Compare the2023 Kia Sorento Plug-In HybridVS 2022 Lexus RXL

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

Safety

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Both the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and RXL 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 RXL’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 RXL doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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

Both the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and the RXL have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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 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 Lexus RXL:

	Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	RXL
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	33.2%
Neck Stress	168 lbs.	412 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	212/405 lbs.	433/719 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.7 inches
Neck Stress	159 lbs.	267 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	81/191 lbs.	403/457 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 Lexus RXL:

	Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	RXL
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	44 G’s

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 134 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RXL is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

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 RXL’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 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus covers the RXL. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the RXL ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Lexus 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 Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 6th.

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 Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 6th.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the RXL:

			MPGe
Sorento Plug-In Hybrid
	AWD	Electric Motor	83 city/75 hwy
RXL
			MPG
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.5 V6 Hybrid	29 city/28 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the RXL:

			MPG
Sorento Plug-In Hybrid
	AWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/33 hwy
RXL
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.5 V6 Hybrid	29 city/28 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 32 miles. The RXL can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RX 450hL requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus RXL (5 to 7). This means the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the RXL every 15,000 miles.

Tires and Wheels

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RXL’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the RXL.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is .6 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than on the RXL.

For better maneuverability, the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the RXL’s (37.9 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

Chassis

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is 7.5 inches shorter than the RXL, making the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has .5 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 9.4 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more rear shoulder room, 2 inches more third row headroom, 6.1 inches more third row legroom and 7.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the RXL.

The front step up height for the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is 1.5 inches lower than the RXL (19” vs. 20.5”). The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s rear step up height is 1.8 inches lower than the RXL’s (19” vs. 20.8”).

Cargo Capacity

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

	Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	RXL
Behind Third Seat	12.6 cubic feet	7.5 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	38.5 cubic feet	23 cubic feet
Third Seat Removed	45 cubic feet	n/a
Second Seat Folded	75.5 cubic feet	58.5 cubic feet

Towing

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RXL’s (2000 vs. 0 pounds).

Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid, using 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. A trailer sway program costs extra on the RXL.

Ergonomics

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The RXL’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the RXL’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

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 RXL.

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 RXL.

Economic Advantages

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid will be $2147 to $8160 less than for the Lexus RXL.

Recommendations

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