Compare the2022 Mazda CX-9VS 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid

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

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-9 Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature has standard Rear Smart City Brake Support 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-9. But it costs extra on the Sorento Hybrid.

The CX-9 Grand Touring/Signature has a standard 360° View Monitor 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 CX-9 and the Sorento Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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 driver alert monitors.

The Mazda CX-9 weighs 430 pounds more than the Kia Sorento Hybrid. 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 Mazda CX-9 is safer than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

	CX-9	Sorento Hybrid
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	212	334
Leg Forces (l/r)	107/424 lbs.	212/405 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	337	390
Neck Injury Risk	40%	53%

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 Mazda CX-9 is safer than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

	CX-9	Sorento Hybrid
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	249	280
Hip Force	553 lbs.	579 lbs.

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 standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-9 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 80 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sorento Hybrid is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

The CX-9’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sorento Hybrid runs out after 100,000 miles.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda first in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 15th.

Engine

The CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 23 more horsepower (250 vs. 227) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 258) than the Sorento Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-9 is faster than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

	CX-9	Sorento Hybrid
Zero to 30 MPH	2.4 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.1 sec	8.4 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	12.3 sec	13.8 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.8 sec	4.2 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	16.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89.7 MPH	87.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The CX-9 has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento Hybrid (19.5 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-9 has larger tires than the Sorento Hybrid (255/60R18 vs. 235/65R17).

The CX-9 Sport/Touring’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 CX-9 Touring Plus/Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Sorento Hybrid EX’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-9 Sport/Touring has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento Hybrid S. The CX-9 Touring Plus/Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Sorento Hybrid EX.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-9’s wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than on the Sorento Hybrid (115.3 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

The CX-9 Signature handles at .85 G’s, while the Sorento Hybrid EX pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-9 Signature executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Sorento Hybrid EX (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-9 has a 1.95 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento Hybrid (8.8 vs. 6.85 inches), allowing the CX-9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The CX-9 has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Sorento Hybrid can only carry 6.

The CX-9 has 29.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento Hybrid (135.1 vs. 105.3).

The CX-9 has 1.1 inches more front hip room, 2.3 inches more rear hip room, .1 inches more third row legroom and .1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sorento Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-9’s cargo area provides more volume than the Sorento Hybrid.

	CX-9	Sorento Hybrid
Behind Third Seat	14.4 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet

The CX-9’s cargo area is larger than the Sorento Hybrid’s in almost every dimension:

	CX-9	Sorento Hybrid
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	21.4”/49.7”/84.5”	15.5”/42.5”/76.5”
Max Width	57.2”	54”
Min Width	40”	42.4”
Height	30.3”	33”

Towing

The CX-9’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sorento Hybrid’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CX-9 Touring Plus/Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer memory seats.

The CX-9 Grand Touring/Signature has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning 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 CX-9’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.

On a hot day the CX-9’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Sorento Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CX-9’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Sorento Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-9 Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the CX-9 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Both the CX-9 and the Sorento Hybrid have standard heated front seats. The CX-9 Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature 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.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-9 Touring Plus/Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the CX-9 Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature’s standard 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.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-9, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The CX-9 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 4 of the last 15 years. The Sorento Hybrid has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.