Compare the2022 Lexus RXLVS 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Lexus RXL 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for the middle seat belts.

The Lexus RXL 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The RXL has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The RXL offers optional Auto Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The RXL offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Sorento Hybrid 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 RXL and the Sorento Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

The Lexus RXL weighs 485 to 926 pounds more than the Kia Sorento Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the RXL the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sorento Hybrid has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

The RXL’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Sorento Hybrid’s (6/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the RXL first among midsize premium suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Sorento Hybrid isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 6th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked third.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in reliability. Kia is ranked 15th.

Engine

The RX 350L’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 63 more horsepower (290 vs. 227) and 5 lbs.-ft. more torque (263 vs. 258) than the Sorento Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The RX 450hL’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 81 more horsepower (308 vs. 227) than the Sorento Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

The RXL’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento Hybrid (19.2 vs. 17.7 gallons).

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus RXL, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Sorento Hybrid.

The RX 450hL 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RXL has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento Hybrid S. The RXL’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Sorento Hybrid EX.

Suspension and Handling

For greater off-road capability the RXL has a 1.25 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento Hybrid (8.1 vs. 6.85 inches), allowing the RXL to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The RXL has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Sorento Hybrid can only carry 6.

The RXL has 11.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento Hybrid (117 vs. 105.3).

The RXL has .2 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more rear hip room and 1.3 inches more third row hip room than the Sorento Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

The RXL’s cargo area is larger than the Sorento Hybrid’s in almost every dimension:

	RXL	Sorento Hybrid
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	21.5”/48.5”/81”	15.5”/42.5”/76.5”
Max Width	51.8”	54”
Min Width	44”	42.4”
Height	30”	33”

Both the RXL and the Sorento Hybrid offer second row automatic folding seats. The RXL’s third row seats also fold up or down via a control in the cargo area. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sorento Hybrid is limited to 2000 pounds. The RXL offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The RXL uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Sorento Hybrid 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 Lexus service is better than Kia. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 40% lower rating, Kia is ranked 16th.

Ergonomics

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

The RXL’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 Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The RXL offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The RXL’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 Hybrid’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the RXL 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 Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RXL’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Sorento Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the RXL offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights. The RXL also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

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

When the RXL 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 Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The RXL’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 Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the RXL and the Sorento Hybrid offer available heated front seats. The RXL also offers optional heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Sorento Hybrid.

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

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

The RXL 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® chose the Lexus RXL as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Lexus RX Series outsold the Kia Sorento by 56% during the 2021 model year.

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