Compare the2023 Kia Sorento Plug-In HybridVS 2023 BMW X5 xDrive45e

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and X5 xDrive45e have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The X5 xDrive45e’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and the X5 xDrive45e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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 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 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the BMW X5 xDrive45e:

	Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	X5 xDrive45e
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	34%
Neck Stress	168 lbs.	308 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	112 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	212/405 lbs.	636/584 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	159 lbs.	220 lbs.
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	91 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	81/191 lbs.	527/418 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 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the BMW X5 xDrive45e:

	Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	X5 xDrive45e
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	280	308
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	44 G’s

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

Warranty

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The X5 xDrive45e’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X5 xDrive45e. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the X5 xDrive45e ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Kia dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 9th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 42 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 15th.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the X5 xDrive45e running on electricity (83 city/75 hwy vs. 47 city/54 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the X5 xDrive45e running its gasoline engine (35 city/33 hwy vs. 19 city/22 hwy).

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 32 miles. The X5 xDrive45e has to start its internal combustion engine after only 31 miles.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X5 xDrive45e requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the X5 xDrive45e’s (37.9 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

Chassis

The Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1100 pounds less than the BMW X5 xDrive45e.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is 4.9 inches shorter than the X5 xDrive45e, making the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has 1.6 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more rear headroom and 2.9 inches more rear legroom than the X5 xDrive45e.

Cargo Capacity

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s cargo area provides more volume than the X5 xDrive45e.

	Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	X5 xDrive45e
Third Seat Folded	38.5 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	45 cubic feet	33.1 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	75.5 cubic feet	71.2 cubic feet

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the X5 xDrive45e’s in almost every dimension:

	Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	X5 xDrive45e
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	15.5”/42.5”/76.5”	n.a./40.7”/70”
Max Width	54”	49”
Min Width	42.4”	44”
Height	33”	31.5”

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5 xDrive45e’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

Towing

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X5 xDrive45e only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the X5 xDrive45e.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X5 xDrive45e.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has a 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 X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid will cost $1690 to $2180 less than the X5 xDrive45e over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid will be $15319 to $17889 less than for the BMW X5 xDrive45e.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Kia Sorento outsold the BMW X5 by 1034 units during 2022.