Compare the2022 Mitsubishi OutlanderVS 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Mitsubishi Outlander 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 Mitsubishi Outlander 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 Outlander has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Outlander has standard Rear Automatic Emergency 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 Outlander SE/SEL has a standard Multi View Camera 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 Outlander 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and lane departure warning systems.

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 standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outlander its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sorento Hybrid is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2021.

Warranty

The Outlander’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Sorento Hybrid’s (7/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

Reliability

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

Fuel Economy and Range

The Outlander has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

The Outlander 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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Outlander	Sorento Hybrid
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	12.8 inches

The Outlander stops shorter than the Sorento Hybrid:

	Outlander	Sorento Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	121 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Outlander’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sorento Hybrid (255/45R20 vs. 235/65R17).

The Outlander’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 Hybrid S’ standard 65 series tires. The Outlander’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Sorento Hybrid EX’s 55 series tires.

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

The Outlander has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Outlander SEL AWC handles at .87 G’s, while the Sorento Hybrid EX pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Outlander’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Sorento Hybrid’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outlander ES has a 1.45 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento Hybrid (8.3 vs. 6.85 inches), allowing the Outlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outlander SE/SEL’s minimum ground clearance is 1.55 inches higher than on the Sorento Hybrid (8.4 vs. 6.85 inches).

Chassis

The Mitsubishi Outlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 400 pounds less than the Kia Sorento Hybrid.

The Outlander is 4 inches shorter than the Sorento Hybrid, making the Outlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Outlander uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

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

The Outlander has 20.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento Hybrid (125.5 vs. 105.3).

The Outlander has .3 inches more front headroom and .3 inches more front legroom than the Sorento Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Outlander	Sorento Hybrid
Second Seat Folded	79.7 cubic feet	75.5 cubic feet

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Outlander SEL, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Outlander’s standard easy entry system 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 Outlander SEL offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed 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 Outlander SE/SEL’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.

The Outlander ES’ 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 Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Outlander SE/SEL’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Outlander S-AWC has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer headlight washers.

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

When the Outlander SEL 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.

Both the Outlander and the Sorento Hybrid offer available heated front seats. The Outlander SEL also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Sorento Hybrid.

On extremely cold winter days, the Outlander SEL’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.