2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid vs. 2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid

They say that 3-row SUVs are the biggest gas guzzlers. That's not true if it's a hybrid. Everyone's favorite family vessel gets an upgrade filled to the brim with gas-saving goodness so that you can continue to treat your loved ones guilt-free. This round goes out to the highly anticipated and critically acclaimed 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid and its direct competitor, the 2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid. Get to know these two rides before swinging by Great Lakes Hyundai of Columbus for 2026 Hyundai vehicles near you.

What brand does electrified power better? Hyundai. What 3-row hybrid has more safety features? The Santa Fe Hybrid. What car offers the most family fun? The new 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid in Columbus. The answer is simple once you have all the details, and we have it all for you down below. If you're holding your breath for the new Kia Sorento Hybrid, you'll find out that this particular model doesn't really hold anything over the competition. Plus, the Santa Fe Hybrid's starting price of $36,150 undercuts the Sorento Hybrid by more than $2,700.

Hyundai's IONIQ line proved that it knows how to dominate the all-electric market. Even still, they didn't put all of their eggs in one basket. The brand continues to save enough love and effort for their hybrid models so that drivers can choose how they want to drive without the pressure of switching to a full-on EV. This dedication shows in the new 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid in Westerville with impressive ratings like 231 combined horsepower alongside 271 lb-ft of torque. As for the gas-saving side of things, the Santa Fe Hybrid sits proudly at 36 highway MPG. Remember, that's on a massive 3-row platform.

The latest Sorento Hybrid runs on 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque combined. It doesn't take a degree to see the drop in numbers. Mileage may be on par, but it's hard to forgo that lack of power. Even worse, the Sorento Hybrid's available AWD system can't match Hyundai's exclusive HTRAC AWD upgrade that's been fine-tuned to deliver the most seamless driving experience on any terrain. Feel the difference when you go on a test drive at your local Hyundai dealership in Columbus.

Just when you thought you knew what's possible for car safety, Hyundai pulls even more out of their hat like a talented magician who wants you to get places safely in every way imaginable. So while you can rest assured that you'll get the Hyundai SmartSense package standard in every new 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid near you, you can also expect some newer features that bring you up to date with what's available in the current market. The new full-display digital rearview mirror is the one that everyone's asking about this year, turning your mirror into a monitor when you're backing up and reverting to its reflective glass when you're done. Again with the magic tricks, the available Remote Smart Parking Assist feature lets you control your Santa Fe Hybrid with your key fob as you stand outside the car. And that's just the prologue to an incredible story.

The latest Sorento Hybrid also comes with its fair share of safety and driver-assist features. We wouldn't expect anything less from Hyundai's sibling brand. It just so happens that Hyundai offers some of the more interesting and exciting features that any trend-crazed driver would want in their brand-new car. Reach out to your friendly Hyundai dealer in Columbus for a personal rundown of Santa Fe Hybrid safety features that are a big hit in the area.

The best part about our favorite 3-row SUV? It can be shaped into the perfect family car for every family in Columbus. Get around in extreme comfort and top-tier luxuries with the latest 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid in Gahanna. For a completely decked-out family car, go for the works. Nappa leather seats, front-row heating, power-reclining 2nd-row captain's chairs, and Relaxation functions for the driver's chair. There's literally something for everyone! Matching 12.3-inch displays up front adds high-tech modernity to your drive for the best Santa Fe Hybrid known to date.

When Hyundai wants to put on a show, they whip out Nappa leather. The best that Kia can do in the Sorento Hybrid? Regular leather with SynTex. That's not the worst, but certainly not the best. You also won't be getting any of those fancy massaging features in this ride's driver's seat. At the very least, the display screen situation is the same.

There's no doubt about it. The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid has everything you want in a family car, with all the perks of driving through Columbus on a fuel-efficient platform. The Kia Sorento Hybrid is a worthy contender, but it doesn't have the goods to make it past second place.