Compare the2023 Audi Q5VS 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid

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

Safety

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The Q5’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 Q5 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q5. But it costs extra on the Sorento Hybrid.

Both the Q5 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 around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi Q5 is safer than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

	Q5	Sorento Hybrid
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	284	334
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	212/405 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	187	390
Neck Injury Risk	34%	53%
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	159 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	89 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	90/55 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 Q5 is safer than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

	Q5	Sorento Hybrid
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	15 inches	15 inches
HIC	219	280

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 Q5 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 96 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sorento Hybrid is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

The Q5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years and unlimited miles longer than the Sorento Hybrid’s (12/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

Reliability

The Audi Q5’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Sorento Hybrid’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

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 Q5 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 Q5 55 TFSI e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 135 more horsepower (362 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

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running on electricity gets better mileage than the Sorento Hybrid:

			MPGe
Q5
	AWD	55 TFSI e Electric Motor	60 city/61 hwy
Sorento Hybrid
			MPG
	FWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	39 city/35 hwy
	AWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	36 city/33 hwy

The Q5 55 TFSI e can travel with zero emissions for 22 miles. The Sorento Hybrid can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Transmission

A seven-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Audi Q5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Sorento Hybrid.

The Q5 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Q5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Sorento Hybrid:

	Q5 45 TFSI	Q5 55 TFSI e	Sorento Hybrid
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	13.8 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13 inches	12.8 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sorento Hybrid (255/45R20 vs. 235/65R17).

The Q5’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 Q5’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Sorento Hybrid’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q5 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento Hybrid. The Q5’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Sorento Hybrid.

Suspension and Handling

The Q5 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.

The Q5 55 TFSI e has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q5’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Q5 45 TFSI Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Sorento Hybrid EX (27.2 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

The Q5 is 5.1 inches shorter than the Sorento Hybrid, making the Q5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Cargo Capacity

The Q5 has a much larger cargo volume than the Sorento Hybrid with its rear seat up (25.8 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Q5 easier. The Q5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29 inches, while the Sorento Hybrid’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

Towing

The Q5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sorento Hybrid’s (4400 vs. 2000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The Q5 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 Q5 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

The Q5 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed 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 Q5’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 Q5 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 Q5’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 standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q5 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Q5’s standard rear view mirror and optional 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 Q5 and the Sorento Hybrid have standard heated front seats. The Q5 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Sorento Hybrid.

The Q5 Prestige’s Park Steering Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

The Q5 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Q5 will retain 48.77% to 50.66% of its original price after five years, while the Sorento Hybrid only retains 45.41% to 46.07%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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