Hyundai Santa Fe vs KIA Sportage

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Hyundai Santa Fe

2.2D 4WD Executive Diesel Automatic

ZAR 899,900 ex-showroom

⚡ 147 kW 🔧 440 Nm ⛽ 13.8 km/l

KIA Sportage

2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT Petrol Automatic

ZAR 823,995 ex-showroom

⚡ 132 kW 🔧 265 Nm Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l

＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Santa Fe

⛽ Fuel Economy Tie

🛡 Safety Tie

📦 Practicality Santa Fe

🔑 Ownership Tie

Sportage starts ZAR 899900 cheaper Santa Fe from ZAR 899,900 · Sportage from ZAR 662,995

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Engine Power	147	132 kW
Torque	440	265 Nm
Engine Size	2199	1591
Claimed Mileage	13.8	13.9
Ground Clearance	188	181
Boot Space	703	466
Airbags	7	7
Kerb Weight	1980	1570
Seating Capacity	7	5
Warranty	5	7

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner

Santa Fe

/ 100

pts

Sportage

/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Both Santa Fe and Sportage are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Santa Fe +3 pts

Efficiency Equal

Safety Equal

Practicality Santa Fe +3 pts

Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Santa Fe

Performance 15/20

Efficiency 0/20

Safety 20/20

Practicality 16/20

Ownership 20/20

Sportage

Performance 12/20

Efficiency 0/20

Safety 20/20

Practicality 13/20

Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Santa Fe

Strengths

More powerful engine output
More practical for daily use

Weak Spots

No obvious weak spots to flag.

Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Sportage

Strengths

Nothing stands out clearly here.

Weak Spots

Less powerful engine setup
Less practical in daily usage

Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Santa Fe

Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
Large families needing more practicality and usability

Sportage

Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Length	4830	4515
Width	1900	1865
Height	1750	1660
Wheelbase	2815	2680
Ground Clearance	188	181
Kerb Weight	1980	1570
Seating Capacity	7	5
Boot Space	703	466
Rear Track Width	1660 mm	1608
Gross Vehicle Weight	2440 kg	2080
Front Track Width	1652 mm	1601
Turning Radius	5.7 m	10.8
Towing Capacity	2000 kg (Braked)	1500
Load Bed Length	Not Applicable	N/A
Load Bed Width	Not Applicable	N/A
Doors	5	5
Seats	7	5
Front Legroom	Available	1040
Rear Legroom	Available	855
Front Headroom	Available	1010
Rear Headroom	Available	955
Front Shoulder Room	Available	1405
Rear Shoulder Room	Available	1350
Boot Space Seats Folded	Available	1455
Number of Doors	Available	5
Max Payload	Available	N/A
Boot Volume	Available	466
Front Overhang	Available	880
Fuel Tank Capacity	Available	54
Rear Overhang	Available	760

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Engine	2.2 R-Series CRDi Diesel	1.6 T-GDI G4FJ Inline-4 Petrol Turbo
Engine Type	Diesel	Inline 4 Cylinder Turbopetrol
Displacement	2199	1591
Cylinders	4	4
Power	147	132 kW
Torque	440	265 Nm
Fuel System	Common Rail Direct Injection	Gasoline Direct Injection
Turbocharger	Yes	Yes
Top Speed	205	198
0-100 km/h	8.5	8.5
Power @ RPM	3800	5,500 rpm
Torque @ RPM	1750	1,500 rpm
Valves per Cylinder	16 (4 per cylinder)	16
Compression Ratio	15.9:1	9.5:1
Engine Position	Front	Front Transverse
Fuel Grade Required	Diesel	95 Octane
Engine Type Config	Inline	Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Turbopetrol
Variable Valve Timing	Yes	CVVT
Cylinder Bore	Available	77.0
Piston Stroke	Available	85.4
Engine Code	Available	G4FJ
Engine Oil Capacity	Available	4.5
Power	150	177
Cylinder Layout	Available	Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration	Available	Turbocharged
Maximum Engine RPM	Available	6,500 rpm
0–100 km/h	Available	8.5
Battery Capacity	Available	N/A
Charging Port	Available	N/A
AC Charging Time	Available	N/A
Engine Displacement	Available	1591
EV Range	Available	N/A

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Transmission	8-speed Automatic	7-Speed DCT
Drive Type	All-Wheel Drive	FWD
Drivetrain Layout	HTRAC AWD	FWD
Paddle Shifters	Yes	Yes
LSD Available	Yes	No
Transfer Case	HTRAC AWD with 4WD Lock	N/A
Differential Lock	Electronic LSD	No
Transmission Type	Automatic	Dual Clutch Transmission
Number of Gears	8	7
Final Drive Ratio	Available	3.63
Steering Turns Lock to Lock	Available	15.2:1
Clutch Type	Available	Dry Dual Clutch
Drivetrain	Available	FWD
Transmission	Available	7-Speed DCT

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Claimed Mileage	13.8	13.9
City Mileage	11.0	11.0
Highway Mileage	17.5	16.7
Fuel Tank Capacity	67	54
Emission Standard	Euro 6	Euro 6
Auto Start Stop	Yes	Yes
AdBlue Tank Capacity	13 L	No
Average Fuel Consumption	Yes	7.2
Distance To Empty	Yes	N/A
Low Fuel Warning	Yes	Yes
Claimed Fuel Consumption	Available	7.2
Fuel Efficiency	Available	7.2 L/100km
Real-world Mileage	Available	8.6

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Airbags	7	7
ABS	Yes	Yes
Electronic Stability Control	Yes	Yes
Traction Control	Yes	Yes
Hill Start Assist	Yes	Yes
Hill Descent Control	Yes	No
ISOFIX Mounts	Yes	Yes
Tyre Pressure Monitor	Yes	Yes
Engine Immobiliser	Yes	Yes
Central Locking	Yes	Yes
Brake Assist	Yes	Yes
Child Safety Lock	Yes	Yes
Side Impact Beams	Yes	Yes
Alarm System	Yes	Yes
EBD	Yes	Yes
BA	Yes	Yes
Driver Airbag	Yes	Yes
Passenger Airbag	Yes	Yes
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Yes	Yes
Seatbelt Warning All Seats	Yes	Yes
Speed Alert System	Yes	Yes
Safety Rating	Not Rated (SA)	5
Engine Immobiliser	Yes	Yes
Pedestrian Detection AEB	Available	Yes
Front Parking Sensors	Available	Yes
Whiplash Protection	Available	Yes
Lane Change Warning	Available	Yes
AEB	Available	Yes
Brake Override System	Available	Yes
Curtain Airbags	Available	Yes
Fatigue Detection	Available	Yes
Hill Hold	Available	Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Available	Yes
Side Airbags	Available	Yes
TCS	Available	Yes
Blind Spot Monitoring	Available	Yes
Knee Airbag	Available	Yes

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Cruise Control	Yes	Yes
Adaptive Cruise Control	Yes	Yes
Parking Sensors	Front & Rear	Yes
Rear View Camera	Yes	Yes
360 Degree Camera	Yes	Yes
Lane Keep Assist	Yes	Yes
Blind Spot Monitoring	Yes	Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Yes	Yes
Autonomous Emergency Braking	Yes	Yes
Driver Fatigue Alert	Yes	Yes
Lane Departure Warning	No	Yes
Traffic Sign Recognition	No	Yes
Auto Lights	Yes	Yes
EV Mode	No	No
Eco Mode	Yes	Yes
Sport Mode	No	Yes
Drive Modes	Eco / Normal	Yes
Auto Highbeam	Available	Yes
Auto Wipers	Available	Yes
Rear Parking Sensors	Available	Yes
Reverse Camera	Available	Yes
Adaptive Cruise Control	Available	Yes
Park Assist	Available	Yes

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Seat Material	Leather	Leather
Seat Adjustment	Power 8-way	8-Way Power
Heated Seats	Front & 2nd Row	Yes
Ventilated Seats	Front	Yes
Steering Type	MDPS Electric	Electric Power Assisted
Steering Adjustment	Tilt & Telescopic	Tilt and Telescopic
Folding Rear Seats	3rd Row Fold Flat	Yes
Ambient Lighting	64-Colour Ambient	Yes
Front Armrest	Yes	Centre Armrest
Rear Armrest	No	Yes
Cup Holders	4	4
Door Map Pockets	Yes	Yes
Steering Wheel Material	Leather	Leather
Instrument Cluster Type	Analogue + MID	Digital
Rear Headrest	Yes	Adjustable
Front Headrest	Yes	Adjustable
Adjustable Driver Seat	Manual	8-Way Power
Adjustable Front Seat	Manual	4-Way Power
60 40 Split Seat	Yes	Yes
Leather Seats	No	Yes
Fabric Seats	Yes	No
Cooled Seats	No	Yes
Memory Seats	No	Yes
Rear AC Vents	Available	No
Rear USB Ports	Available	Yes
Interior Colour Options	Available	Black
Driver Lumbar Support	Available	Yes
Driver Seat Adjustment	Available	8-Way Power
Passenger Seat Adjustment	Available	4-Way Power

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Climate Control	Tri-Zone Auto Climate	Yes
Power Windows	All	Yes
Keyless Entry	Yes	Yes
Push Button Start	Yes	Yes
Wireless Charging	15W Wireless	Yes
Sunroof	Electric Panoramic Sunroof	Yes
Electric Tailgate	Yes	Yes
Auto Dimming Mirror	No	Yes
Automatic Headlamps	Yes	Yes
Rain Sensing Wipers	No	Yes
Rear Window Defroster	Yes	Yes
Follow Me Home Headlamps	Yes	Yes
12V Accessory Socket	12V	Yes
Power Mirrors	Yes	Yes
Headlamp Washer	No	No
Headlamp Height Adjust	Manual	Yes
Front Armrest	Yes	Centre Armrest
Vanity Mirror	Yes	Yes
Rear Reading Lamps	Yes	Yes
Tachometer	Yes	Yes
Trip Computer	Yes	Yes
Door Ajar Warning	Yes	Yes
Engine Check Warning	Yes	Yes
Service Reminder	Yes	Yes
Fuel Lid Opener	Inside	Remote
Boot Opener	Inside	Remote
Front Power Outlet	Yes	Yes
Tilt Steering	Yes	-
Telescopic Steering	No	-
Engine Start Stop Button	No	Yes
Electric Mirror Folding	Available	Yes
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	Available	Yes
Speed Limiter	Available	Yes
AC Type	Available	Automatic Climate Control
Adaptive Dampers	Available	No
Aero Kit	Available	Yes
Auto Dimming Irvm	Available	Yes
Chrome Exterior Highlights	Available	No
Chrome Grille	Available	No
Climate Zones	Available	2
Drag Coefficient	Available	0.33
Driver Display	Available	Digital Cluster
Electric Folding Mirrors	Available	Yes
Engine Start Button Illumination	Available	Yes
Engine Start Stop	Available	Yes
Engine Warranty	Available	7 Years / 150,000 km
Exhaust Finish	Available	-
Exhaust Type	Available	-
Fuel Consumption Combined	Available	7.2
Gear Shift Type	Available	Automatic
Glovebox Cooling	Available	No
Ground Clearance Unladen	Available	181
Headrest Adjustable	Available	Yes
Heads Up Display	Available	Yes
Hill Start Assist	Available	Yes
Impact Sensing Door Unlock	Available	Yes
Intercooler	Available	Yes
Launch Control	Available	No
Multi Function Steering	Available	Yes
Panoramic Roof	Available	No
Payload Capacity	Available	N/A
Performance Data Logger	Available	No
Push Button Start	Available	Yes
Rear Defogger	Available	Yes
Rear Seat Split	Available	Yes
Rear Wing	Available	Yes
Remote Engine Start	Available	Yes
Rev Matching	Available	Yes
Ride Mode Selection	Available	Yes
Roof Antenna	Available	Yes
Seat Type	Available	Leather Seats
Seatbelt Pre Tensioner	Available	Yes
Seatbelt Reminder	Available	Yes
Service Plan	Available	3 Years / 45,000 km
Side Steps	Available	No
Skid Plates	Available	No
Spare Wheel	Available	Temporary Spare
Speed Alert System	Available	Yes
Stability Control	Available	Yes
Stabilizer Bar	Available	Yes
Steering Mounted Controls	Available	Yes
Steering Response	Available	Normal
Tail Lamps	Available	LED
Tyre Repair Kit	Available	No
Valves Per Cylinder	Available	4
Voice Command	Available	Yes
Voice Command Support	Available	Yes

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Infotainment Screen	12.3-inch Touchscreen	12.3-inch Touchscreen
Apple CarPlay	Yes	Yes
Android Auto	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth Connectivity	Yes	Yes
Number of Speakers	8 Meridian Premium	10
Navigation System	Yes	Yes
Digital Instrument Cluster	12.3-inch Digital Cluster	Yes
USB Ports	2 USB-A + 2 USB-C	4
Wireless Apple CarPlay	Yes	Yes
FM Radio	Yes	Yes
AUX Input	Yes	No
Voice Recognition	Yes	Yes
Steering Wheel Audio Controls	Yes	Yes
Rear Usb	Yes	Yes
Audio Controls On Steering	Yes	Yes
Infotainment Display	Touchscreen	12.3
Infotainment Screen Size	Available	12.3
Wi-Fi Hotspot	Available	No
Premium Audio	Available	Yes

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
LED Headlamps	Full LED Parametric	Yes
Daytime Running Lamps	LED	Yes
Fog Lamps	LED	Yes
Roof Rails	Yes	Yes
Alloy Wheel Design	20-inch Alloy	Alloy Alloy
Body Cladding	Full Wheel Arch & Lower Cladding	Yes
Chrome Exterior Finish	Chrome Grille & Window Surround	No
Rear Spoiler	Yes	Yes
DRL	Yes	Yes
Fog Lights	Yes	Yes
Front Fog Lights	Yes	Yes
Wing Mirror Type	Power Adjustable	Electric
Door Handle Finish	Body Coloured	Body Colour
Body Type	SUV	SUV
Rear Wiper	Yes	No
Exterior Colour Options	Available	Multiple
Roof Type	Available	Standard
Led Headlights	Available	Yes
Led Taillights	Available	Yes
Rear Fog Lights	Available	Yes

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Tyre Size	255/45 R20	235/45 R19
Wheel Type	Alloy	Alloy
Front Brake Type	Disc	Ventilated Disc
Rear Brake Type	Disc	Ventilated Disc
Spare Wheel Type	Full Size	Temporary Spare
Tyre Speed Rating	H	H
Tyre Load Index	91	105
Parking Brake Type	Manual	Electronic
Brake Type Front	Disc (Ventilated)	Ventilated Disc
Brake Type Rear	Disc	Ventilated Disc
Tyre Type	Tubeless Radial	Radial
Spare Tyre	Steel	Temporary Spare
Front Brake Disc Diameter	Available	325
Rear Brake Drum Diameter	Available	280
Wheel Rim Size	Available	235/45 R19
Front Tyre Width	Available	235
Rear Tyre Width	Available	235
Wheel Diameter	Available	19

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Front Suspension	MacPherson Strut	MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension	Multi-Link	Multi-Link
Chassis Type	Monocoque	Unibody
Power Steering	Electric	Yes
Steering Column	Tilt	Adjustable
Front Spring Type	Available	Coil Spring
Rear Spring Type	Available	Coil Spring
Front Anti-Roll Bar	Available	Yes
Rear Anti-Roll Bar	Available	Yes
Shock Absorber Type	Available	Telescopic

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Terrain Modes	Normal / Sport / Smart / Snow / Mud / Sand	No
Underbody Protection	Front & Rear Bash Plates	No
Approach Angle	25°	21
Wading Depth	300 mm	N/A
Departure Angle	24°	24
Locking Differential	No	No
Ramp Breakover Angle	20	17
Hill Descent Control	No	No
4WD System Type	Full-Time 4WD	N/A
Recovery Hooks	Available	No
Ramp-over Angle	Available	19

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Service Interval	15000 km / 12 months	15000
Maintenance Plan	3 Years / 45000 km	3 Years / 45,000 km
Battery Warranty	Not Applicable	N/A
Approx Service Cost	R3,000 – R5,000 per service	R3,800 per service
Service Plan Duration	4	3
Service Plan Distance	60000	45000
First Service At	15000	15000
Battery Type	Lead-acid	N/A
Alternator	120A	Yes
Gear Shift Indicator	Yes	No
Engine Oil Change Interval	Available	15000
Anti-Rust Treatment	Available	Yes

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Warranty Years	5	7
Warranty Kilometers	150000	150000
Roadside Assistance	5 Years	5 Years
Anti-Corrosion Warranty	5 Years	5 Years
Basic Warranty	Available	7 Years / 150,000 km

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
CO2 Emissions	188	167
Start Stop System	No	Yes
Hybrid System Type	Conventional (ICE)	None
Noise Level	67 dB	68
Fuel Evaporation Control	Yes	Yes
Fuel Octane Requirement	Diesel	95 Octane
Particulate Filter	Available	No
Euro Emission Standard	Available	Euro 6
Green NCAP Rating	Available	5
Idle CO2 Output	Available	175

Spec	Santa Fe	Sportage
Real-world City Mileage Min	Available	9.3
Real-world City Mileage Max	Available	12.1
Real-world Highway Mileage Min	Available	15.0
Real-world Highway Mileage Max	Available	17.5
Owner Review Count	Available	-

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai Santa Fe wins with 71 pts vs 65 pts for Sportage

In structured scoring, Santa Fe emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Sportage may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Santa Fe edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Santa Fe 0 vs Sportage 0. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Santa Fe 20, Sportage 20. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Santa Fe 20, Sportage 20. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Santa Fe 16, Sportage 13. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Santa Fe 15, Sportage 12. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Santa Fe edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Santa Fe scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Santa Fe and Sportage in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Santa Fe scores 15 vs 12.

Efficiency: Santa Fe scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: Santa Fe scores 20 vs 20.

Practicality: Santa Fe scores 16 vs 13.

Ownership: Santa Fe scores 20 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Santa Fe the advantage in this comparison.

Hyundai Santa Fe vs KIA Sportage

Hyundai Santa Fe

KIA Sportage

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Key Specs Side by Side

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

Santa Fe

Sportage

The Bottom Line

Where They Actually Differ

Score Breakdown by Category

Santa Fe

Sportage

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Santa Fe

Sportage

Which One's Right for You?

Santa Fe

Sportage

Full Specs, Side by Side

So, Which One Should You Buy?

Other Comparisons Worth Checking

Buyers Also Looked At These

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

In Depth — Breaking It All Down