Honestly, it’s close — these two share a platform and a lot of DNA. What tips things toward the Sorento: a slightly lower starting price, a broader 8-trim lineup, and a Sorento PHEV plug-in option that Santa Fe shoppers in the U.S. don’t get. Factory coverage is essentially a wash between the brands — on warranty, call it a tie. Where Hyundai claws back ground is a bigger standard touchscreen and a cabin that feels a step more upscale right from the base trim. Check current Sorento inventory to see for yourself.

It’s a near-wash. Santa Fe’s only gas engine, a 2.5L turbo, is rated for 277 hp and 311 lb-ft across every non-hybrid trim. Sorento’s base 2.5L falls short of that at 191 hp, but step up to the 2.5T Turbo and the Sorento actually noses ahead with 281 hp while matching the same 311 lb-ft. On towing capacity, the Sorento X-Pro and Santa Fe XRT are dead even at 4,500 lb.

Not here, no. There’s a Santa Fe Hybrid on sale in the U.S., but it’s a conventional hybrid with no plug — the plug-in Santa Fe variant sold overseas hasn’t made it to American dealerships. Kia, meanwhile, builds the Sorento PHEV into its lineup, making it the only one of these two nameplates you can actually plug in stateside.

Yes, though the margin isn’t huge. Base-trim MSRP puts the Sorento LX at $32,390 against roughly $34,800 ⚠ for a Santa Fe SE, both figures before destination charges. Hyundai’s starting number has moved around during the model year, so it’s worth double-checking at purchase time — but either way, you’re looking at a few thousand dollars apart, not a dramatic split.

On the factory sheet, barely any — Kia and Hyundai are corporate siblings, and both cover their lineups with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty plus a 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty. On warranty, the two are effectively tied — the coverage on a new Sorento at Dean McCrary Kia is Kia’s strong factory protection.

Hyundai isn’t without real advantages: base SE trim already includes a 12.3-inch curved panoramic display (well ahead of Sorento’s standard 8-inch unit), Limited and Calligraphy trims offer captain’s chairs, and Calligraphy adds Highway Driving Assist 2 for lane-change help. Shoppers chasing screen size and cabin tech should take a serious look at the Santa Fe. But when it comes to trim variety and plug-in hybrid access, the Sorento still leads.

You’ll find the complete Sorento lineup — gas, Hybrid, and PHEV — at Dean McCrary Kia, 7124 US Hwy 98 in Hattiesburg, an easy trip from Petal, Oak Grove, Purvis, and the rest of the Pine Belt. Stop by and experience the difference firsthand.