Comments by "Stephen Hendricks" (@stephenhendricks103) on "" video.
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The Calligraphy trim of the Santa Fe is undeniably impressive. But it's worth comparing it to its closely related sibling, the X-Line trim of the KIA Sorento. Doing so illustrates that despite the numerous shared features and components and almost identical MSRPs the two Korean brands lean in different directions with the Santa Fe and the Sorento. The Santa Fe, like the Pallisade, projects a "budget luxury" vibe. The X-Line Sorento, like the Telluride, projects a more "rugged" impression with off-road cues (if not major aspirations in that direction) .
Though the Santa Fe and Sorento share nearly all major features and components there are some differences. The new Sorento lacks driver seat memory and an extending thigh cushion that the top trim Santa Fe provides. (A plus for the Santa Fe and an inexplicable deletion from the last version of the Sorento.) The KIA retains a traditional transmission lever in place of the pushbutton in the Santa Fe. (A plus for the KIA imo.) And the Santa Fe's "smart park" party trick isn't offered on the Sorento. (Not something I'd miss.)
Overall, however, the most obvious difference between the top trim Santa Fe and Sorento is the latter's standard third row seats. It's not generous, of course, and in a rare example of marketing speak honesty KIA describes it as "Plus 2" seating. But it is roomier than, for example, the third row of the Toyota Highlander. And even if it's not often used it's a huge convenience on occasions when the need arises to transport 5 or more passengers on a local trip and the alternative is using two vehicles. On the other hand, the X-Line KIA (as well as other trims except the lowest) provides only captain chairs in the second row while the Santa Fe out of necessity provides a second row bench even in the Calligraphy edition. (Without a third row, captain chairs in the Santa Fe's second row would leave the passenger capacity limited to four.)
This leaves someone like me, an owner of the last generation top trim Sorento, with a dilemma. Our family of four (two adults, a teenager, and a big dog) need a third row of seats only very occasionally. But the bench second row is a near necessity. Our dog doesn't have a body suitable for a captain chair and the cargo hold is his space only when he returns dirty and muddy from the beach or a romp in the woods. If we replace our Sorento do we give up a third row of seats or consign the dog permanently to the cargo hold?
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