Comments by "Stephen Hendricks" (@stephenhendricks103) on "" video.

  1. Kudos for doing a direct comparison between the Santa Fe and the Sorento, Joe. But you REALLY need to check specs when you compare the two vehicles. For example... () The Santa Fe claims 277 HP, not 237 HP. (5:12) The Sorento claims 281 HP and the same 311 ft lbs of torque. In reality there's probably no difference given that the two vehicles share the same engines and transmissions (including identical ratios for all eight gears.) If there is a difference it probably stems from different testing equipment, environmental conditions, or simply the difference between two individual examples. As you note, the Sorento's curb weight is a bit heavier (44 lbs) but the Santa Fe has a larger gas tank (18.8 vs 17.7 gallons). Performance should be essentially the same. () The Sorento has no less 2nd row passenger space than the Santa Fe (11:22). The Sorento has more headroom (39.1" vs 37.8"), identical legroom(41.7") and and nearly identical shoulder room (58.1 vs 58.3"). Total hip room is difficult to compare since the Santa Fe has a bench compared to the captain chairs in the Sorento but for what it's worth the hip room in the Santa Fe is 56.3" vs 55.1" in the Sorento. () As far as cargo capacity is concerned, your claim that the Santa Fe is more generous is simply WRONG. (12:35). With the Sorento's 3rd row folded into the floor for an appropriate comparison, the cargo space behind the 2nd row measures 38.4 cubic ft compared to the Santa Fe's 36.4 cf. With both the 2nd and 3rd rows folded the Sorento has 75.5 cubic ft of cargo space compared to 72.1 cubic ft in the Santa Fe. () Of course the most obvious difference between the Santa Fe and the Sorento is the latter's standard third row. Most Sorento owners, including my family, use the 3rd row only occasionally, even rarely. And KIA is surprisingly honest in characterizing it as a "Plus Two" seat. But compared to other 3 row SUVs it's not that deficient. Two average height adults can fit comfortably for a local trip without a problem. And on occasions that call for 6 or 7 passengers come along the third row is a huge convenience compared to using two vehicles. Our family of four (two adults, a teenager, and a big dog) doesn't need it often but we're happy to have it. Unfortunately, KIA decided to make captain chairs standard for all but the lowest Sorento trims (LX and S) in the latest generation. And considering that our big dog isn't built for captain chairs, that means we would have to deploy the third row and limit cargo space substantially whenever he rides in the car or consign him to the cargo space behind the 2nd row, a fate he suffers only when he's returning from the beach or the muddy woods. For longer trips the only option would be to reduce the cargo space for luggage/gear significantly to share it with "Fido." Most complaints about the elimination of second row bench seating in 3 row SUVs come from those with large families. But they're not the only ones to find it a deal breaker. If we were to replace our top trim SX-L/PP Sorento we'd have to consider sacrificing the 3rd row we value and opt for the Santa Fe Calligraphy. That's not a choice I want to make. () Finally, it's clear that KIA and Hyundai have chosen to differentiate the Santa Fe and Sorento in much the same way that the Telluride and Palisade are distinct. The Sorento top trim SX-Prestige/X Line aims toward a North American market looking for a "rugged" image while the Calligraphy trim of the Santa Fe leans toward "budget luxury." And that distinction leads to features such as the Santa Fe's transmission control dial vs the Sorento's traditional lever which I prefer, the "Smart Park" feature of the Hyundai (which I have to say I find more a party trick than a useful feature), the memory seats and 4 way (vs 2 way) lumbar support in the Santa Fe and the elimination of motorized thigh extension for the driver in the Sorento. It's the elimination of memory and the thigh extension in the Sorento that I would miss most in the new Sorento. I'd happily give up the ridiculous "Sounds of Nature" that KIA, Hyundai, and Genesis have included in numerous vehicles just to get memory seats.tt
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