Compare the2021 Kia SorentoVS 2021 Chevrolet Blazer

Both the Sorento and Blazer have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Sorento S/EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Blazer’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Sorento Prestige/X-Line has a standard Parking Collision Avoidance-Rear that use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Blazer doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Sorento’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Blazer doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

The Sorento’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Blazer and is not available with L.

The Sorento’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Blazer doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sorento and the Blazer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Sorento comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Blazer’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sorento 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Blazer. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Blazer ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sorento’s reliability 11 points higher than the Blazer.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sorento first among midsize suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Blazer was rated second.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked third.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 12th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 2 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

The Sorento has more powerful engines than the Blazer:

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento 2.5 FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Blazer FWD with its standard engine (24 city/29 hwy vs. 21 city/27 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sorento uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Blazer with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Sorento offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Blazer doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

For better stopping power the Sorento’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Blazer:

For better maneuverability, the Sorento’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Blazer’s (37.8 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Sorento has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Blazer (8.2 vs. 7.4 inches), allowing the Sorento to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Sorento has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Blazer can only carry 5.

The Sorento has .5 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear hip room than the Blazer.

The Sorento’s cargo area provides more volume than the Blazer.

The Sorento’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Blazer’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Sorento Prestige/X-Line’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches. The Blazer’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

The Sorento has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Blazer doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Sorento, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Chevrolet Blazer isn't recommended.