Compare the2022 Kia Sorento HybridVS 2021 Tesla Model X

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 Model X doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Sorento Hybrid’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Model X doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sorento Hybrid’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model X doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Sorento 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 Model X doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The Sorento Hybrid has standard 911 Connect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model X doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Sorento Hybrid and the Model X have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, available all wheel drive and front parking sensors.

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 Tesla Model X:

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 Model X has not been tested, yet.

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 Model X’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sorento Hybrid 2 years longer than Tesla covers the Model X. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Model X ends after only 8 years.

The Sorento Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and 50,000 miles longer than the Model X’s (5/100,000 vs. 4/50,000).

There are almost 6 times as many Kia dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sorento Hybrid’s warranty.

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 Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 84 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 31st, 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 Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 79 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 30th.

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

The Sorento Hybrid’s maximum EPA estimated driving range on a full tank of fuel is 690.3 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The Model X’s range is only 371 miles, after which the minimum recharge time is 15 minutes for only a 49% 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 82 hours and 53 minutes.

The Sorento 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 Model X; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better maneuverability, the Sorento Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the Model X’s (37.9 feet vs. 40.8 feet).

The Kia Sorento Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1200 to 1400 pounds less than the Tesla Model X.

The Sorento Hybrid is 8.9 inches shorter than the Model X, making the Sorento Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sorento Hybrid has .2 inches more front legroom, 2.3 inches more rear legroom, 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room, 4 inches more third row hip room and 13 inches more third row shoulder room than the Model X.

The Sorento Hybrid’s cargo area provides more volume than the Model X.

The Sorento Hybrid’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Model X 6-Passenger doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Sorento Hybrid’s optional second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Model X doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sorento Hybrid’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Model X doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Sorento Hybrid to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model X.

The Sorento 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 Model X’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 Hybrid has a standard rear wiper. The Model X doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Sorento Hybrid’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model X doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Sorento Hybrid has standard extendable sun visors. The Model X doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Sorento Hybrid has a standard center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Model X doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

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

The Kia Sorento outsold the Tesla Model X by over three to one during the 2021 model year.