Compare the2024 Kia Sorento Plug-In HybridVS 2024 Audi Q5

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The Q5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Q5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q5 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and the Q5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

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 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Audi Q5:

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

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Q5’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Q5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 87 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 25th.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 60 more horsepower (261 vs. 201) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 236) than the Q5 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Q5 55 TFSI e running on electricity (83 city/75 hwy vs. 60 city/61 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Q5 running its gasoline engine:

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 32 miles. The Q5 55 TFSI e has to start its internal combustion engine after only 22 miles.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Q5 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Audi Q5 (5 to 7). This means the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q5 every 15,000 miles.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q5’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Q5.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Q5.

For better maneuverability, the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Q5 40/45 TFSI’s (37.9 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Q5 55 TFSI e’s (37.9 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has standard seating for 6 passengers; the Q5 can only carry 5.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has .5 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q5.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s cargo area provides more volume than the Q5.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the Q5’s in every dimension:

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q5 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q5.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and the Audi Q5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Kia Sorento outsold the Audi Q5/SQ5 by 33% during 2022.