Compare the2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In HybridVS 2022 Audi e-tron

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

Safety

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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 Plug-In Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The e-tron doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Prestige has a standard Parking Collision Avoidance-Rear that use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The e-tron doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Full-time four-wheel drive is standard on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the e-tron.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’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 e-tron doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and the e-tron 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, 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 around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Audi e-tron:

	Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	e-tron
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	23%
Neck Stress	168 lbs.	253 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	81/191 lbs.	244/319 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Audi e-tron:

	Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	e-tron
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	60 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The e-tron’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the e-tron. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the e-tron ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 93 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 32nd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 20th.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the e-tron with its standard motors (83 city/75 hwy vs. 78 city/77 hwy MPGe).

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s maximum EPA estimated driving range on a full tank of fuel and a full charge is 453.6 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The e-tron’s range is only 222 miles, after which the minimum recharge time is 30 minutes for only an 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a conventional charging station can take up to 10 hours and 30 minutes.

Tires and Wheels

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the e-tron; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the e-tron’s (37.9 feet vs. 40 feet).

Chassis

The Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1250 to 1550 pounds less than the Audi e-tron.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is 3.6 inches shorter than the e-tron, making the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has standard seating for 6 passengers; the e-tron can only carry 5.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has 2.2 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 1.2 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the e-tron.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s middle row seats recline. The e-tron’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s cargo area provides more volume than the e-tron.

	Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	e-tron
Third Seat Folded	38.5 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	45 cubic feet	28.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	75.5 cubic feet	56.4 cubic feet

Towing

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The e-tron doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The e-tron’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the e-tron only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the e-tron.

Recommendations

The Kia Sorento outsold the Audi e-tron by almost 8 to one during the 2021 model year.