Compare the2023 Mitsubishi OutlanderVS 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mitsubishi Outlander 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 Mitsubishi Outlander 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 Outlander 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 Outlander 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, 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 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 Outlander its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sorento Hybrid is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

The Outlander’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Sorento Hybrid’s (7/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Outlander’s reliability 20 points higher than the Sorento Hybrid.

The Outlander 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.

The Outlander has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

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

The Outlander stops shorter than the Sorento Hybrid:

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

The Outlander ES’ 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 Outlander SE/SEL’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Sorento Hybrid’s optional 55 series tires.

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

The Outlander 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.

The Outlander SEL AWC handles at .87 G’s, while the Sorento Hybrid EX pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Outlander’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Sorento Hybrid’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outlander ES has a 1.45 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento Hybrid (8.3 vs. 6.85 inches), allowing the Outlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outlander SE/SEL’s minimum ground clearance is 1.55 inches higher than on the Sorento Hybrid (8.4 vs. 6.85 inches).

The Mitsubishi Outlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 450 pounds less than the Kia Sorento Hybrid.

The Outlander is 4 inches shorter than the Sorento Hybrid, making the Outlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Outlander uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Outlander has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Sorento Hybrid can only carry 6.

The Outlander has 20.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento Hybrid (125.5 vs. 105.3).

The Outlander has .3 inches more front headroom and .3 inches more front legroom than the Sorento Hybrid.

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

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

The Outlander SEL offers an optional 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 Outlander SE/SEL’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.

The Outlander ES’ 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.

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

Both the Outlander and the Sorento Hybrid offer available heated front seats. The Outlander SEL also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Sorento Hybrid.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mitsubishi Outlander and the Kia Sorento Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.