Compare the2023 Chevrolet BlazerVS 2022 Kia Sorento

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front shoulder belts of the Chevrolet Blazer are height-adjustable, and the rear seat shoulder belts have child comfort guides to move the belt to properly fit children. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages children to buckle up. The Kia Sorento doesn’t offer comfort guides on its rear seat belts.

Both the Blazer and the Sorento have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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

	Blazer	Sorento
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	182	334
Leg Forces (l/r)	104/435 lbs.	212/405 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	313	390
Neck Injury Risk	43%	53%
Neck Stress	124 lbs.	159 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	28/2 lbs.	81/191 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 Chevrolet Blazer is safer than the Kia Sorento:

	Blazer	Sorento
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	15 inches
HIC	265	280

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

Warranty

The Blazer’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Sorento’s (6/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

There are almost 4 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Blazer’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Blazer has a standard 170-amp alternator (155-amp - Blazer V6 FWD). The Sorento’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 Blazer’s reliability 70 points higher than the Sorento.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Blazer second among midsize suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Sorento isn’t in the top three.

Engine

The Blazer’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 37 more horsepower (228 vs. 191) and 77 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 181) than the Sorento 2.5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Blazer’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 27 more horsepower (308 vs. 281) than the Sorento 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Blazer V6 is faster than the Sorento 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder:

	Blazer	Sorento
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	6.3 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	10 sec	10.3 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3 sec	3.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	14.8 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Blazer 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder 4x4 gets better fuel mileage than the Sorento 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder AWD (22 city/27 hwy vs. 23 city/25 hwy).

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

The Blazer FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento (19.4 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Blazer AWD’s standard fuel tank has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento (21.7 vs. 17.7 gallons).

The Blazer 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.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Blazer higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Kia Sorento (5). This means the Blazer produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Sorento every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

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

Brakes and Stopping

The Blazer stops shorter than the Sorento:

	Blazer	Sorento
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	133 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Blazer RS/Premier’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sorento (265/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Blazer has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento LX. The Blazer RS/Premier’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Sorento.

The Chevrolet Blazer’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Kia Sorento only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Blazer 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.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Blazer’s wheelbase is 1.9 inches longer than on the Sorento (112.7 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Blazer is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Sorento.

For greater off-road capability the Blazer LT has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento (7.5 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Blazer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Blazer 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 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Blazer 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.

Passenger Space

The Blazer has 2.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento (107.8 vs. 105.3).

The Blazer has .1 inches more front shoulder room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sorento.

Cargo Capacity

The Blazer has a much larger cargo volume than the Sorento with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Blazer easier. The Blazer’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.3 inches, while the Sorento’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sorento is limited to 3500 pounds. The Blazer offers up to a 4500 lbs. towing capacity.

The Blazer 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 Blazer can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Sorento can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Servicing Ease

The Blazer 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.

Ergonomics

The Blazer RS/Premier’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 Blazer’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 Blazer’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Sorento’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Blazer’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Sorento’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

On a hot day the Blazer’s driver can lower all the 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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Blazer LT/RS/Premier’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Sorento doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Consumer Reports rated the Blazer’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Sorento’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

When the Blazer 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 Blazer’s optional 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 Blazer 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 Blazer 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 Blazer owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Blazer will cost $410 less than the Sorento over a five-year period.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Blazer, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Kia Sorento isn't recommended.

The Chevrolet Blazer outsold the Kia Sorento by 27% during 2020.

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