Compare the2024 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2023 Kia Sorento

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Atlas has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sorento doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Atlas and the Sorento have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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, 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 Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the Kia Sorento:

	Atlas	Sorento
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	307	334
Leg Forces (l/r)	67/229 lbs.	212/405 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	277	390
Neck Injury Risk	39%	53%
Neck Stress	129 lbs.	159 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 Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the Kia Sorento:

	Atlas	Sorento
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	279	280

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Atlas its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 50 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sorento was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2019 but no longer qualifies.

Warranty

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

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Atlas for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Sorento.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Atlas’ engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Sorento’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

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 Atlas’ reliability 41 points higher than the Sorento.

Engine

The Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 78 more horsepower (269 vs. 191) and 92 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 181) than the Sorento’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Atlas has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the Sorento (18.6 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Atlas’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Sorento:

	Atlas	Sorento
Front Rotors	13.2 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	12 inches

The Atlas’ standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Sorento are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Atlas has larger standard tires than the Sorento (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R17). The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sorento (265/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The Atlas SE/Peak Edition’s 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 LX’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Atlas SE/Peak Edition has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento LX. The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Sorento.

Suspension and Handling

The Atlas’ 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 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas’ wheelbase is 6.5 inches longer than on the Sorento (117.3 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Sorento.

Passenger Space

The Atlas has 48.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento (154 vs. 105.3).

The Atlas has 1 inch more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear hip room, 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.5 inches more third row headroom, 4.1 inches more third row legroom, 2.6 inches more third row hip room and 1.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sorento.

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas’ cargo area provides more volume than the Sorento.

	Atlas	Sorento
Behind Third Seat	20.6 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	55.5 cubic feet	38.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	96.6 cubic feet	75.5 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Atlas easier. The Atlas’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.7 inches, while the Sorento’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

The Atlas’ cargo area is larger than the Sorento’s in every dimension:

	Atlas	Sorento
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	23.8”/53”/85”	15.5”/42.5”/76.5”
Max Width	61.6”	54”
Min Width	45”	42.4”
Height	37.5”	33”

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sorento is limited to 3500 pounds. The Atlas offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The Atlas uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Sorento 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.

Ergonomics

The Atlas SEL has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Sorento doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Atlas’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Sorento’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Atlas’ 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’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Atlas the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Sorento can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Atlas’ 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’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Atlas SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Sorento doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

The Atlas 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 is only available on the Sorento Prestige.

The Atlas has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Sorento S/EX/SX/Prestige.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Atlas has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Sorento S/EX/SX/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Sorento doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Volkswagen Atlas, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Kia Sorento isn't recommended.