Compare the2023 Mazda CX-9VS 2022 Kia Sorento

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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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.

The CX-9 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 CX-9 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 CX-9 and the Sorento 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, rearview cameras, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

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:

	CX-9	Sorento
	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:

	CX-9	Sorento
	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 93 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sorento 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 runs out after 100,000 miles.

Reliability

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 CX-9’s reliability 80 points higher than the Sorento.

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 59 more horsepower (250 vs. 191) and 139 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 181) than the Sorento 2.5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 311) than the Sorento 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The CX-9 has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento (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 (255/60R18 vs. 235/65R17).

The CX-9 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 LX’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-9 Touring has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento LX.

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 (115.3 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For greater off-road capability the CX-9 has a 1.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento (8.8 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the CX-9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-9’s minimum ground clearance is .6 inch higher than on the Sorento X-Line (8.8 vs. 8.2 inches).

Passenger Space

The CX-9 has 29.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento (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.

Cargo Capacity

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

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

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

	CX-9	Sorento
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	21.5”/50.5”/84.9”	15.5”/42.5”/76.5”
Max Width	57.2”	54”
Min Width	40.2”	42.4”
Height	30.3”	33”

Towing

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

Ergonomics

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 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-9’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 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’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

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’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-9’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the Sorento’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

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 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 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The CX-9 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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-9 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Sorento EX/SX/Prestige offers wireless charging.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-9, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Kia Sorento isn't recommended.

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 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

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