Kia Forum banner

Comparison - Santa Fe vs Sorento

29K views 21 replies 11 participants last post by  04SorentoLX  
In the market for new vehicle. I have tried the new 2011 Sorento and the new 2010 Santa Fe. Was wondering if anyone else went through this and would like to share their opinions.

What I found was that the price basically was the same as we were comparing the V6 EX and the SF LTD.
Standard equip here would go to Sorento
Economy is the same
Engine choices are the same except that here in Canada the I4 not available in SF LTD. This no concern however as I indicated in the MPG thread they recommend the V6 anyway.
Found the seats in the Sorento more like church pews than the SF. Very hard and not sure how comfortable they would be on long trips.
Sorento wins the aesthetic value for sure.
SF has nicer interior in my opinion.

Would love to hear from others...Thanks:cool:
As many have said and sorta bears out true these days. Many Multi Name Plate Companies have too similar/or DNA pool model lineups. And Price is not always the factor. But trim and exicusion and quailty of the parts content from one to the other is. Many go upscale while others go down scale. One BOTH. See as follows some.

Hyun-KIA
Sante Fe/Veracruz - Sorento(XM) this might be a DNA pool party here
Tuson > Sportage
Elantra 09 > Spectra
Elantra 10 - Forte might be a case of retro DNA pool party here
Accent > RIO
Sonata > Optima
Entourage <--- Sedona this is totally retro DNA pool party for sure here

Toyota-Lexus
Camry - ES350
Avalon - GS
Highlander - RX350
Sequoia - GX460
Land Cruiser - LX570

Toyota-Scion
Maxtrix > xD as both are 5doors only and 1.8L. And Scion dropped xA chassis for xD chassis in model line.

Scion-Toyota
xA > Yaris as both are or were 3doors and 4doors only and 1.5L wizzers. And Toyota only added Yaris to line when Scion went xA to xD in line. Sorta like bringing BACK the Tercel! Below the Corrolla again.

Nissan - Infinity
Altima/Maxima - G37 Sedan Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Altima Coupe - G37 Coupe
Murano - EX This one is tricky as it might be a kinky DNA pool party as well with the Rogue/FX all having a foursome.
Armada - QX56


Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote
 
We also looked at both. We liked the Sorento better with its more inclusive feature package and third seat. We preferred both interior and exterior styling of the Sorento over the Santa Fe. The seats felt firmer but are comfortable with no back pain at the end of a 200+ mile ride.

Other than cosmetics, the difference of $3,500 in favor of the Sorento was also a positive factor in our decision. Getting a 2011 car for less than we were quoted for a 2009 leftover Hyundai--and a lot less than the 2010 SantaFe-- was a switch.

We liked the dealer a LOT MORE with no doubletalk, no false promises, no waiting around while "I talk it over with my Manager."
Those are all as well major points in the game of which do I get for sure. I as well tend to like the firm seats in anything I buy over wishy washy ones. Some take getting used to form one vech to the next. But that can be said of any car to the next swapping really. Give them time for you to get used to them. I will go any day with firm seats out of teh box that I need to get used to that might soften up a bit. Over soft seats that WILL never and can not get better and will get worse. The alternitive is to have all cars design for generic mounting of seats and come with NO seats. You buy from a outside source a custom seat to fit your butt when you get your licence. And you take it with you thruout your driving carreer. From car to car like a race driver does. Or every car comes with built into the price a free trip to the seat wizard of OZ and has no seat in the car you buy. You go get one and they install it. Sorta like running boards/roof racks or rails/hitches. No car would come with a radio. Just a hole and you go to the Wizard of Stereo free. Or all cars will have Spoilers non optional. You go to the Wizard of Spoiler and get one you like, ultra low profile lip to NASCAR Wing. No option as hole are in car already for one it is just not there yet. It's in the price when you buy it. lol


Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote
 
I've recently looked at both the 2010 Santa Fe and 2010 Sorento (AUS) and the Sorento exterior shape is looking a little aged (bubble rounded shape with non-inspiring design). The exterior on the Sorento looks sharp and modern and looks less "Korean", if that makes any sense, and more European (not surprisingly as the designer is European for the Sorento).

And the clincher for me was interior design. This is where the difference was plain obvious. The Santa Fe has a 3 year old interior. The steering wheel is the single item that stands out as showing its age in the Santa Fe.

The Australian spec differences between the Kia and Hyundai don't align well. The pricing is slightly in the Kia's favour which is strange as the Santa Fe is less specced and is an older design, in and out.

Although that's being pretty picky as the things that count - size, space, engine and drivetrain is the same here (diesel).
Hi, your post seems a liitle muddled and confused. And you contradict yourself? It is understandable in light of recent coockoo behavior on KIA's part.

Did you mean to compare a 2010 Santa Fe and a 2009 Sorento (BL) and then go on to talk about the 2011 Sorento (XM)? AS it has been finally offically stated in here that NOWHERE in the world are there any 2010 Sorentos.

2003-2009 Sorento (BL-RWD chassis) built up and into middle of 2009 sometime like always. Might have some built very late 2009.
2.5TD/3.5/3.8/3.3 2wd/TWO versions of 4x4 with low range. One partime one fulltime. As well as 5spd stick and 4spd/5spd autos.

2011 Sorento (XM-FWD chassis) built starting maybe late 2009 and now into 2010. KIA being truely goofy.
2.2TD/2.4/3.5 2wd/AWD no low range. As well as 6spd stick and 6spd auto.

No matter when it was built on build plate. Normally this is true, but this time KIA went loco goofy. 07/2009-08/2010 is not a MY2010. And ?/2009-7/2011 will be a MY2011

MY2009 =9 VIN CODE
MY2010 =A VIN CODE and was offically skipped there is none in the Sorento
MY2011 =B VIN CODE

The Moderators are still working on correcting the goof up in the forum headings. Give them time.


Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote
 
Like I said in my first post to you. The vech as a whole is a preference thing with fit and finish and quality of intereior grades and design. Pick what you like. On the other issues you now say came to light. You must think ahead. ANd decide am I going to use it as a light duty grocery getter. Or a load it up on weekends and take to teh road and camp and do what ever raod trips. No matter which you buy the following are for sure key points to think on in that case. Sant Fe or the Sorento.

I4 2.4L HP TQ you saw and felt the 6 spd trans hunting to keep up
V6 3.5L HP TQ you saw and felt the 6 spd trans not hunting to keep up.

Hopping and bopping over road paved or dirt or not issues. TOTALLY tires and TIRE PRESSURE. The suspension systems are very similar in design and will have minor tuning differences at best. None major like you saw. Bet any amount of money you did not look nor did the monkeys in prep/PDI dept look. One had closer to the 30-34PSI in them all and one had 40-60PSI in them. Not reduced from shippping and off the truck. Do not ASSUME anything was done and is right till it is when YOU do it. And cold tires that are at 40-60PSI cold become superballs once hot and at 50-70PSI or more.

BTW road noise = 2.4 I4 straining and shifting alot plus OVER like hell PSI in tires. Where as a non straining 3.5 V6 and less shifting alot and Correct PSI in tires does not do this. Or a combo of both.
Think on this when over full and properly full tires are compared back to back on the same vech.

The bounce of a SUPER BALL, stable and unchangable just LOCO
The bounce of a TENNIS BALL, can be changed with hypo needle up or down from stock.
The bounce of a BASKETBALL, totally changeable thru its pump up port.


Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote
 
Everyone form many countries here discussed this long ago troytroy and it was said by a AUS member whom is part of this fourm that what you say is half true. But far from the whole truth. The BUILD PLATE is the date it was built, so tech it can be called if YOU like a 2008 or 2009 or 2010 or 2011 BUILT vech. BUT and this is the biggie here you miss. The DESIGN and hense OFFICAL MY name of these vechs right now or in past, SUBARU included or in AUS or not. Has nothing to do with a BUILD PLATE date. In future god knows what KIA will do that is NOT like all other makers right now.
There are no MY2010 Sorentos of any kind in RWD or FWD form anywhere in the world. There are MY2009 RWD (BL) Sorentos BUILT as always in the past up to 7/09 when normal switch over is for 2010 and maybe as might be the case late MY2009 late built 8/2009-?/2009. And then very early build MY2011 FWD (XM) Sorentos built ?/2009-and assume till 7/2011 and the 2012 switch over. Unless you have better info then you do, please do not confuse the masses here more. When built date has little to do with the MY it is. It has been gone over and over again like beating a dead horse.
Please reread what you worte. In one place you talk about the Sorento(generic) being dated and bubble butt and uinspireing looking like in design. And then in another you talk about the Sorento(generic) being up to date less Korean and designed by european designers. Pick one and go with it. And I asked you to do just that but you did not get the hint. And even made it easy to correct for you. Saying KIA has been doing LOCO things of late and it WAS undertandable you seemed MUDDELED. OK now. At the dealers and you could have seen on any showroom floor but did not say it that way three vechs.
2010 Santa Fe
2009 LEFT OVER or very late built to milk the MY2003-2009 Design Sorento.
2011 VERY Early built Sorento to get out in front of the curve on design. Even thou we are only just now at 4-5/2010.

Also ENGINE SIZE carryovers is not a reason to make assumptions. MANY makers carry over an eng or two from one chassis design to the next. Some times it is the SAME eng, while other times it is a new design eng. Just like they might stick in a new size in a old chassis form one year to the next. (BL) 2.5/3.5/3.8/3.8-3.3. Just because it is a 2.0/2.2/2.5/3.5 does not mean it is. Are you now saying my 2004 (BL) 3.5L and the 2011 (XM) 3.5L are the same? Do not be silly man. The 2.0L GAS in the 2009 Spectra and the 2.0L GAS in the 2010 Forte and 2010 SOUL are not either and are silly to say too. Infact they are three last I saw totally different GAS engs. As are the 2010 GAS 1.6L RIO/ACCENT and the 2010 1.6L GAS SOUL. The 3.3 in RWD form in Sorento (BL) is not totally the same as the FWD form 3.3 in other HYUN/KIA products.
:thumbsup:


Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote
 
We have just recently started looking at purchasing a new vehicle. Decided to rent a car for a trip and happened to get the 2011 Sorento. Needless to say, we absolutely loved it!!! Previously, our top choice has pretty much been the Santa Fe, although we had not driven it. Yesterday, we test drove the SF. It was definitely a smooth ride and would not be a bad vehicle to own. However, I believe that Sorento is still better.

First, doesn't have the stupid, awful wood paneling that is standard with all the models of SF. Second, has the button ignition starting from the LX-V6 while that isn't available for any of the SF's. The SF we test drove was the AWD-Sport, which we put up against the LX-V6 and EX-V6. Seems like you get "more for your buck" at Kia.

As well, Sorento is a bit bigger overall AND if you hate vans like I do, you're going to love the option of 3rd row seating which the SF also doesn't offer (to get 3rd row at Hyundai, you'll have to go up to the Veracruz).

~Oksana
And yet the duffus over at COMCAST.NET said Hyundai sells more refined vechs and KIA sells LOW RENT ONES. :p


Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote
 
I'd like to add that theKIAWORLD blog says a million sales so far 2010, which doesn't sound like a fold-up nametag to me.... contrary to Comcast's opinion, we ain't dead yet!

--Frank
I think that guy just can not read is all. He took the statement that KIA(or Hyundai really) is thinking of DROPPING the name system after 2011. And going with a ALPHA NUMERIC one like MB/MAZDA/VOLVO/FORD(lincoln)/GM(caddy) AUDI/BMW/PORSCHE ect. Where it was said the follwoing would be true. And made it into for sweeps week and headlines sake. "HYUNDAI TO DROP KIA BRAND in 2011!"

RIO=K2
Forte=K3 keeping KOUP for 2dr version but making the 5door wagon the K3 TOURING? But still trim levels like LX/EX/SX
Optima=K4?
Amanti if it comes back=K5/6?


Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote