Compare the2022 Infiniti QX55VS 2021 Kia Sorento HEV

The Infiniti QX55 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 QX55 has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses 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 QX55 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The QX55 Essential/Sensory has a standard Around View® Monitor 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 QX55 and the Sorento HEV 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, plastic fuel tanks, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The QX55’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the Sorento HEV’s (7/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 4 places higher in reliability than Kia.

The QX55’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 41 more horsepower (268 vs. 227) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 258) than the Sorento HEV’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The QX55 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the QX55’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Sorento HEV:

	QX55	Sorento HEV
Front Rotors	13 inches	12.8 inches

For better traction, the QX55 has larger tires than the Sorento HEV (255/45R20 vs. 235/65R17).

The QX55’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sorento HEV’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX55 has standard 20-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Sorento HEV.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the QX55 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For better maneuverability, the QX55’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Sorento HEV’s (36.4 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the QX55 has a 1.75 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento HEV (8.6 vs. 6.85 inches), allowing the QX55 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The QX55 is 3.1 inches shorter than the Sorento HEV, making the QX55 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The QX55 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.

The front step up height for the QX55 is 1.6 inches lower than the Sorento HEV (17.4” vs. 19”). The QX55’s rear step up height is 1.2 inches lower than the Sorento HEV’s (17.8” vs. 19”).

The QX55 has a much larger cargo volume than the Sorento HEV with its rear seat up (26.9 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the QX55 easier. The QX55’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.9 inches, while the Sorento HEV’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

The QX55 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 Infiniti service is better than Kia. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti third in service department satisfaction. With a 32% lower rating, Kia is ranked 16th.

When two different drivers share the QX55 Essential/Sensory, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster) and outside mirror angle. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer a memory system.

The QX55 Essential/Sensory’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The QX55 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction 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 QX55’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 QX55 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows 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 QX55’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 QX55 Essential/Sensory’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the QX55 (except Luxe) offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the QX55 Essential/Sensory 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.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the QX55 Essential/Sensory 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 QX55 Essential/Sensory’s standard 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 QX55 Essential/Sensory’s standard 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.