Compare the2024 Kia SorentoVS 2024 Ford Bronco Sport

Both the Sorento and Bronco Sport have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Sorento S/EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Bronco Sport’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Sorento Prestige has standard Parking Collision Avoidance-Rear that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Sorento SX/Prestige has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Bronco Sport only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the Sorento and Bronco Sport have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Sorento has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Bronco Sport’s Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Sorento and the Bronco Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

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 is safer than the Ford Bronco Sport:

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Sorento is 1.5% less likely to roll over than the Bronco Sport.

The Sorento comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Bronco Sport’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sorento 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Bronco Sport. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Bronco Sport ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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 Sorento’s reliability 15 points higher than the Bronco Sport.

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 Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford 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 Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 16th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 12 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The Sorento LX/S’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (191 vs. 181) than the Bronco Sport’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. The Sorento EX/SX’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 31 more horsepower (281 vs. 250) and 34 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 277) than the Bronco Sport Badlands’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Sorento EX/SX 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Bronco Sport Badlands 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento gets better mileage than the Bronco Sport:

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

The Sorento has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Bronco Sport (17.7 vs. 16 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Sorento has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Bronco Sport. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sorento higher (7 out of 10) than the Ford Bronco Sport (6 to 7). This means the Sorento produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Bronco Sport every 15,000 miles.

The Sorento offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

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

The Sorento stops much shorter than the Bronco Sport:

For better traction, the Sorento has larger standard tires than the Bronco Sport (235/65R17 vs. 225/65R17). The Sorento SX/SX Prestige’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Bronco Sport (255/45R20 vs. 235/65R17).

The Sorento SX/SX Prestige’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Bronco Sport’s optional 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sorento SX/SX Prestige has standard 20-inch wheels. The Bronco Sport’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sorento’s wheelbase is 5.7 inches longer than on the Bronco Sport (110.8 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sorento is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Bronco Sport.

The Sorento X-Line SX Prestige handles at .85 G’s, while the Bronco Sport Outer Banks pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sorento X-Line SX Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the Bronco Sport Outer Banks (26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For excellent aerodynamics, the Sorento has standard flush composite headlights. The Bronco Sport has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The Sorento has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Bronco Sport can only carry 5.

The Sorento has .4 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, 4.8 inches more rear legroom, 1.7 inches more rear hip room and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Bronco Sport.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sorento’s middle row seats recline. The Bronco Sport’s rear seats don’t recline.

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

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Sorento’s optional second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sorento EX/SX/Prestige’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The Sorento’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Bronco Sport’s (2000 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Ford Bronco Sport is only 2200 pounds. The Sorento offers up to a 4500 lbs. towing capacity.

Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the Sorento, using 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. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Bronco Sport.

The Sorento Prestige’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Sorento’s standard driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Bronco Sport’s standard driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Sorento to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Sorento Prestige is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Bronco Sport’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Sorento and the Bronco Sport offer available heated front seats. The Sorento Prestige also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Bronco Sport.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Sorento SX/Prestige keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Sorento is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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