Hyundai Santa Fe vs Kia Sorento Hybrid: cost to own

Verdict, over 6 years

They cost about the same

Within $179: too close to call. Closest matching trims: same fuel and drive where possible.

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD$1,252/moTrue cost

Sorento Hybrid LX$1,250/moTrue cost

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Closest matching trim: Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD

Sticker (MSRP)$43,799

+$9,362→↓Freight, fees, HST

Drive away$53,161

+ running costs→↓− $20,360 resale

True cost$1,252/moA month to own, after resale

2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid

Closest matching trim: Sorento Hybrid LX

Sticker (MSRP)$43,695

+$9,047→↓Freight, fees, HST

Drive away$52,742

+ running costs→↓− $17,739 resale

True cost$1,250/moA month to own, after resale

Line by line


Price
Sticker (MSRP)	$43,799	✓ $43,695	Sorento Hybrid by $104
Freight and fees, before tax	$3,246	✓ $2,980	Sorento Hybrid by $266
Sales tax (HST)	$6,116	✓ $6,068	Sorento Hybrid by $48
Drive-away price	$53,161	✓ $52,742	Sorento Hybrid by $419
Running costs, 6 years
Fuel or charging	✓ $11,551	$11,718	Santa Fe by $167
Insurance (estimate)	$15,837	✓ $14,979	Sorento Hybrid by $858
Maintenance (estimate)	$8,756	✓ $7,233	Sorento Hybrid by $1,523
Loan rate	6.5%	6.5%	—
Loan interest	$10,129	✓ $10,041	Sorento Hybrid by $88
Lost return on your money	$10,992	✓ $10,911	Sorento Hybrid by $81
Resale after 6 yrs	✓ −$20,360	−$17,739	Santa Fe by $2,621
Total
True cost	$90,156	✓ $89,977	Sorento Hybrid by $179
True cost a month	$1,252/mo	✓ $1,250/mo	Sorento Hybrid by $2
You pay each month	$1,313/mo	✓ $1,275/mo	Sorento Hybrid by $38
Practical
Fuel type	Hybrid	Hybrid	—
Seats	7	6	—
Carry-ons, 2 people	8+	8+	—
Towing, lb	2,000	2,000	—
Cargo behind row 2, litres	✓ 1,148	1,090	—
Length	4.83 m	4.82 m	—
Ground clearance	✓ 18 cm	17 cm	—
Resale % after 6 yrs	✓ 46%	41%	—
US crash test	5★	5★	—
European crash test	✓ 4★ (2024); 5★ with pack	—	—

Price

Sticker (MSRP)

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD $43,799Sorento Hybrid LX ✓ $43,695Cheaper by Sorento Hybrid by $104

Freight and fees, before tax

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD $3,246Sorento Hybrid LX ✓ $2,980Cheaper by Sorento Hybrid by $266

Sales tax (HST)

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD $6,116Sorento Hybrid LX ✓ $6,068Cheaper by Sorento Hybrid by $48

Drive-away price

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD $53,161Sorento Hybrid LX ✓ $52,742Cheaper by Sorento Hybrid by $419

Running costs, 6 years

Fuel or charging

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD ✓ $11,551Sorento Hybrid LX $11,718Cheaper by Santa Fe by $167

Insurance (estimate)

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD $15,837Sorento Hybrid LX ✓ $14,979Cheaper by Sorento Hybrid by $858

Maintenance (estimate)

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD $8,756Sorento Hybrid LX ✓ $7,233Cheaper by Sorento Hybrid by $1,523

Loan rate

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD 6.5%Sorento Hybrid LX 6.5%Cheaper by —

Loan interest

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD $10,129Sorento Hybrid LX ✓ $10,041Cheaper by Sorento Hybrid by $88

Lost return on your money

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD $10,992Sorento Hybrid LX ✓ $10,911Cheaper by Sorento Hybrid by $81

Resale after 6 yrs

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD ✓ −$20,360Sorento Hybrid LX −$17,739Cheaper by Santa Fe by $2,621

Total

True cost

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD $90,156Sorento Hybrid LX ✓ $89,977Cheaper by Sorento Hybrid by $179

True cost a month

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD $1,252/moSorento Hybrid LX ✓ $1,250/moCheaper by Sorento Hybrid by $2

You pay each month

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD $1,313/moSorento Hybrid LX ✓ $1,275/moCheaper by Sorento Hybrid by $38

Practical

Fuel type

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD HybridSorento Hybrid LX HybridCheaper by —

Seats

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD 7Sorento Hybrid LX 6Cheaper by —

Carry-ons, 2 people

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD 8+Sorento Hybrid LX 8+Cheaper by —

Towing, lb

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD 2,000Sorento Hybrid LX 2,000Cheaper by —

Cargo behind row 2, litres

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD ✓ 1,148Sorento Hybrid LX 1,090Cheaper by —

Length

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD 4.83 mSorento Hybrid LX 4.82 mCheaper by —

Ground clearance

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD ✓ 18 cmSorento Hybrid LX 17 cmCheaper by —

Resale % after 6 yrs

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD ✓ 46%Sorento Hybrid LX 41%Cheaper by —

US crash test

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD 5★Sorento Hybrid LX 5★Cheaper by —

European crash test

Santa Fe Preferred Hybrid AWD ✓ 4★ (2024); 5★ with packSorento Hybrid LX —Cheaper by —

✓ marks the better figure. Resale is from used prices: the Santa Fe typical for its type and brand, the Sorento Hybrid from its own. Their stickers differ by $104.