If there’s one type of vehicle I test more than anything else, it’s three-row SUVs. While three rows have long been tied to full-size options, there’s been a surge of automakers bringing third-row seating to mid-size crossovers — and this Kia Sorento vs. Hyundai Santa Fe matchup is something I’ve been waiting to cover.

I’ve previously put their larger siblings, the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, to the test. While both are fantastic, some families might shy away due to their higher price tags. That’s where their mid-size counterparts step into the spotlight, offering the same family utility at a much more accessible price point.

For this head-to-head test, I drove the 2026 Kia Sorento X-Line SX-Prestige 2.5T AWD and 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT 2.5T AWD for a week each — with both coming in at under $50,000. After putting each through grocery runs, highway commutes, tight parking spaces, and everyday driving, only one mid-size three-row SUV earns my recommendation.

I’ll be the first to say that the Santa Fe commands attention on the road, blending a boxy silhouette with a retro-futuristic vibe that instantly evokes memories of the classic Scion xB.

Up front, the bold "H" signature LED daytime running lights give it an unmistakable face, while the optional Ecotronic Gray Matte paint job adds an urban edge that’s tough to overlook. But despite those highlights, the design falls flat at the rear. The slab-sided tailgate looks awkward in person, and the low-mounted taillights sit so close to the rear bumper that they create an oddly disproportionate look.

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