Compare the2022 Honda PilotVS 2021 Kia Sorento HEV

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

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/05/06

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Pilot deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Pilot’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Sorento HEV’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

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

Both the Pilot and the Sorento HEV 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, 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, rear cross-path warning and available rear parking sensors.

Warranty

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

There are over 39 percent more Honda dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Pilot’s warranty.

Reliability

The engine in the Pilot 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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 10 places higher in reliability than Kia.

Engine

The Pilot’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 53 more horsepower (280 vs. 227) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 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 Pilot’s fuel efficiency. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Pilot and the Sorento HEV have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All Pilots have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Pilot has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento HEV (19.5 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Pilot 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 nine-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Pilot, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Sorento HEV.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Pilot has larger tires than the Sorento HEV (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R17).

The Pilot EX-L’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sorento HEV’s standard 65 series tires. The Pilot SE/Touring/Elite/Black Edition’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Sorento HEV’s 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Pilot EX-L has standard 18-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Sorento HEV. The Pilot SE/Touring/Elite/Black Edition has standard 20-inch wheels.

The Pilot 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

The Pilot (except LX)’s optional drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Pilot is 1.3 inches wider in the front and .9 inches wider in the rear than on the Sorento HEV.

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

Chassis

The Pilot 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 Pilot has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Sorento HEV can only carry 6.

The Pilot has 46.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento HEV (151.7 vs. 105.3).

The Pilot has 3.5 inches more front hip room, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear hip room, 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.1 inches more third row headroom, 2.3 inches more third row legroom, 2.1 inches more third row hip room and 4.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sorento HEV.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pilot’s middle and third row seats recline. The Sorento HEV’s third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Pilot	Sorento HEV
Behind Third Seat	18.5 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	55.9 cubic feet	38.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	109.2 cubic feet	75.5 cubic feet

Towing

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

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Pilot, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Pilot’s standard easy entry system 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 Pilot’s front power windows 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 Pilot 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 Pilot’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 Pilot Elite/Black Edition’s standard 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 Pilot to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Sorento HEV doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Pilot 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.

The Pilot’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Sorento HEV offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Pilot and the Sorento HEV have standard heated front seats. The Pilot Touring/Elite/Black Edition 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.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Pilot Elite/Black Edition 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 Pilot Elite’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 Pilot Touring/Elite/Black Edition’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.

The Pilot Touring/Elite/Black Edition has a 115-volt a/c outlet, 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.

Recommendations

The Honda Pilot has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	Pilot	Sorento HEV
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	n/a
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	n/a