2026 head-to-head · Small SUV
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs Kia Sorento
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2026 Kia Sorento is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,788 a year to fuel (26 MPG), versus $1,860 for the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz (25 MPG). That's roughly $72 a year, or about $358 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Hyundai Santa Cruz
- Kia Sorento
Side by side
| Hyundai Santa Cruz | Kia Sorento | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,860 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,788 |
| 25 MPG | Combined efficiency | 26 MPG |
| 22 MPG | City | 23 MPG |
| 30 MPG | Highway | 31 MPG |
| 356 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 339 g/mi |
| 5/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 5/10 |
| 5/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 5/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Engine / motor | 2.5L 4-cyl |
| 8-speed automatic | Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Hyundai Santa Cruz vs Kia Sorento across model years
- Hyundai Santa Cruz
- Kia Sorento
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Among 114 2026 small SUVs, the Hyundai Santa Cruz ranks 79th and the Kia Sorento 69th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz or the 2026 Kia Sorento?
Measured by cost to drive, the Kia Sorento. The Hyundai Santa Cruz is rated 25 MPG combined and the Kia Sorento 26 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz vs. the Kia Sorento per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,860 for the Hyundai Santa Cruz and $1,788 for the Kia Sorento.
Hyundai Santa Cruz vs Kia Sorento in other years
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