Compare the2022 Kia Sorento HybridVS 2022 BMW X5 xDrive45e

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
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 2024/04/27

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia Sorento Hybrid are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Sorento Hybrid and X5 xDrive45e have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Sorento Hybrid has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The X5 xDrive45e’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

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 Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Sorento Hybrid and the X5 xDrive45e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, available all wheel drive and front parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sorento Hybrid is safer than the BMW X5 xDrive45e:

	Sorento Hybrid	X5 xDrive45e
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	34%
Neck Stress	168 lbs.	308 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	112 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	212/405 lbs.	636/584 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	159 lbs.	220 lbs.
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	91 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	81/191 lbs.	527/418 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 Hybrid is safer than the BMW X5 xDrive45e:

	Sorento Hybrid	X5 xDrive45e
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	280	308
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	44 G’s

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

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 “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sorento Hybrid the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 136 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X5 xDrive45e has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The Sorento Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The X5 xDrive45e’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sorento Hybrid 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X5 xDrive45e. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the X5 xDrive45e ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Kia dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sorento 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 BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 20th, 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 BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 10th.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento Hybrid gets better mileage than the X5 xDrive45e running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
Sorento Hybrid
	FWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	39 city/35 hwy
	AWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	36 city/33 hwy
X5 xDrive45e
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/22 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sorento Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X5 xDrive45e requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Sorento Hybrid’s turning circle is 3.5 feet tighter than the X5 xDrive45e’s (37.9 feet vs. 41.4 feet).

Chassis

The Kia Sorento Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1700 pounds less than the BMW X5 xDrive45e.

The Sorento Hybrid is 4.9 inches shorter than the X5 xDrive45e, making the Sorento Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Sorento Hybrid has 1.6 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more rear headroom and 3.3 inches more rear legroom than the X5 xDrive45e.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sorento Hybrid’s middle row seats recline. The X5 xDrive45e’s middle row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Sorento Hybrid’s cargo area provides more volume than the X5 xDrive45e.

	Sorento Hybrid	X5 xDrive45e
Third Seat Folded	38.5 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	45 cubic feet	33.1 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	75.5 cubic feet	71.2 cubic feet

The Sorento Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the X5 xDrive45e’s in almost every dimension:

	Sorento Hybrid	X5 xDrive45e
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	15.5”/42.5”/76.5”	n.a./40.7”/70”
Max Width	54”	49”
Min Width	42.4”	44”
Height	33”	31.5”

The Sorento Hybrid’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5 xDrive45e’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

Towing

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sorento 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 X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Sorento Hybrid has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X5 xDrive45e 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 Hybrid EX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Sorento Hybrid is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Sorento Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sorento Hybrid will cost $2315 to $2695 less than the X5 xDrive45e over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Sorento Hybrid will be $25761 to $27898 less than for the BMW X5 xDrive45e.

Recommendations

The Kia Sorento outsold the BMW X5 by 26% during the 2021 model year.