Compare the2021 Kia SorentoVS 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

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 Tiguan doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To prevent power induced skids and loss of control on slick surfaces, the Kia Sorento has standard full range traction control. The Tiguan’s traction control is for low speeds only. Low traction conditions at higher speeds are more dangerous, making the need for full range traction control important.

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 Tiguan doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sorento and the Tiguan 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, 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 Tiguan’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 Tiguan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Tiguan 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.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Sorento has a standard 760-amp battery. The Tiguan’s 360-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 2.5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 7 more horsepower (191 vs. 184) than the Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Sorento 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 97 more horsepower (281 vs. 184) and 90 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 221) than the Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento 2.5T AWD AWD Auto turbo 4 cyl. gets better fuel mileage than the Tiguan 4Motion® 4Motion® (21 city/28 hwy vs. 20 city/27 hwy).

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

The Sorento has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tiguan FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.7 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Sorento has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tiguan AWD’s standard fuel tank (17.7 vs. 15.9 gallons).

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

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 Tiguan are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Sorento has larger standard tires than the Tiguan (235/65R17 vs. 215/65R17).

For greater off-road capability the Sorento X-Line has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Tiguan (8.2 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Sorento to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Sorento has .7 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 5.2 inches more rear legroom, 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room, 3 inches more third row headroom, 1.7 inches more third row legroom and 5.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Tiguan.

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

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Sorento. The Tiguan doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Sorento’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tiguan’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Volkswagen Tiguan is only 1500 pounds. The Sorento offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

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 Tiguan only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 Tiguan doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.