Compare the2025 Lincoln AviatorVS 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid

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

Safety

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

The Lincoln Aviator has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Aviator has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sorento Hybrid 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 Aviator and the Sorento Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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 and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

	Aviator	Sorento Hybrid
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	125	334
Neck Stress	167 lbs.	168 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/210 lbs.	212/405 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	318	390
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	29.2%	53%

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 Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

	Aviator	Sorento Hybrid
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	15 inches
Hip Force	573 lbs.	579 lbs.

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

Warranty

The Aviator’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sorento Hybrid runs out after 100,000 miles.

Reliability

The Lincoln Aviator’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Sorento Hybrid’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The Aviator has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

Engine

The Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 173 more horsepower (400 vs. 227) and 157 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 258) than the Sorento Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Aviator is faster than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

	Aviator	Sorento Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	8.4 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	16.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.7 MPH	87.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the Aviator and Sorento Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Aviator has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Aviator has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento Hybrid (20.2 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Aviator 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lincoln Aviator, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Sorento Hybrid.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Aviator	Sorento Hybrid
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	12.8 inches

The Aviator stops shorter than the Sorento Hybrid:

	Aviator	Sorento Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	145 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Aviator has larger standard tires than the Sorento Hybrid (255/55R20 vs. 235/55R19). The Aviator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sorento Hybrid (275/40R22 vs. 235/55R19).

The Aviator’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sorento Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Aviator has standard 20-inch wheels. Only 19-inch wheels are available on the Sorento Hybrid. The Aviator offers optional 22-inch wheels.

Suspension and Handling

The Aviator has a standard 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 Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Aviator has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Aviator’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Aviator’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Aviator’s wheelbase is 8.3 inches longer than on the Sorento Hybrid (119.1 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Aviator is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Sorento Hybrid.

The Aviator AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Sorento Hybrid EX (27.1 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Aviator has a 1.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento Hybrid (8.7 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Aviator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Aviator 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

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

Passenger Space

The Aviator offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Sorento Hybrid can only carry 6.

The Aviator has 35.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento Hybrid (140.6 vs. 105.3).

The Aviator has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front legroom, 2.9 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear hip room, 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room, .1 inches more third row headroom and 1 inch more third row shoulder room than the Sorento Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Aviator	Sorento Hybrid
Behind Third Seat	18.3 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	41.8 cubic feet	38.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	77.7 cubic feet	75.5 cubic feet

Both the Aviator and the Sorento Hybrid have standard second row automatic folding seats. The Aviator’s third row seats also fold up or down at the press of a button. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

Towing

The Aviator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sorento Hybrid’s (5000 vs. 2000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The Aviator uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Sorento Hybrid 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.

The engine in the Aviator is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Sorento Hybrid. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Aviator offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, certain gauge, warning, turn signal 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Aviator’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 Hybrid’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Aviator the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Sorento Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Aviator’s exterior PIN entry system. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Aviator’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 Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

The Aviator’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 Hybrid has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Aviator has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Aviator 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 Hybrid SX Prestige.

The Aviator (except Premiere) offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Sorento Hybrid.

The Lincoln Aviator has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the driver’s visor. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Kia charges extra for Homelink® on the Sorento Hybrid.

The Aviator (except Premiere)’s optional Active Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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