Compare the2025 Kia Sorento Plug-In HybridVS 2024 Chevrolet Traverse

Both the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and Traverse have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid 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 Traverse’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.

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 Traverse doesn’t offer knee airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid. But it costs extra on the Traverse.

Both the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and the Traverse have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 and available around view monitors.

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 Traverse’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

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

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 10 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 30 miles. The Traverse can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Traverse. 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 Plug-In Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Chevrolet Traverse (6). This means the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Traverse every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Traverse:

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Traverse are solid, not vented.

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 Traverse LS/LT’s standard 65 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 Traverse LS/LT.

For better maneuverability, the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Traverse’s (37.9 feet vs. 39 feet). The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the Traverse with optional 22-inch wheels’ (37.9 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Traverse (6.9 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is 1 foot, 2.9 inches shorter than the Traverse, making the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid. The Traverse doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’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 Traverse’s standard driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid SX Prestige’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches. The Traverse LT/Z71/RS’ passenger windows don’t close automatically.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Traverse doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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. Only the Traverse LT/Z71/RS offers wireless charging.