Compare the2024 Cadillac XT6VS 2024 Kia Sorento

The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Sorento doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Sorento doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the XT6 and the Sorento have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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 Cadillac XT6 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 Cadillac XT6 is safer than the Kia Sorento:

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

The XT6’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Sorento’s (6/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the XT6 has a standard 220-amp alternator (155-amp - XT6 V6 and 170 optional). The Sorento’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT6 first among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Sorento isn’t in the top three in its category.

The XT6’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 44 more horsepower (235 vs. 191) and 77 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 181) than the Sorento LX/S’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 29 more horsepower (310 vs. 281) than the Sorento EX/SX’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT6’s fuel efficiency. The Sorento doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The XT6 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento (19 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XT6 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento (22 vs. 17.7 gallons).

The XT6 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sorento doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac XT6, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Sorento.

The XT6’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 XT6 stops shorter than the Sorento:

For better traction, the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sorento (265/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XT6 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento LX. The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Sorento SX/SX Prestige.

The Cadillac XT6’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Kia Sorento only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The XT6 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Sorento doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The XT6 offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Sorento’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XT6’s wheelbase is 1.9 inches longer than on the Sorento (112.7 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XT6 is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Sorento.

The front grille of the XT6 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Sorento doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The XT6 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Sorento doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The XT6 has 44.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento (149.9 vs. 105.3).

The XT6 has .6 inches more rear hip room, .4 inches more third row headroom and .5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sorento.

The XT6’s cargo area provides more volume than the Sorento.

Both the XT6 and the Sorento offer second row automatic folding seats. The XT6’s third row seats also fold up or down at the press of a switch. The Sorento doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

The XT6 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Kia. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 46% lower rating, Kia is ranked 26th.

The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer 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.

The XT6’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its front windows also automatically close, 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.

The XT6’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open 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.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the XT6 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Sorento doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The XT6’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Sorento offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The XT6 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.

The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional Automatic Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The Sorento doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Cadillac XT6 and the Kia Sorento, based on reliability, safety and performance.