Compare the2024 Subaru AscentVS 2023 Kia Sorento

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Ascent 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 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Ascent has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Sorento doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Ascent. But it costs extra on the Sorento.

Both the Ascent and the Sorento have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the Kia Sorento:

	Ascent	Sorento
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	190	334
Neck Injury Risk	21%	21%
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	22 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	159/292 lbs.	212/405 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	210	390
Neck Injury Risk	33%	53%
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 lbs.	81/191 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 Subaru Ascent is safer than the Kia Sorento:

	Ascent	Sorento
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	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 Ascent its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sorento was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2019 but no longer qualifies.

Warranty

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

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Ascent has a standard 190-amp alternator. The Sorento’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 Ascent’s reliability 39 points higher than the Sorento.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 2 places higher in reliability than Kia.

Engine

The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 69 more horsepower (260 vs. 191) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 181) than the Sorento’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Sorento doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Ascent has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento (19.3 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The Ascent 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 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Ascent	Sorento
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	12 inches

The Ascent’s 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.

The Ascent stops shorter than the Sorento:

	Ascent	Sorento
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	133 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Ascent has larger tires than the Sorento (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R17).

The Ascent’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 Ascent has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento LX.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ascent’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the Sorento (113.8 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a 1.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento (8.7 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Ascent’s minimum ground clearance is .5 inch higher than on the Sorento X-Line (8.7 vs. 8.2 inches).

Passenger Space

The Ascent has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Sorento can only carry 7.

The Ascent has 47.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento (153.2 vs. 105.3).

The Ascent has .9 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more front hip room, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear hip room, 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.1 inches more third row legroom, 3.4 inches more third row hip room and 4.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sorento.

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

The front step up height for the Ascent is 1.3 inches lower than the Sorento (17.7” vs. 19”). The Ascent’s rear step up height is .9 inches lower than the Sorento’s (18.1” vs. 19”).

Cargo Capacity

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

	Ascent	Sorento
Behind Third Seat	17.8 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	43.5 cubic feet	38.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	75.6 cubic feet	75.5 cubic feet

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

	Ascent	Sorento
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	20.3”/48”/82.9”	15.5”/42.5”/76.5”
Max Width	50.5”	54”
Min Width	45.9”	42.4”
Height	34”	33”

Towing

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

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Ascent is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Sorento. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Ascent’s 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 Ascent’s front power windows 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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Ascent Base). The Sorento doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Consumer Reports rated the Ascent’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Sorento’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Ascent has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Sorento doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Ascent’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 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Ascent 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.

Recommendations

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