Roomy, well equipped and comfortable. They are very similar to each other in technical terms, as they are produced by the same Korean concern, Kia Hyundai Automotive Group. However, a detailed comparison of the machines reveals several differences. In this article we will talk about the features of the models that may influence the choice of the future owner. So, Santa Fe vs Sorento. Go!
A little historical background
Sorento is a car with an off-road history. Designed in 2002 on the basis of the Korean car Hyundai Terracan. Sorento 1st generation - real with 2 types of all-wheel drive transmission. Now the 3rd generation car is being sold in Russia, a mid-size crossover that occupies an intermediate position between Sportage and Mojave.
Santa Fe is a mid-size car, designed on a car platform from Hyundai. The donor model for the 1st generation car was the Sonata. Therefore, Santa Fe was originally a . The CUV class car has been produced since 2000.
Last year, at the Geneva Motor Show, the 4th generation car was presented, which is now being sold in Russia. It is available in 5- and 7-seater versions, as Hyundai management decided to get rid of the separate Grand Santa Fe model.
Competitors
The main competitors of the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe are the “French” and one “Czech”. Still, German cars of similar sizes and characteristics are more expensive. The list of main rivals includes:
- Nissan Murano;
- Honda CR-V;
- Mitsubishi Pajero Sport;
- Toyota Fortuner;
- Renault Koleos;
- Peugeot 5008;
- Skoda Kodiak.
The Kia Sorento, compared to its competitors Pazero Sport and Fortuner, is offered at a more affordable price. Santa Fe is one of the most expensive cars in its class, with the exception of the “Germans”.
Video: Test drive: New KIA Sorento Prime 2018. What to take: Gasoline or diesel?
Exterior and interior
Both cars look expensive and presentable, especially in rich trim levels with large alloy wheels, plenty of chrome and decorative inserts. Sorento looks more strict and massive, and the new Santa Fe is a little more aggressive and smarter. When examining the Hyundai, the redesigned front end with predatory optics and a new radiator grille immediately catches your eye. Sorento is more reserved and calm.
The interior of the new Santa Fe is made from scratch. Has little in common with the interior decoration of the previous generation model. When designing the interior of the new Santa Fe, solutions similar to the ideas of Mazda designers in the CX-9 were used.
The Kia Sorento lags behind its competitor in terms of interior design. The note concerns the solutions and finishing materials used. But the build quality and ergonomics deserve praise. The back row of seats is comfortable. The doorway is wide, the floor is almost flat, but there is slightly less legroom than in the new Santa Fe with an extended wheelbase.
Engines and gearboxes
The following internal combustion engines are available for the Kia Sorento:
- 2.2 liter diesel. This is a 197-horsepower engine with a maximum torque of 436 Nm. The diesel engine is offered only with a 6-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
- 2.4-liter gasoline engine. Gasoline engine power – 175 hp. The motor has a more modest torque of 225 Nm. The main advantage over the diesel engine is the ability to work with a 6-speed manual gearbox. This version of the car costs less compared to a car with a 6-automatic transmission. A 175-horsepower engine is available for single-wheel drive versions of the crossover.
New Santa Fes are equipped with similar engines, but with different technical characteristics:
- 2 CRDi VGT. It has a 200-horsepower output and a maximum torque of 440 Nm. Works in tandem only with an 8-band automatic transmission. Due to the greater number of gears, a diesel engine requires less fuel.
- Theta-II 2.4 GDI. The 2.4-liter power plant, which complies with Euro-5 environmental standards, develops 188 horsepower. The ultimate torque is also higher. Makes up 241 units. The representative of the Theta-II family, installed in Santa Fe, works only with a 6-speed automatic transmission. There are no versions with a manual transmission for this engine.
If we compare Sorento and Santa Fe in terms of the characteristics of power units and gearboxes, then the second car looks preferable. It has slightly more powerful and high-torque engines. For Hyundai Santa Fe, you can order a modern 8-band automatic transmission. This transmission slightly reduces fuel consumption and improves smoothness.
Other technical specifications
Table 1. Comparison of the main parameters of the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe
When comparing the Kia Sorento and the Hyundai Santa Fe, it becomes clear that the second car is larger. But the car doesn't look too big and clumsy. The new Santa Fe has become 70 mm longer, mainly due to the wheelbase stretched by 65 mm. The 71-liter fuel tank holds 7 liters more than the Kia Sorento.
Off-road performance
Kia Sorento vs Hyundai Santa Fe off-road? Comparing cars will lead to nothing. Both cars are city SUVs. Despite the presence of an all-wheel drive transmission (new HTRAC in Santa Fe) and a high-torque diesel engine, the low ground clearance and small approach/departure angles do not imply frequent and active driving over rough terrain.
Crossovers are designed for traveling on city asphalt roads with a high level of comfort. All-wheel drive provides increased stability and better cross-country ability of vehicles in winter.
Video: NEW Hyundai Santa Fe. After THIS you WILL FORGET about Toyota!
Price
The initial cost of cars produced in 2019 is 1,769,900 and 2,049,000 rubles for Kia and Hyundai, respectively. Both crossovers are available in all-wheel drive versions. But Hyundai cannot be ordered with front-wheel drive and a manual transmission. This is one of the reasons for the significant difference in the initial cost of cars. with a 4x4 system starts from 1,869,900 and 2,049,000 rubles.
The top version of Sorento is offered for 2,289,900 rubles. For this money, the car owner gets a 5-seater car with a 197-horsepower diesel engine, all-wheel drive and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The cost of Santa Fe is much higher. This Korean crossover has a price tag of 2,899 thousand rubles. The difference is about 600 thousand rubles!
However, the top version of the Santa Fe has a 2.2-liter 200-horsepower diesel engine, a smoother and more economical 8-band automatic transmission, kindly borrowed from the Kia Sorento Prime. It is with this model that the top versions of Hyundai should be compared.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages of Sorento include:
- More affordable prices for all vehicle configurations;
- Availability of special offers from Kia for cars produced in 2018, allowing you to get a big discount;
- Possibility of ordering a car with a single-wheel drive system and a manual transmission.
The main drawback of the Kia is its outdated interior, which requires fresh design solutions and updates.
Among the main advantages of Santa Fe we note:
- More aggressively youthful and bright design;
- More legroom for rear passengers;
- The best equipment in rich trim levels;
- Possibility of ordering 8-automatic transmission.
The disadvantages of the Santa Fe are a smaller number of equipment options, including relatively inexpensive versions with single-wheel drive and “mechanics”, and a higher cost of equipment.
So what should you choose?
Santa Fe 4th generation is a more modern car, significantly improved in terms of exterior and interior, but has no fundamental technical differences from Sorento. It costs more than its competitor when comparing similar configurations. It is better suited to buyers who pay special attention to the appearance of the car, the quality of finishing materials and the comfort of the interior.
Sorento is a more practical choice. Allows you to get almost the same thing, but for less money. Moreover, there are big discounts on cars manufactured in 2018.
One of the most popular auto manufacturing companies is the South Korean giant Hyundai Motors. Over the course of its history, the concern has produced a large number of different car models. In the last two decades, the main emphasis has been on the production of crossovers. Therefore, it is not surprising that Hyundai SUVs have literally flooded the world market. The main reason for this was their reliability and relatively low cost.
In today's article we will try to compare Santa Fe and Tussan, and as a result we will be able to determine which is better, the Hyundai Santa Fe or Tussan.
Production of which started in 2000, is considered the company’s first full-fledged crossover. The car was named after the city of the same name in the USA, since it was originally planned that it would be sold only on the North American market. Journalists and analysts harshly criticized the debut version of the crossover for its vague appearance, but this did not stop the model from becoming a sales leader in the United States. The main feature of the Santa Fe model range is that the car was restyled every year.
In 2006, the second generation SUV was introduced. Its design used a new body module, which made it possible to position the model as a mid-size crossover, and not a compact one, as before. In 2012, the third generation Santa Fe made its debut. The developers offered two interior options - 5 and 7 seats.
Debuted in 2004, similar to its competitor, it was also named after an American town located in Arizona. The audience did not immediately accept the new product, which affected the low level of sales. In 2009, the second generation car was presented, which has now been renamed ix35.
In the spring of 2015, at the Geneva Motor Show, the third generation Tussan was presented to the public. It is worth noting that the car is one of the three most popular crossovers in Russia.
Since Santa Fe boasts a large number of modifications, we will give it an advantage in this aspect.
Appearance
The debut version of the Santa Fe, as mentioned above, received a lot of negative criticism for its appearance. Experts and critics were surprised by the fact that using a modular platform, the developers managed to design the exterior so ridiculously. Fortunately, in subsequent restylings a number of shortcomings were corrected, and the second-generation model appeared before car enthusiasts in a completely new guise.
The third generation Santa Fe received an even more modernized exterior, which became much more dynamic and aggressive, but at the same time the designers managed to preserve the main features of the model range.
Sometimes it seems that Korean developers deliberately make the first modification of their crossovers unattractive in order to correct this in subsequent versions. Because Tussan has exactly the same situation. The car, built on the basis of the Sportage, did not have the most stylish exterior, and few people believed in the good future of the model. But after the release of the second generation Tussan in 2009 with a completely updated appearance, the number of optimistic motorists increased.
Today, Tussan is considered one of the most stylish in its class. As the developers themselves note, the main secret of such success is the use of the “liquid sculpture” design concept.
Due to the fact that both models went through a very similar path to the development of their exterior, we will award a draw at this point, and this will be the most logical result of the confrontation.
Salon
It is very difficult to compare the interiors of Tucson and Santa Fe cars, which are representatives of the same company. This is especially true for the Korean concern Hyundai, whose developers use the same stylistic concepts in the interior design of their models. To avoid going far, just look inside the latest car modifications.
It is noticeable that the dashboard, and especially its upper part, are designed exactly the same, the same can be said about the layout of the steering wheel. However, premium materials are used to decorate the interior of the Santa Fe. This does not mean at all that the Tussan’s interior is poorly made, just that the quality of the materials is slightly inferior. It is worth noting that both cars are quite roomy, but the Santa Fe can also boast of having a 7-seater version, which is undoubtedly a big plus for a crossover.
Based on the fact that the interior of the Santa Fe is decorated with more expensive materials and has a 7-seater modification, we will give preference to this particular car.
Specifications
The main advantage of the Santa Fe has always been its heavy-duty power units. The debut version was equipped with gasoline engines with a volume of 2.7 and 3.5 liters, as well as a two-liter diesel engine. In subsequent modifications, 2.2 and 2.4-liter engines also appeared, and the older gasoline engine was replaced with a 3.3-liter one.
The Tussan engine line has every reason to be complex in the case of such a comparison. The developers took as a basis a two-liter diesel engine, a similar gasoline engine, as well as another 2.7-liter unit, and equipped all modifications of the crossover with them. By the way, in the latest generation model the older petrol unit was no longer used.
| Model | Hyundai Tucson 2016 | Hyundai Santa Fe 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Engines | 1.6, 2.0 | 2.2, 2.4 |
| Type | gasoline, diesel | gasoline, diesel |
| Power, hp | 135-185 | 171-200 |
| Fuel tank, l | 62 | 64 |
| Transmission | mechanics, automatic, robot | manual, automatic |
| Acceleration up to 100 km, s | 9.5-11.1 | 9.6-11.5 |
| Maximum speed | 181-201 | 190-203 |
| Fuel consumption city/highway/mixed | 10.9/6.1/7.9 | 13.7/7.0/9.5 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2670 | 2700 |
| Ground clearance, mm | 182 | 185 |
| Dimensions, mm length x width x height | 4475 x 1850 x 1655 | 4700 x 1880 x 1675 |
| Weight, kg | 2060-2250 | 2510 |
There should no longer be any questions about which car’s technical characteristics are better. Of course it's a Hyundai Santa Fe.
Price
The cost of Santa Fe in the basic configuration was set at 1,794,000 rubles. This indicator applies to the latest generation model.
The minimum cost of Tussan should not exceed 1,505,000 rubles. However, this does not include a full complement of airbags and a multimedia system.
If we compare by price, then Tussan is the clear leader.
Santa Fe somehow didn’t immediately appeal to me: I unconditionally liked the quality of workmanship and the approach to organizing the interior space, but the combination of a naturally-aspirated engine with an “eco-friendly” six-speed automatic transmission on the move can only appeal to a 68-year-old grandfather of three grandchildren.
All other things being equal, the Sorento conquered: it did not become more dynamic than its brother, but the suspension settings, coupled with a lower price, were always seen as a significant advantage. Maybe things will be a little different with heavy fuel? We took both cars and drove somewhere into the fields.
The contrast is striking. As with the ix35, a diesel crossover is not the same as a gasoline one. Complaints about the shaky suspension and the unresponsive naturally aspirated engine, which the environmentally-suffering automatic does not allow to spin up to acceptable speeds, almost completely disappear. With a turbine it is somehow quicker and more elastic. And the suspension calibrations for a heavy diesel engine are different, so there is elasticity and density of the chassis that is inaccessible to the Santa Fe with gasoline in its blood.
The diesel Sorento doesn't lag behind or overtake, it keeps neck and neck. The 2.2-liter engine is torquey and elastic, the transmission more often gets into the right gear due to a wider operating range. Vibrations and fluttering of the engine on heavy fuel are reduced to nothing. And both of them.
Silence is the parameter with which both rival brothers conquer forever. If anyone else has prejudices against heavy fuel engines, listen to the Sorento / Santa Fe. Even the Koreans have now learned how to make such cars quiet and smooth.
In terms of smoothness of gait, the Sorento is, subjectively, slightly ahead of “Santa.” This difference will be noticeable on large potholes of hard, rocky primers. Where the Santa Fe goes through protruding bumps a little rough, the Sorento is softer and “fluffier”.
It’s hard for both of them on the dirt roads riddled with deep holes: crossovers are not designed for off-road use, the emphasis is still more on asphalt driving. Therefore, the suspensions are short-travel, and this short travel is selected quite quickly. That’s why I simply don’t recommend driving in deep holes, and I categorically don’t recommend hanging it diagonally: the wheels will very quickly come off the ground and will no longer reach it. In such situations, the combination of ESP with ABS helps a little, as it blocks the turning wheel and adds traction to those wheels that are in contact with the surface.
Both brakes are at approximately the same level in terms of efficiency, but the cars settle differently. The Santa Fe slows down steadily and evenly, while the Sorento nods more.
The driver's seating position in both cases does not resemble the standard of comfort: the seat is designed for overly respectable men of the XXXL format. Hence the flat back, widely spaced side support bolsters, and fairly soft filling. There is plenty of space here for the young and slender, and bumpiness in corners is guaranteed.
The strongest differences between the rivals lie, in my opinion, not even in driving performance or appearance, but in the method of organizing the internal space and its design. Sorento tries to seem like a thoroughbred European in everything: hence the highest quality plastic, strict rows of function keys, and widespread symmetry combined with straightforward logic.
There are no old-fashioned watches in Santa Fe. In general, he hints to everyone that he is a little high-tech, a contemporary and loves trends. The parking brake is activated by a button, the radio and climate control elements are located more intricately and whimsically than those of the strict Sorento, the illumination of the instrument dials is more playful and mannered.
And in terms of ergonomics, I see the Santa Fe as more successful than the Sorento. The logic is simple: fewer buttons are better and simpler. 9 buttons and 1 knob are more convenient than 12 buttons and 2 knobs. There is no need to create entities where there is no need for it.
The rear sofa in both is at the highest level for crossovers: heating, panoramic roof, optional curtains for the windows, air supply in all dimensions - it’s hard to think of something better for a company of three passengers.
If you really care about interior space, then I strongly recommend abandoning the panoramic roof: the starry sky above us is certainly a beautiful picture, but this window eats up a fair amount of space.
But in general, with the exception of a number of little things, both cars are equally friendly for passengers. And if you consider that both are seven-seater, and there is a shortage of full-fledged minivans on the market, then Sorento and Santa Fe may well act as an alternative to them. What to choose in the end is more a question of aesthetic taste and wallet: with all other things being equal, the Sorento is a good hundred thousand cheaper. And I don’t see any good reason to overpay this hundred for a Hyundai.
Results:
| Parameter | KIA Sorento | Point | Point | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ergonomics, driver's workplace | Less design, but more buttons than its rival. The lion's share of them duplicates what is accessible from the media system screen | 4 | Laconically and with a claim to high-tech. For ease of use, this approach is good. There are no obvious failures in ergonomics | 5 |
| Transformation of the interior, passenger seats | The roof is higher from the head than the Hyundai, which is visible to the naked eye. Heating, alas, is not a competitive advantage. But tall passengers are more comfortable here | 5 | A more sloping roof makes the top of the head of tall riders hostage to the design. The difference is at the level of millimeters, but there is | 4 |
| Dynamics | “To the floor” they go neck and neck. Passport advantage of 0.2 seconds. in the acceleration up to 100 km/h, KIA has an ephemeral advantage. But there is | 5 | Unlike gasoline versions, the diesel Santa accelerates smoothly and without dips over a wide speed range. Hail turbine! | 4.8 |
| Braking | Nose-dive when braking is noticeable and unpleasant - it blurs the car's steering feel. | 3 | On loose surfaces, the ABS switches on relatively early, releasing the brakes on the wheels. The deceleration is generally effective, but from a two-ton car you want more confident and assertive deceleration | 4 |
| Controllability | For a passenger car in essence, but an SUV in size and weight, the handling is poor. I would like more feedback from the steering wheel. But it’s not there, no matter what mode you set. | 3 | The same complaint: the steering wheel is on its own, the wheels somewhere below are on their own. Between them there is emptiness, the return is amorphous | 3 |
| Smooth ride | As with the petrol versions, the Sorento is again ahead. It is less sensitive to large potholes | 5 | Santa Fe with diesel is a different car! The shaking and rattling of short-travel suspensions on small things are gone. Compared to itself, but with gasoline, it’s two steps forward. But the Sorento is more resilient | 4 |
| Accessory Electronics | The car parker works great: in light of the shortage of space, it is an irreplaceable thing. He even pushes it into those gaps where he would never go! The media system interface is newer, more convenient, more beautiful and responsive. Extra point for that | 5 | Developers need to improve the interface of the media system and the response speed of the touch screen. KIA has moved ahead in terms of media | 4 |
| Price | KIA is cheaper by a good hundred thousand | 5 | Santa Fe is 114,100 rubles more expensive | 3 |
| In total: | 35 | 31,8 |
| Options | KIA Sorento 2.2 + AT | Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 + AT |
|---|---|---|
| Power, hp/rpm | 197/3800 | 197/3800 |
| Torque, nM/rpm. | 436/1800–2500 | 436/1800–2500 |
| Acceleration 0–100 km/h | 10,1 | |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 190 | 190 |
| Fuel consumption, city | 8.8 | 8,9 |
| Fuel consumption, route | 5.4 | 5,5 |
| Fuel consumption, mixed | 6.7 | 6,8 |
| Price from | RUB 1,474,900 | RUB 1,579,000 |
Being in the same price category, the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento SUVs have similar performance characteristics, so there is nothing surprising or new in the fact that they are direct competitors on the market. Car rivalry is familiar to car enthusiasts ( / ), and there are reasons for this.
Since 1998, both manufacturing companies have been divisions of one large corporation - Hyundai Kia Automotive Group.
The cars in question are single-platform and have identical suspension elements. The main differences between the models are in appearance, interior design and quality of equipment.
Also, Hyundai and Kia SUVs have slightly different price levels. In particular, the diesel variation will cost about 100,000 rubles more than its opponent - we are talking about amounts equivalent to 1,469,000 and 1,359,000 rubles(data as of October 2014).
Design solutions
The release of the Sorento model, which replaced the Sportage, was accompanied by skepticism from car enthusiasts.
It was assumed that the new product would not be able to maintain the bar raised by its predecessor, but the appearance of the car only strengthened the company’s position in the world market.
When creating the second generation of the model, manufacturers took into account all the nuances in order to satisfy the needs of the most demanding customers, and the main guideline in achieving the goal was the Kia Sorento.
Comparing the appearance of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento will be subjective in any case. It's all a matter of taste.
Nothing extraordinary was implemented when creating the overall design pattern of the second generation Hyundai SUV. The basis was taken from the company’s previous models, which were the most popular. As a result, the outlines of the car turned out to be noble and recognizable.
The front and rear lights of the Santa Fe are raised to the fenders as much as possible. The smooth lines of the body are very organically combined with the brutal curves of the glazing and massive bumpers. The wheel arches are slightly flared, which makes the Santa Fe similar to Subaru's Tribeca model, or the Infiniti FX.
Kia Sorento in general. looks a little simpler. In this case, attention should be paid to the presence of a plastic lower part of the body, which protects the underbody of the car from impacts while negotiating difficult road sections. Santa Fe can't boast of this.
Interior
When comparing the interior design, preference is given to the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV.
The car's interior attracts with its elegance and sophistication. The presence of decorative wood-look inserts, elegant instrument lighting, convenient button placement, elegant red thread stitching on the seats - everything speaks of the high-quality implementation of the design idea. The gray interior of the Kia Sorento looks less preferable, although the quality of materials and workmanship is in no way inferior to its rival.
Despite these differences, in both cases buyers are offered fairly rich equipment.
And here the Santa Fe is ahead of its competitor, since, among other things, it is equipped with a suspended LCD screen for rear-row seat passengers.
Specifications
The driving performance of the vehicles in question is very high.
The controversial point in both cases is the steering wheel. Considering the small size of this element, cars cannot be called the most obedient - to keep them in one direction, it is necessary to make some physical effort.
SUVs Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento are equipped with power units that are completely different in strength and power.
As can be seen from the summary table, Santa Fe is supplied to the domestic automobile market with a 2.4-liter gasoline engine and a 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel engine. As for the Sorento, in this case, manufacturers offer a 3.5-liter gasoline engine or a 2.5-liter diesel engine.
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In the Kia SUV, the power plant is equipped with an automatic 5-speed gearbox, while the Hyundai car has a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
More economical is the Sorento, which requires no more than 14 liters of fuel in the urban cycle, versus 15 liters of its competitor.
The models are almost identical in terms of safety level. In both cases, the basic configurations are equipped with standard three-point belts (with pretensioners and), airbags and curtain airbags, as well as all modern electronic active safety systems.
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Cost and service
The price from official dealers varies within US$35990-40990 for Hyundai Santa Fe, and reaches US$41,990 for Kia Sorento in the maximum configuration.
As for service and maintenance, the statistics are as follows:
- The cost of work that is included in the inspection regulations for the Hyundai Santa Fe depends on a number of factors. If the vehicle mileage does not exceed 15,000 km, the maximum maintenance price will be 7,000 rubles. An increase in mileage to 30,000 km will entail an increase in prices to 9,000 rubles. Well, if at least 30,000 km have been traveled, then the minimum maintenance cost can reach 13,000 rubles. You will have to pay for additional work from 15,000 to 25,000 rubles depending on the condition of the SUV.
- For Kia Sorento owners, the first maintenance will cost 5,500 rubles. During the third visit, the cost of purchasing new oil, air and fuel filters, as well as brake fluid and oil should be added to this amount. For further maintenance (after 45,000 km), prices increase to 13,000 rubles since in addition to the purchase of filters there is added the need to purchase spark plugs and a timing kit.
Obviously, a Kia car is much cheaper to maintain, and given that it consumes less fuel, we can confidently say that maintaining a Sorento is more profitable and economical than maintaining a Santa Fe.
You can watch the impressions of specialists and test drives of South Korean SUVs in the following video.
SUVs such as the Mitsubishi Outlander, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento are typically used as both a workhorse and a recreational vehicle. All of them are quite capable of coping with the tasks assigned to them, but each does it in his own way. The most controversial point in all three crossovers was the suspension, which requires improvement.
The compared SUVs can easily pull a heavy trailer, can safely move along muddy dirt roads thanks to all-wheel drive, and the high ground clearance allows them to overcome obstacles. This is all true, and not text from an advertising brochure. However, it is likely that in practice the most they will have to do is drive up compacted dirt roads to a country house and climb... up to a multi-level garage. And this is good! Because the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe and Mitsubishi Outlander are too delicate for real off-roading. But at a price, Asian SUVs are more affordable than German premium ones.
Korean brothers in the concern Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi and Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi are equipped with an identical 4-cylinder 197-horsepower turbodiesel with the Common Rail system, working with a modern 6-speed automatic transmission. Mitsubishi Outlander 2.2 DI-D has a power of only 150 hp.
When comparing specifications, our rivals proved to be real stewards of extra equipment to keep the differences between cars as small as possible. All SUVs have received well-deserved approval for their rich equipment that increases the level of comfort.
In none of the three crossovers can you complain about a lack of space. Only the Mitsubishi in the first row was a little tighter. Also, in a Japanese car, the lateral support of the front seats is weaker. Passengers feel best in Santa Fe. The seats are well profiled and entry, both forward and backward, is easy. Working with the cabin equipment does not cause stress after a short adaptation period.
Kia passengers can enjoy the same comfort. However, the unusual driving position may seem uncomfortable. Even after the chair is completely lowered, there is a feeling that you are still sitting high.
Each of the competitors deserves praise for its trailer towing capabilities. The load capacity is 600 kilograms and the permissible maximum trailer weight is two tons - more than enough for everyday use or travel.
In all vehicles, the rear seat backrest can be folded in a 60:40 ratio. Despite the close family ties, the trunk volume of the Hyundai - 534 liters - is less than that of the Kia - 660 liters, which has an additional cargo compartment under the floor of the luggage compartment.
The test Outlander, if necessary, can be converted into a seven-seater, with the help of two additional seats hidden in the trunk floor - an option. To get a flat floor in the cargo compartment, you need to fold the seat cushions forward, and only then the backrest will lie flat. Loading the trunk is hampered by the lid, which opens only to a height of 1.80 meters. Tall people will hit it with their heads.
Almost 200 Korean horsepower and high torque seem to leave no chance for the Japanese SUV. The Outlander lacks 47 hp. and 56 Nm of torque. However, when accelerating from a standstill, Mitsubishi boldly keeps pace with its competitors, lagging behind only tenths of a second: 9.9 s to 100 km/h versus 9.6 s for Hyundai and 9.8 s for Kia. The explanation for this phenomenon is simple - the Mitsubishi is almost 200 kg lighter and is equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. There was no version with a comfortable 6-speed automatic transmission at the time of testing.
This, in turn, was reflected in fuel consumption: 7 liters per 100 km for such a large car, a result worthy of respect. Kia and Hyundai consumed almost a liter more: 8.0 and 8.2 liters respectively.
At the same time, the Outlander turbodiesel is more temperamental: the 2.2 DI-D picks up speed more readily and is clearly quieter under load. But the overall noise level created by the engine, tires and incoming air flow in the Mitsubishi turned out to be higher than in the Hyundai.
The Japanese suspension works extremely nervously on a bad road. The Outlander reacts to bumps roughly and harshly, and on long waves it sways so that the front suspension hits the limiters.
The Kia suspension also reacts harshly to bumps and irritates with its rough operation. Especially at low speeds, when the body begins to vibrate. Despite its technical similarities to the Sorento, the Santa Fe makes a better impression and absorbs noise more effectively. On a bad road, the interior trim elements of the Hyundai squeak less than in the Kia. Although Hyundai cannot be called "soft", it still provides higher ride comfort than Mitsubishi and Kia. However, the Santa Fe's suspension reacts noticeably to small bumps, noisily transmitting impacts to the car's body. All these SUVs are only suitable for good roads.
It seems that while Asian SUVs have performed well in terms of equipment and dynamic characteristics, in terms of chassis balance they are still far from reaching the level of the best representatives of German SUVs. The crossovers being compared can only dream of the sophistication of the set of differences between BMW, Mercedes and Audi. The same applies to the steering, on which engineers still need to do a lot of work. But the time will come when Asian manufacturers will significantly close the gap with the German leaders, just as they did in the field of design and interior quality.
