Compare the2024 Kia SorentoVS 2024 Genesis GV80

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Kia Sorento 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 Genesis GV80 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

Compared to metal, the Sorento’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Genesis GV80 has a metal gas tank.

Both the Sorento and the GV80 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, 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 Kia Sorento is safer than the Genesis GV80:

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 Kia Sorento is safer than the Genesis GV80:

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

There are over 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Genesis dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sorento’s warranty.

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 12 points higher than the GV80.

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 Genesis vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, Genesis is rated lower.

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 Genesis vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Genesis is ranked fourth.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Genesis vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 8 places higher in reliability than Genesis.

As tested in Motor Trend the Sorento EX/SX 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the GV80 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento gets better mileage than the GV80:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sorento uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GV80 2.5T requires premium, 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 higher (7 out of 10) than the Genesis GV80 (5). This means the Sorento produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GV80 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 GV80 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Sorento stops shorter than the GV80:

The Sorento X-Line SX Prestige handles at .85 G’s, while the GV80 Standard pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sorento X-Line SX Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GV80 Standard (26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sorento’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the GV80’s (37.9 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Sorento X-Line has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GV80 (8.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Sorento to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Kia Sorento may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 1000 pounds less than the Genesis GV80.

The Sorento is 5.1 inches shorter than the GV80, making the Sorento easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sorento has .1 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom and 2.5 inches more third row headroom than the GV80.

The Sorento’s cargo area provides more volume than the GV80.

The Sorento has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The GV80 doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sorento 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 GV80 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

On a hot day the Sorento’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the GV80 can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

The Sorento is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The GV80 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Sorento, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Genesis GV80 isn't recommended.

The Kia Sorento outsold the Genesis GV80 by over four to one during 2023.