Compare the2021 Kia SorentoVS 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Both the Sorento and Bronco Sport 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 Bronco Sport’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 Bronco Sport doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Sorento Prestige/X-Line has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Bronco Sport only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

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 Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sorento and the Bronco Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 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 Bronco Sport’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 Ford covers the Bronco Sport. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Bronco Sport ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sorento first among midsize suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Bronco Sport isn’t in the top three in its category.

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 Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 38 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 16th, below the industry average.

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 Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 22nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 7 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The Sorento 2.5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (191 vs. 181) than the Bronco Sport’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. The Sorento 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 31 more horsepower (281 vs. 250) and 34 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 277) than the Bronco Sport Badlands/First Edition’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento 2.5T AWD Auto turbo 4 cyl. gets better fuel mileage than the Bronco Sport Badlands/First Edition 4 cyl. (21 city/28 hwy vs. 21 city/26 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sorento uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Bronco Sport Badlands/First Edition requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Sorento has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Bronco Sport (17.7 vs. 15.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Bronco Sport doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

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

For better traction, the Sorento has larger standard tires than the Bronco Sport (235/65R17 vs. 225/65R17). The Sorento SX/Prestige/X-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Bronco Sport (255/45R20 vs. 235/65R17).

The Sorento SX/Prestige/X-Line’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Bronco Sport’s optional 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sorento SX/Prestige/X-Line has standard 20-inch wheels. The Bronco Sport’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sorento’s wheelbase is 5.7 inches longer than on the Bronco Sport (110.8 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sorento is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Bronco Sport.

For greater off-road capability the Sorento has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Bronco Sport Base/Big Bend (8.2 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the Sorento to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Sorento has standard flush composite headlights. The Bronco Sport has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

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

The Sorento has .4 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 4.8 inches more rear legroom, 1.7 inches more rear hip room and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Bronco Sport.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sorento’s middle row seats recline. The Bronco Sport’s rear seats don’t recline.

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

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

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sorento EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Sorento’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Maximum trailer towing in the Ford Bronco Sport is limited to 2200 pounds. The Sorento offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The Sorento’s standard driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Bronco Sport’s standard driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it 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 Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Sorento’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Bronco Sport Big Bend/Outer Banks/Badlands/First Edition.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Sorento Prestige/X-Line keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Sorento is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Sorento, based on reliability, safety and performance.