Compare the2024 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid

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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid:

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 Hybrid:

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 Hybrid was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2019 but no longer qualifies.

The Atlas’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Sorento Hybrid’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 Hybrid.

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

The Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 42 more horsepower (269 vs. 227) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 258) than the Sorento Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen Atlas is faster than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

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

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Volkswagen Atlas, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Sorento Hybrid.

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

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

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 Hybrid’s standard 65 series tires. The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’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 Atlas SE/Peak Edition has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento Hybrid. The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Sorento Hybrid.

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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid (117.3 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas is 2 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Sorento Hybrid.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion handles at .84 G’s, while the Sorento Hybrid EX pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Sorento Hybrid EX (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

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

The Atlas has 48.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento Hybrid (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 Hybrid.

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

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 Hybrid’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

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

Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sorento Hybrid is limited to 2000 pounds. The Atlas offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Atlas 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.

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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Hybrid’s 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 Hybrid can only operate 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 Hybrid’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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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.

Both the Atlas and the Sorento Hybrid have standard heated front seats. The Atlas SEL/SEL Premium R Line 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.

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 Hybrid SX Prestige.

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 Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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