Compare the2021 Kia SorentoVS 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

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 Atlas Cross Sport 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 Atlas Cross Sport 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 Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sorento and the Atlas Cross Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, 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 Atlas Cross Sport’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sorento 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Atlas Cross 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 Atlas Cross Sport ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 18 percent more Kia dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it 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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 9th.

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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 12th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2019 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 18 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The Sorento 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (281 vs. 276) and 45 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 266) than the Atlas Cross Sport’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento gets better fuel mileage than the Atlas Cross Sport:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sorento uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Atlas Cross Sport 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 Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

For better maneuverability, the Sorento’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Atlas Cross Sport’s (37.8 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Sorento X-Line has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Atlas Cross Sport (8.2 vs. 8 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 400 pounds less than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.

The Sorento is 6.6 inches shorter than the Atlas Cross Sport, making the Sorento easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sorento has .9 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more rear headroom and 1.3 inches more rear legroom than the Atlas Cross Sport.

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

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

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Sorento has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Atlas Cross Sport only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Kia Sorento outsold the Volkswagen Atlas by 8% during the 2020 model year.