Compare the2022 Dodge DurangoVS 2022 Kia Sorento

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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

The Durango has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Sorento S/EX/SX/Prestige offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Durango has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Sorento S/EX/SX/Prestige has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Durango and the Sorento 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, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and front parking sensors.

The Dodge Durango weighs 630 to 1655 pounds more than the Kia Sorento. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

	Durango	Sorento
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	74	334
Neck Compression	11 lbs.	22 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	295	390
Neck Injury Risk	26%	53%
Neck Stress	156 lbs.	159 lbs.
Neck Compression	86 lbs.	89 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 Dodge Durango is safer than the Kia Sorento:

	Durango	Sorento
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	194	280

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

Warranty

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

There are over 3 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Durango’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Durango has a standard 160-amp alternator (180-amp - Durango optional and 220 optional). The Sorento’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Durango has a standard 850-amp battery. The Sorento only offers a 760-amp battery.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 6th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Dodge 5 places higher in reliability than Kia.

Engine

The Durango has more powerful engines than the Sorento:

	Horsepower	Torque
Durango 3.6 DOHC V6	293 HP	260 lbs.-ft.
Durango 3.6 DOHC V6	295 HP	260 lbs.-ft.
Durango 5.7 V8	360 HP	390 lbs.-ft.
Sorento 2.5 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	191 HP	181 lbs.-ft.
Sorento 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder	281 HP	311 lbs.-ft.

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Durango V8’s fuel efficiency. The Sorento doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Durango has 6.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento (24.6 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Durango’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Sorento:

	Durango	Durango R/T	Sorento
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	15 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.8 inches	12 inches

The Durango’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Sorento are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Durango has larger standard tires than the Sorento (265/60R18 vs. 235/65R17). The Durango R/T’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sorento (295/45R20 vs. 255/45R20).

The Durango SXT’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 LX’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Durango SXT has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento LX.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Durango can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Sorento doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Durango offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Sorento; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Durango offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Sorento’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Durango offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Sorento doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango’s wheelbase is 9 inches longer than on the Sorento (119.8 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Durango has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento (8.1 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Durango to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Durango has 36.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento (141.4 vs. 105.3).

The Durango has 1.4 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more rear headroom, .4 inches more rear hip room, 1 inch more third row headroom and 3.9 inches more third row legroom than the Sorento.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Durango	Sorento
Behind Third Seat	17.2 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	43.3 cubic feet	38.4 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	85.1 cubic feet	75.5 cubic feet

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

	Durango	Sorento
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	20”/50”/83”	15.5”/42.5”/76.5”
Max Width	49”	54”
Min Width	42.5”	42.4”
Height	36”	33”

Towing

The Durango’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sorento’s (6200 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sorento is only 3500 pounds. The Durango 4x4 offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Durango V8 4WD can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Durango can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Sorento can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Servicing Ease

The Durango uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Sorento 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.

The engine in the Durango is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Sorento. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Durango (except SXT)’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Sorento doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Durango’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Sorento does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Durango’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’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

On a hot day the Durango’s driver can lower the front windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Sorento can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Durango’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’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Durango’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

Consumer Reports rated the Durango’s headlight performance “Good” to “Very Good” (depending on model and options), a higher rating than the Sorento’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

When the Durango with available tilt-down mirrors 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’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Durango’s standard rear view mirror and optional 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 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Durango has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Sorento S/EX/SX/Prestige.

The Durango (except SXT) 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 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Durango owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Durango will cost $510 less than the Sorento over a five-year period.

The Durango will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Durango will retain 51.01% to 53.92% of its original price after five years, while the Sorento only retains 48.9% to 50.02%.