Compare the2024 Mitsubishi Eclipse CrossVS 2023 Kia Sorento

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Eclipse Cross. But it costs extra on the Sorento.

Both the Eclipse Cross 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, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

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

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 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is safer than the Kia Sorento:

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

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

Mitsubishi pays for scheduled maintenance on the Eclipse Cross for 2 years and 30,000 miles. Mitsubishi will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 3 visits). Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Sorento.

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 Eclipse Cross’ reliability 45 points higher than the Sorento.

On the EPA test cycle the Eclipse Cross gets better mileage than the Sorento:

The Eclipse Cross 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.

The Eclipse Cross stops shorter than the Sorento:

For better maneuverability, the Eclipse Cross AWD’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the Sorento’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Eclipse Cross has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento (8.5 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Eclipse Cross to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Eclipse Cross’ minimum ground clearance is .3 inch higher than on the Sorento X-Line (8.5 vs. 8.2 inches).

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 600 pounds less than the Kia Sorento.

The Eclipse Cross is 10 inches shorter than the Sorento, making the Eclipse Cross easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Eclipse Cross has a much larger cargo volume than the Sorento with its rear seat up (23.4 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

The Eclipse Cross SEL offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning 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 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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