Compare the2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2024 Kia Sorento

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

Safety

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The Atlas Cross Sport has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sorento doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the Sorento have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, 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 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is safer than the Kia Sorento:

	Atlas Cross Sport	Sorento
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	307	334
Leg Forces (l/r)	67/229 lbs.	212/405 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	277	390
Neck Injury Risk	39%	53%
Neck Stress	129 lbs.	159 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 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is safer than the Kia Sorento:

	Atlas Cross Sport	Sorento
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	15 inches

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

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Sorento has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Warranty

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

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Atlas Cross Sport for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Sorento.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Sorento’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Engine

The Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 78 more horsepower (269 vs. 191) and 92 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 181) than the Sorento LX/S’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Atlas Cross Sport has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the Sorento (18.6 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Atlas Cross Sport	Sorento
Front Rotors	13.2 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	12 inches

The Atlas Cross Sport’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 Atlas Cross Sport stops shorter than the Sorento:

	Atlas Cross Sport	Sorento
60 to 0 MPH	131 feet	133 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Atlas Cross Sport has larger standard tires than the Sorento (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R17). The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sorento (265/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The Atlas Cross Sport SE’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 Atlas Cross Sport SE has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento LX. The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Sorento SX/SX Prestige.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas Cross Sport’s wheelbase is 6.5 inches longer than on the Sorento (117.3 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Sorento.

Passenger Space

The Atlas Cross Sport has 6.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento (111.9 vs. 105.3).

The Atlas Cross Sport has .3 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 3.6 inches more rear hip room and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sorento.

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Sorento with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 12.6 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Sorento with its rear seat folded (77.6 vs. 75.5 cubic feet).

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sorento is limited to 4500 pounds. The Atlas Cross Sport offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The Atlas Cross Sport uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Sorento uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Atlas Cross Sport’s front and rear power windows all 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.

If the windows are left open on the Atlas Cross Sport the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Sorento can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard KESSY Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key is only offered on the Sorento S/EX/SX/Prestige, and doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Sorento’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Atlas Cross Sport SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Sorento doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Atlas Cross Sport offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Sorento doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Atlas Cross Sport also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Sorento Prestige.

The Atlas Cross Sport 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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Sorento S/EX/SX/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Sorento doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Kia Sorento by 8% during 2023.

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