Compare the2023 Audi Q7VS 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Audi Q7 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 its second-row seat belts.

The Q7’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Q7 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Q7 offers an optional backup collision prevention system 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 Q7. But it costs extra on the Sorento Hybrid.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Q7 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Q7 offers an optional Top View Cameras 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 Q7 and the Sorento Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The Audi Q7 weighs 805 to 1103 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 Audi Q7 is safer than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

	Q7	Sorento Hybrid
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	99	334
Leg Forces (l/r)	61/46 lbs.	212/405 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	390
Neck Injury Risk	44%	53%
Neck Stress	118 lbs.	159 lbs.
Neck Compression	38 lbs.	89 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	46/29 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 Audi Q7 is safer than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

	Q7	Sorento Hybrid
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	15 inches
Hip Force	557 lbs.	579 lbs.

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

Warranty

The Q7’s corrosion warranty is 7 years and unlimited miles longer than the Sorento Hybrid’s (12/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 1 place higher in reliability than Kia.

Engine

The Q7 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 34 more horsepower (261 vs. 227) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 258) than the Sorento Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Q7 55 TFSI’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 108 more horsepower (335 vs. 227) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the Sorento Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Q7 has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento Hybrid (22.5 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Audi Q7, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Sorento Hybrid.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q7’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Sorento Hybrid:

	Q7	Sorento Hybrid
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	12.8 inches

The Q7 stops shorter than the Sorento Hybrid:

	Q7	Sorento Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	121 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q7 has larger standard tires than the Sorento Hybrid (255/55R19 vs. 235/65R17). The Q7’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sorento Hybrid (285/45R20 vs. 235/65R17).

The Q7’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sorento Hybrid S’ standard 65 series tires. The Q7 Prestige’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Sorento Hybrid EX’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q7 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento Hybrid S. The Q7 Prestige’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Sorento Hybrid EX.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Q7 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Q7 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 Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q7’s wheelbase is 7.1 inches longer than on the Sorento Hybrid (117.9 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Q7 is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Sorento Hybrid.

The Q7 Prestige 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 Q7 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Sorento Hybrid EX (26.4 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Q7 has a 1.45 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento Hybrid (8.3 vs. 6.85 inches), allowing the Q7 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Q7 w/Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 2.85 inches higher than on the Sorento Hybrid (9.7 vs. 6.85 inches).

Passenger Space

The Q7 has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Sorento Hybrid can only carry 6.

The Q7 has .3 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sorento Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

The Q7’s cargo area provides more volume than the Sorento Hybrid.

	Q7	Sorento Hybrid
Behind Third Seat	14.8 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet

The Q7’s cargo area is larger than the Sorento Hybrid’s in almost every dimension:

	Q7	Sorento Hybrid
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	19.5”/44.7”/80.7”	15.5”/42.5”/76.5”
Max Width	52.5”	54”
Min Width	42.6”	42.4”
Height	30”	33”

Towing

The Q7’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sorento Hybrid’s (4400 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sorento Hybrid is only 2000 pounds. The Q7 offers up to a 7700 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The Q7 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Sorento Hybrid 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 Q7 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Sorento Hybrid. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Kia. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 31% lower rating, Kia is ranked 26th.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Q7, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat (memory seat optional for the front passenger), steering wheel position and outside mirror angle. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Q7’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Q7 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, 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 Q7’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.

If the windows are left open on the Q7 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower 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 Q7’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.

Laser headlights, optional on the Q7 Prestige, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Sorento Hybrid’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q7 Prestige offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Q7 has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

A manual rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are optional in the Q7 (except Premium) to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

When the Q7 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Sorento Hybrid’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Q7’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 Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Q7 and the Sorento Hybrid have standard heated front seats. The Q7 also offers optional heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Sorento Hybrid.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Q7 (except Premium) 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 Q7’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.

The Q7 Prestige offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Sorento Hybrid.

The Q7 55 TFSI Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

The Q7 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Q7 will retain 47.36% to 48.47% of its original price after five years, while the Sorento Hybrid only retains 45.41% to 46.07%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q7, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Q7 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 6 years. The Sorento Hybrid has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.