Compare the2021 Kia SorentoVS 2020 Acura MDX

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Sorento are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The MDX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 MDX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 MDX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sorento and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, 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 MDX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sorento 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Acura covers the MDX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the MDX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sorento’s warranty.

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 Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 49 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2019 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 45 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 26th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2019 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 19 places higher in reliability than Acura.

The Sorento 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 289) than the MDX Sport Hybrid’s standard 3.0 SOHC V6 hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento gets better fuel mileage than the MDX:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sorento uses regular unleaded gasoline. The MDX requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

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

The Sorento’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the MDX are solid, not vented.

For better maneuverability, the Sorento’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the MDX Sport Hybrid’s (37.8 feet vs. 38.4 feet). The Sorento’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the MDX’s (37.8 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Sorento X-Line has a greater minimum ground clearance than the MDX (8.2 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Sorento to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Kia Sorento may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 350 pounds less than the Acura MDX.

The Sorento is 7.3 inches shorter than the MDX, making the Sorento easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sorento has 2.2 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more rear headroom, 5.1 inches more rear legroom, 1.2 inches more third row headroom, 1.5 inches more third row legroom and 1.9 inches more third row hip room than the MDX.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Sorento’s optional second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The MDX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

While the MDX SH-AWD Sport Hybrid is not recommended to tow, any Sorento can tow a minimum of 2000 pounds.

The power windows standard on both the Sorento and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sorento is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The MDX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Sorento has standard extendable sun visors. The MDX doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Sorento EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The MDX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Kia Sorento outsold the Acura MDX by 78% during the 2020 model year.