Kia Sorento Hybrid Adds X-Line Trim, Trails Santa Fe by $2,440
A new X-Line variant arrives as the three-row crossover falls further behind its Hyundai twin on price and cargo space.
Kia introduced an X-Line variant to the 2027 Sorento Hybrid lineup while raising the base price by $200. The entry point now sits at $39,090 before a mandatory $1,495 destination fee.
That figure lands $2,440 above the starting price of the mechanically related Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid ($36,650). Both vehicles share the same corporate platform and powertrain architecture, yet Hyundai continues to undercut its sister brand on three-row electrified crossovers entering their fourth year since a major redesign.
The new X-Line EX AWD costs $43,090. It swaps standard wheels for gloss-black alloys, adds dark exterior trim, and fits machined wood inlays across the instrument panel and door cards. Kia reserved the top-tier X-Line SX-Prestige AWD for $47,590, bundling a panoramic sunroof, Bose audio hardware, second-row captain’s chairs, and a head-up display. Pale Gray replaces Steel Gray on the color chart. New HEV badges are stamped onto the tailgate.
Output remains fixed at 232 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque from a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid system. Front-wheel drive is restricted to the $39,090 EX trim (rated at 37 mpg combined). Selecting all-wheel drive drops efficiency to 34 mpg.
Hyundai engineered the current-generation Santa Fe with a boxier footprint that translates directly into interior volume. With all three rows upright, the Santa Fe holds more cargo than the Sorento. Folding every seat flat yields 79.6 cubic feet for the Hyundai compared to 75.5 for the Kia. Rear passenger space also favors the Santa Fe.
Feature parity requires spending more at Kia dealerships. Ventilated front seats, heated second-row cushions, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster arrive on the $45,950 Santa Fe Hybrid Limited. Matching those specifications in the Sorento demands the $47,590 X-Line SX-Prestige, a $1,640 premium over the Hyundai equivalent.
U.S. registration data reflects the pricing gap. The Santa Fe has consistently outsold the Sorento through 2026, pulling buyers who prioritize cabin dimensions and lower MSRPs over styling preferences. Kia still prices the Sorento Hybrid well below its own larger Telluride Hybrid, which commands a $46,490 starting tag.
