Compare the2023 Kia SorentoVS 2023 Genesis GV80

Compared to metal, the Sorento’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Genesis GV80 has a metal gas tank.

Both the Sorento and the GV80 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and 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 Kia Sorento is safer than the Genesis GV80:

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 is safer than the Genesis GV80:

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 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 125 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GV80 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

There are almost 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Genesis dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sorento’s warranty.

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 Genesis vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Genesis is ranked fourth.

As tested in Motor Trend the Sorento 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the GV80 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento gets better mileage than the GV80:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sorento uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GV80 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Sorento offers an available 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 GV80 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Sorento stops shorter than the GV80:

The Sorento X-Line SX Prestige handles at .85 G’s, while the GV80 Standard pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sorento X-Line SX Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GV80 Standard (26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sorento’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the GV80’s (37.9 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Sorento X-Line has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GV80 (8.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Sorento to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Kia Sorento may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 1000 pounds less than the Genesis GV80.

The Sorento is 5.7 inches shorter than the GV80, making the Sorento easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sorento has .1 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom and 2.5 inches more third row headroom than the GV80.

The Sorento’s cargo area provides more volume than the GV80.

The Sorento has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The GV80 doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sorento 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 GV80 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

On a hot day the Sorento’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the GV80 can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

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’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the GV80’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Sorento is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The GV80 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Sorento owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sorento will cost $820 to $6865 less than the GV80 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Sorento will be $18899 to $30613 less than for the Genesis GV80.

The Kia Sorento outsold the Genesis GV80 by almost five to one during the 2022 model year.