Compare the2022 Honda PilotVS 2022 Kia Sorento

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Pilot deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Pilot’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Sorento’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Pilot 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 Pilot 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 Pilot and the Sorento have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and rear parking sensors.

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

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

The Pilot’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 37 percent more Honda dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Pilot’s warranty.

The engine in the Pilot has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Sorento have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Pilot’s reliability 48 points higher than the Sorento.

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

The Pilot’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 89 more horsepower (280 vs. 191) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 181) than the Sorento 2.5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Pilot is faster than the Sorento 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder:

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

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

The Pilot 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 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Pilot, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Sorento.

For better traction, the Pilot has larger tires than the Sorento (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R17).

The Pilot EX-L’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 Pilot EX-L has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento LX.

The Pilot 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 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Pilot (except LX)’s optional drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Sorento doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Pilot is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Sorento.

For greater off-road capability the Pilot has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento (7.3 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Pilot to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Pilot uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Sorento doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Pilot has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Sorento can only carry 7.

The Pilot has 46.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento (151.7 vs. 105.3).

The Pilot has 3.5 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear hip room, 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.1 inches more third row headroom, 2.3 inches more third row legroom, 2.1 inches more third row hip room and 4.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sorento.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pilot’s middle and third row seats recline. The Sorento’s third row seats don’t recline.

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

The Pilot’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sorento’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

The Pilot’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Sorento doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Pilot’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.

If the windows are left open on the Pilot the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or 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 Pilot’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 Pilot Elite/Black Edition’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

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

When the Pilot 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 Pilot’s standard rear and 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 Pilot 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 Pilot Touring/Elite/Black Edition has a 115-volt a/c outlet, 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.

The Honda Pilot has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Honda Pilot outsold the Kia Sorento by almost two to one during the 2021 model year.