8 Top Kia Sorento Competitors
The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan is just one of the Kia Sorento competitors you should consider if you’re in the market for a new mid-size crossover SUV.
Written by Ethan Moser
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The luxurious Lexus RX, the fuel efficient Toyota Highlander, and the powerful Dodge Durango are just a few of the main rivals facing the Kia Sorento in the mid-size crossover category.
The 2022 Kia Sorento is popular for its quartet of powertrain options—two of which are hybrids—as well as its fuel-efficiency and competitive towing capacity. That being said, there are mid-size crossover SUV competitors that boast more powerful engines, higher towing capacities, and more spacious cabins.
The Sorento has plenty of great standard features, and is an outstanding mid-size crossover, depending on what you’re looking for in your next SUV. Looking at some of the Sorento’s key competitors might shed some light on an SUV that better suits your needs. Here with a comprehensive list of eight of the top mid-size crossover rivals to the 2022 Kia Sorento is
Jerry
—the #1 rated car insurance
comparison shopping super app.1. Volkswagen Tiguan
Starting price: $27,785 to $38,615
Selling points: Spacious and sporty with available third-row seating
Weak spot: Average acceleration and underwhelming interior
The 2022
Volkswagen Tiguan
features all-new LED headlamps and a modern appearance update courtesy of its revised grille, bumpers, and wheel design. Additional new features include touch-sensitive steering wheel controls, heated front seats, and a digital gauge display. The base Tiguan S trim features a 181-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and front-wheel drive capabilities. That being said, Volkswagen’s 4Motion All-wheel drive is available for an additional cost, as is third-row seating.
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers2. Ford Explorer
Starting price: $35,505 to $55,000
Selling points: Comfortable driving experience, spacious passenger volume
Weak spot: Cramped third-row seating with cheap interior materials
With three rows of seating and a generous cargo capacity, the 2022
Ford Explorer
is a viable alternative to the Kia Sorento. The base Explorer—alongside the XLT
and Limited
trim—is powered by a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder that produces 300 horsepower. Meanwhile, hybrid versions of the mid-size compact SUV are equipped with a more powerful 318-horsepower, twin-turbo V-6 engine combined with an electric motor. A similar 3.0-liter V-6 twin-turbo engine produces 400 horsepower for the Explorer’s King Ranch, Platinum
, and ST
trims. A 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, heated and power-adjustable steering wheel, leather upholstery, power-folding third-row seating, and adaptive cruise control are additional upgrades available to drivers who splurge for the more expensive Explorer Limited trim.
3. Hyundai Santa Fe
Starting price: $28,495 to $47,305
Selling points: Comfortable drive and well-outfitted cabin
Weak spot: Poor fuel efficiency and limited to two rows of seating
Similar to the Kia Sorento, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe was named a Car and Driver Editors Choice pick, partially due to the mid-size crossover’s remarkable safety ratings. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) courtesy of its suite of standard driver assistance features. These features included forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning.
A 191-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine powers the Santa Fe’s lower trims. A more powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter I-4 outfits higher trims, like the Santa Fe Limited and Santa Fe Calligraphy, with 277-horsepower. Both I-4 engines are accompanied by an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive capabilities, though all-wheel drive is available at an added cost.
The Santa Fe’s hybrid trims—Blue, SEL Premium, and Limited—and the Santa Fe SEL Convenience and Limited plug-in hybrid models are powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter I-4 engine and dual electric motors for a total of 226-horsepower output.
4. Lexus RX
Starting price: $46,995 to $59,185
Selling points: Fuel efficient, tech-savvy, and comfortable
Weak spot: Slower than its rivals with a finicky infotainment touchpad
The most expensive midsize crossover SUV on our list, the 2022
Lexus RX's
lowest price is comparable to the Sorento’s highest, placing the RX well within the luxury SUV category. The entry-level RX 350 is a two-row vehicle that can only seat a maximum of five passengers. For the seven-seat capacity of the Sorento, RX drivers will have to upgrade to one of the extended-length L models, like the 350 L
or the 450h L.All gas-powered Lexus RX models are equipped with the same 3.5-liter V-6 engine. However, a hybrid range of
RX 450h
models are also available—all of which produce 308-hp combined between their gas engines and electric motors. The RX justifies its higher asking price—especially at higher trims like the 350 L Luxury—by offering an array of high-end upgrades and packages that aren’t available in rival SUVs. For example, the Lexus RX Black Line special edition trim comes with a matching set of Zero Halliburton luggage. Meanwhile, an optional Navigation package adds a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, in-dash navigation, a DVD/CD player, and a 12-speaker audio system.
5. Nissan Murano
Starting price: $34,605 to $46,155
Selling points: Near-luxury interior, plenty of standard technology, and a unique design
Weak spot: Low towing capacity and a troublesome continuously variable transmission
While plenty of the other midsize crossovers on our list spoil their drivers for choice when it comes to customization options, the 2022
Nissan Murano
is pretty bare-bones, no matter which trim package you choose. Each of the Murano’s four trims is powered by the same 3.5-liter V-6 engine. The Murano SV
trim adds faux leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, power-adjustable heated front seats, and remote start capabilities—most of which are available as standard features on rival models. All-wheel drive capabilities will cost you an additional $1,550 upfront, and even then the Murano will only be able to tow a maximum of 1,500 pounds to the Sorento’s 5,000.
The Murano truly shines, however, when it comes to technology. An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display offers drivers access to Nissan’s NissanConnect infotainment system, which includes: turn-by-turn navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM internet radio with Travel Link weather and traffic updates. Standard driver assistance tech includes forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist.
6. Honda Pilot
Starting price: $39,375 to $53,165
Selling points: Fast, fuel-efficient, and jam-packed with popular standard features
Weak spot: Cramped third row and a finicky touchscreen display
The 2022 Honda Pilot adds full LED headlights and an all-new 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities to its 2021 design. Like the Sorento, the 2022 Pilot also received a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and comes with standard driver assistance features such as forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.
The same 280-horsepower V-6 engine is standard on all of the Pilot’s seven trim level options. That being said, the
Pilot Special Edition
trim adds black 20-inch wheels, hands-free power tailgate, leather-trimmed upholstery, roof rails, second-row sunshades, a sunroof, and wireless smartphone charging pads. All-wheel drive capabilities will increase the Pilot’s towing capacity from 3,500 pounds to a maximum 5,000 pounds for an additional $2,000. Similarly, turn-by-turn navigation is available for an additional cost on the
Pilot EX
trim, but it comes standard on the more expensive Touring
and Elite
trims. 7. Toyota Highlander
Starting price: $37,070 to $50,725
Selling points: Attractive styling, available hybrid powertrain options
Weak spot: Cramped third-row seating, busy dashboard design
With an impressive eleven trim level options, there are plenty of ways to make the 2022
Toyota Highlander
uniquely yours. For example, if you aren’t happy with the standard Highlander L’
s interior stylings, you can upgrade to the Highlander Hybrid
Bronze Edition trim for unique styling elements such as geometric patterned upholstery and bronze-colored accents. The Highlander XLE
, on the other hand, adds heated front seats, wireless smartphone charging, and a power sunroof. Some upgrades are available without moving up in terms of trim. For example, the optional Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation package adds in-dash navigation and an upgraded stereo system. Meanwhile, all-wheel drive capabilities are available, regardless of trim level, for an additional $1,600.
Gas-powered Highlanders are equipped with a 295-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the five hybrid trims switch to a 2.5-liter I-4 engine combined with dual electric motors that produce a total of 243-horsepower.
8. Dodge Durango
Starting price: $39,355 to $56,755
Selling points: Best-in-class towing capacity, powerful engine options
Weak spot: Poor fuel efficiency, cramped third-row seating
Equipped with either a standard 295-horsepower V-6 engine or an upgraded 360-horsepower V-8 engine, the 2022
Dodge Durango
offers best-in-class towing with a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds—that’s 3,700 pounds more than the Kia Sorento. Additional standard features on the Durango include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, rear parking sensors, and roof rails. The
Durango GT
trim adds remote start capability, heated front seats, as well as a heated steering wheel and a power-operated liftgate. Meanwhile, the Durango GT Plus trim gives the heated driver’s seat power memory settings and adds rain-sensing windshield wipers, leather-and-suede upholstery, and heated rear seats. MORE:
Dodge Durango GT V6
Kia Sorento vs. the competition
Want to see all of these rivals’ key specs laid out side-by-side? Take a look at our comprehensive comparison of the 2022 Kia Sorento and its main competitors.
Model | Starting price range | Engine options | Maximum seating capacity | Maximum cargo volume | Maximum towing capacity | Fuel economy (city/highway/combined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 Kia Sorento | $30,885 to $49,385 | I-4, turbo 4, hybrid, or PHEV | 7 | 75.5 cubic ft | 5,000 lbs | 24/29/27 |
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan | $27,785 to $38,615 | turbo 4-cyl | 7 | 65.3 cubic ft | 2,200 lbs | 21/28/24 |
2022 Ford Explorer | $35,505 to $55,000 | turbo 4, V-6, or V-6 hybrid | 7 | 87.8 cubic ft | 5,600 lbs | 18/24/20 |
2022 Hyundai Santa Fe | $28,495 to $47,305 | I-4, turbo 4, or PHEV | 5 | 72.1 cubic ft | 2,000 lbs | 21/28/24 |
2022 Lexus RX | $46,995 to $59,185 | V-6 or V-6 hybrid | 7 | 56.3 cubic ft | 3,500 lbs | 19/26/22 |
2022 Nissan Murano | $34,605 to $46,155 | V-6 | 7 | 67.0 cubic ft | 1,500 lbs | 20/28/23 |
2022 Honda Pilot | $39,375 to $53,165 | V-6 | 7 | 83.9 cubic ft | 5.000 lbs | 19/26/22 |
2022 Toyota Highlander | $37,070 to $50,725 | V-6 or I-4 hybrid | 7 | 84.3 cubic ft | 5,000 lbs | 35/35/35 |
2022 Dodge Durango | $39,355 to $56,755 | V-6 or V-8 | 7 | 85.1 cubic ft | 8,700 lbs | 14/22/18 |
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