Compare the2023 Nissan PathfinderVS 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Pathfinder 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 Nissan Pathfinder has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Pathfinder Platinum has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Pathfinder and the Sorento Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Pathfinder its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sorento Hybrid was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2019 but no longer qualifies.

The Pathfinder’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sorento Hybrid runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are over 38 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Pathfinder’s warranty.

The Pathfinder’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 57 more horsepower (284 vs. 227) and 1 lbs.-ft. more torque (259 vs. 258) than the Sorento Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Pathfinder Rock Creek’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 68 more horsepower (295 vs. 227) and 12 lbs.-ft. more torque (270 vs. 258) than the Sorento Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine) is faster than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

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

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Pathfinder, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Sorento Hybrid.

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

For better traction, the Pathfinder has larger tires than the Sorento Hybrid (255/60R18 vs. 235/65R17).

The Pathfinder’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 Pathfinder’s optional tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Sorento Hybrid’s optional 55 series tires.

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

The Pathfinder 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Pathfinder’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the Sorento Hybrid (114.2 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pathfinder is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Sorento Hybrid.

For greater off-road capability the Pathfinder has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento Hybrid (7.1 vs. 6.85 inches), allowing the Pathfinder to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Pathfinder Rock Creek’s minimum ground clearance is .85 inch higher than on the Sorento Hybrid (7.7 vs. 6.85 inches).

The Pathfinder has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Sorento Hybrid can only carry 6.

The Pathfinder has 42.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento Hybrid (148 vs. 105.3).

The Pathfinder has 2 inches more front headroom, 2.9 inches more front legroom, 2.7 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 1.2 inches more rear hip room, 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 1 inch more third row headroom, 4.2 inches more third row hip room and 5.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sorento Hybrid.

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

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

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Pathfinder easier. The Pathfinder’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.5 inches, while the Sorento Hybrid’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

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

The Pathfinder’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sorento Hybrid’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sorento Hybrid is only 2000 pounds. The Pathfinder offers up to a 6000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Pathfinder Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and incoming text message 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 Pathfinder’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.

On a hot day the Pathfinder’s driver can lower all 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 Pathfinder’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 Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Both the Pathfinder and the Sorento Hybrid offer available heated front seats. The Pathfinder 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.