I’m expecting a baby soon and planning to buy a new car. I’m leaning towards the Santa Fe, Palisade, or Telluride, aiming for mid to top trims if I can afford it. I’m probably biased, but do you think these cars are still a good choice, either new or used? Or should I look at Honda or Toyota for more reliability?
I bought a used 22 Sorento SX after being a long-time Honda owner. I will never go back. My family car is a 22 Sorento, and I also drive a 20 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid. It’s been great with zero issues so far, and luckily no CVTs here.
@James
I had a 23 Sorento Hybrid EX for almost 40k miles before it was totaled in an accident. I believe it saved my life. The Sorento is a great SUV, and it’s an IHS Top Safety pick. It’s a solid alternative to the Santa Fe.
@Brianna
People will always hate on the brand, but the new models are on a whole new level.
James said:
@Brianna
People will always hate on the brand, but the new models are on a whole new level.
That’s been said for over a decade though.
James said:
@Brianna
People will always hate on the brand, but the new models are on a whole new level.
That’s been said for over a decade though.
Not sure what part you’re referring to.
@James
Sorry, I meant the ‘new stuff on a different level’ comment. It’s been said for years, yet there was a stop sale on the 2024 Telluride. Plus, there are recalls for 25 model years with transmission issues.
@Masitsa
Yeah, all new cars have some issues. Same with the new Tundras and Tacomas. People always say they’re reliable, but not always the case.
James said:
@Masitsa
Yeah, all new cars have some issues. Same with the new Tundras and Tacomas. People always say they’re reliable, but not always the case.
I wouldn’t buy a new Toyota, I’ve got a 22 Tacoma for a reason. Toyota is recalling and replacing engines on 100K Tundras even if there’s no issue. Kia and Hyundai only replaced engines that failed, and that’s if you had all the paperwork. They’re not exactly in the same category here.
@Masitsa
They’re all new cars. I wouldn’t act like they’re not.
@James
Some Kias have CVTs like the Forte and Soul, but not the Sorento.
For the price, Kia and Hyundai are hard to beat right now. I shopped around a lot and test drove 13-14 different cars. Kept coming back to Kias because of the features and price. If you only have one kid, you might find the Telluride a bit too big. We went with the Sorento and saved $5-$8K.
I’ve owned 3 Hyundais and Kias. The Santa Fe was amazing, my favorite car to drive, and it had no issues at 125,000 miles. Same with my Kia Sedona at 78,000. The Hyundai Sonata did need a new engine at 65,000. I’ve had multiple Toyotas and Hondas. The Toyotas needed the most repairs, but nothing too big. Kia and Hyundai definitely give you more bang for your buck.
I just bought a new Telluride. We were deciding between that and models like the VW Atlas, Subaru Ascent, and Mazda CX-90. We chose the Telluride because it’s a little cheaper than the Palisade, plus it has fold-in mirrors and more cargo space. We did give up the power rear folding seats and remote parking assist, but the deal was too good. Between Kia and Hyundai and the other brands, I found they had the best technology features like 360 view cameras, blind spot cameras, and lane centering. Honda seemed to fall behind, even removing side view cameras while others are adding more. I’d rank them like this: 1. Kia Telluride, 2. Hyundai Palisade, 3. Mazda CX-90, 4. VW Atlas, 5. Hyundai Santa Fe, 6. Subaru Ascent, 7. Nissan Pathfinder, 8. Toyota Grand Highlander, 9. Honda Pilot.
I have a 25 Sorento in wolf grey with black lettering and wheels. It’s a sweet ride!
Kia feels more value-driven and sporty, especially for off-road sport, whereas Hyundai focuses more on luxury with better design and materials, but those trims tend to cost more. It really depends on what you’re looking for—rugged design or luxury. There are more differences, but that’s the main one.
A used Certified Pre-Owned Hyundai with the Hyundai extended warranty gives you the most bang for your buck. You get a 10-year/100k mile powertrain warranty plus an additional 10/100 warranty on most other parts with just a $100 deductible.
The Sorento Hybrid is definitely the way to go.
Avoid anything used pre-2020 with the 2.4L or 2.0L Theta engine.