Compare the2022 Acura MDXVS 2021 Kia Sorento HEV

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Acura MDX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Kia Sorento HEV doesn’t offer pretensioners for the middle seat belts.

The Acura MDX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The MDX offers an optional Low-Speed Braking Control that use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The MDX offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The MDX Advance has a standard Surround-View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Sorento HEV only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the MDX and the Sorento HEV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

Warranty

The MDX’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sorento HEV runs out after 100,000 miles.

Reliability

The engine in the MDX has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Sorento HEV has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

Engine

The MDX’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 63 more horsepower (290 vs. 227) and 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (267 vs. 258) than the Sorento HEV’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the MDX’s fuel efficiency. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The MDX has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura MDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Sorento HEV.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	MDX	Sorento HEV
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	12.8 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the MDX has larger tires than the Sorento HEV (255/55R19 vs. 235/65R17).

The MDX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sorento HEV’s standard 65 series tires. The MDX’s optional tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Sorento HEV’s 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the MDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Sorento HEV. The MDX offers optional 20-inch wheels.

The MDX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the MDX’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the Sorento HEV (113.8 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the MDX is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Sorento HEV.

For greater off-road capability the MDX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento HEV (7.3 vs. 6.85 inches), allowing the MDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The MDX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The MDX has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Sorento HEV can only carry 6.

The MDX has 33.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento HEV (139.1 vs. 105.3).

The MDX has .2 inches more front legroom, 3.7 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear hip room, 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room and 2.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sorento HEV.

Cargo Capacity

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

	MDX	Sorento HEV
Behind Third Seat	18.1 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	48.4 cubic feet	38.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	95 cubic feet	75.5 cubic feet

Towing

The MDX’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sorento HEV’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The MDX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Sorento HEV uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Kia. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 12% lower rating, Kia is ranked 16th.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the MDX, the memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat (memory seat optional for the front passenger), steering wheel position and outside mirror angle. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer a memory system.

The MDX’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The MDX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The MDX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sorento HEV’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the MDX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Sorento HEV can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The MDX’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Sorento HEV’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The MDX’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the MDX to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the MDX is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Sorento HEV’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the MDX and the Sorento HEV have standard heated front seats. The MDX Advance also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Sorento HEV.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the MDX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the MDX’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The MDX’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Sorento HEV’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Acura MDX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Sorento HEV EX offers wireless charging.

The MDX offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.