std |
| Electric Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) | — | std |
| Idle Stop & Go | std | — |
| Front Wheel Drive (FWD) | std | std |
| Eco, Sport and MyDrive | std | std |
| Transmission gear selector - Rotary Dial (Shift-by-wire) | std | std |
Chassis3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SportageLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| McPherson strut front suspension | — | std |
| Multi-link rear suspension | — | std |
| Shock Absorber Type: Gas | — | std |
Cargo4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SportageLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-level cargo floor | — | std |
| Luggage net hook | — | std |
| Trailer Prep Package (Pre-wiring) | std | — |
| Underfloor storage tray | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPHyundai Santa Fe
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 1 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (1), Engine (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Kia Sportage
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 1 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (1), Engine (1), Power Train (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Hyundai Santa FeSE FWD | Kia SportageLX FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35,300 (base trim) | $28,990 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $35,300 – $50,750 21 trims | $28,990 – $47,390 18 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | PHEV, HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Santa Fe Hybrid FWD | Sportage Hybrid FWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 36 | 41 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,850 | $1,650 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe or the 2027 Kia Sportage?
The Kia Sportage wins clearly, 95.4 to 87, on tech & comfort, price, fuel & range. The Hyundai Santa Fe is ahead on performance and space & cargo. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2027 Kia Sportage scores 95.4 and the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe 87. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe or the 2027 Kia Sportage?
The 2027 Kia Sportage starts lower — $28,990 against $35,300, a gap of $6,310 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe or the 2027 Kia Sportage?
2027 Hyundai Santa Fe: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2027 Kia Sportage: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe and the 2027 Kia Sportage?
Where the 2027 Kia Sportage wins: it lists more comfort and tech equipment (49 points against 30 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), starts $6,310 lower ($28,990 against $35,300 base MSRP), and lists 37 standard driver-assist features against 31. Where the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe answers: it turns out 311 lb-ft of torque against 178 and makes 277 hp against 187. What they share: a Safety Signal of 100 and 1 owner complaints.