Compare the2027 Kia TellurideVS 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

The Telluride has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The Kia Telluride’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Telluride and the Santa Fe Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Hyundai is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 1 place higher in reliability than Hyundai.

The Telluride’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 43 more horsepower (274 vs. 231) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 271) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Telluride’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 98 more horsepower (329 vs. 231) and 68 lbs.-ft. more torque (339 vs. 271) than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Both the Telluride and Santa Fe Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Telluride has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Telluride’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Santa Fe Hybrid (19 vs. 17.7 gallons).

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Kia Telluride, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Santa Fe Hybrid.

For better stopping power the Telluride’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Santa Fe Hybrid:

The Telluride’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Santa Fe Hybrid are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Telluride X-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Santa Fe Hybrid (265/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Telluride X-Line has standard 21-inch wheels. The Santa Fe Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Telluride has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Santa Fe Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Telluride offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Telluride’s wheelbase is 6.1 inches longer than on the Santa Fe Hybrid (116.9 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Telluride is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Santa Fe Hybrid.

For greater off-road capability the Telluride has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Santa Fe Hybrid (7.4 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Telluride to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Telluride X-Pro’s minimum ground clearance is 2.1 inches higher than on the Santa Fe Hybrid (9.1 vs. 7 inches).

The Telluride offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Santa Fe Hybrid can only carry up to 7.

The Telluride has 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear legroom, 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.1 inches more third row legroom and 1.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the Santa Fe Hybrid.

The Telluride’s cargo area provides more volume than the Santa Fe Hybrid.

Both the Telluride and the Santa Fe Hybrid have standard second row automatic folding seats. The Telluride’s third row seats also fold down via a control in the cargo area. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Telluride. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Telluride’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Santa Fe Hybrid’s (5000 vs. 2000 pounds).

The Telluride’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Santa Fe Hybrid’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy’s .

The Telluride EX/SX/Prestige has standard front air conditioned seats and the Telluride Prestige also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Santa Fe Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Telluride Prestige has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Santa Fe Hybrid.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Telluride has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console for two separate devices. Only the Santa Fe Hybrid SEL/Limited/Calligraphy offers wireless charging.

Motor Trend selected the Telluride as their 2020 Sport Utility of the Year. The Santa Fe Hybrid has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Telluride as the 2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Santa Fe Hybrid has never been chosen.