Compare the2023 Mercedes GLBVS 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLB 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 GLB’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the GLB 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

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

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes GLB is faster than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Mercedes GLB, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Sorento Hybrid.

The GLB offers a standard 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 Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

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

The GLB’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sorento Hybrid’s standard 65 series tires. The GLB’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Sorento Hybrid’s optional 55 series tires.

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

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the GLB can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The GLB offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Sorento Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GLB’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The GLB 250 4MATIC handles at .82 G’s, while the Sorento Hybrid EX pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the GLB has a 1.05 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento Hybrid (7.9 vs. 6.85 inches), allowing the GLB to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Mercedes GLB may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 pounds less than the Kia Sorento Hybrid.

The GLB is 7 inches shorter than the Sorento Hybrid, making the GLB easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The GLB offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Sorento Hybrid can only carry 6.

The GLB has .4 inches more front headroom and .2 inches more rear headroom than the Sorento Hybrid.

The front step up height for the GLB is 2 inches lower than the Sorento Hybrid (17” vs. 19”). The GLB’s rear step up height is 1.5 inches lower than the Sorento Hybrid’s (17.5” vs. 19”).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the GLB easier. The GLB’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.5 inches, while the Sorento Hybrid’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

The GLB uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Sorento Hybrid uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Sorento Hybrid SX Prestige, the GLB has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLB’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.

If the windows are left open on the GLB the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower 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 GLB’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Sorento Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GLB offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights. The GLB also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The GLB’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Sorento Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The GLB offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Sorento Hybrid.

The GLB’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The GLB will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the GLB will retain 46.13% to 48.36% of its original price after five years, while the Sorento Hybrid only retains 45.41% to 46.07%.