Compare the2025 Mazda CX-90VS 2024 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-90 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 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Mazda CX-90 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 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The CX-90 Premium has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sorento Plug-In 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 CX-90 and the Sorento Plug-In 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, all wheel drive, 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 around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-90 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The CX-90’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid runs out after 100,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Kia is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 3 places higher in reliability than Kia.

The CX-90’s standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 19 more horsepower (280 vs. 261) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 258) than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The CX-90 PHEV’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 62 more horsepower (323 vs. 261) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The CX-90 Turbo S’ standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 79 more horsepower (340 vs. 261) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid:

Both the CX-90 and Sorento Plug-In Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The CX-90 has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The CX-90’s standard fuel tank has 6.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (18.5 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-90 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank has 7.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (19.6 vs. 12.4 gallons).

The CX-90 has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port which lock and unlock with the power locks. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Mazda CX-90, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid.

For better stopping power the CX-90 Turbo S/PHEV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid:

The CX-90 stops shorter than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid:

For better traction, the CX-90 has larger standard tires than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (265/55R19 vs. 235/55R19). The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (275/45R21 vs. 235/55R19).

The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-90 Premium/Turbo S has standard 21-inch wheels. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-90’s wheelbase is 12 inches longer than on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (122.8 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-90 is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid.

The CX-90’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.7% to 48.3%) than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s (55% to 45%). This gives the CX-90 more stable handling and braking.

The CX-90 Premium Plus handles at .82 G’s, while the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Prestige pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-90 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Prestige (27.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-90 has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (8 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the CX-90 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-90 PHEV Premium/Turbo S’ minimum ground clearance is 1.2 inches higher than on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (8.1 vs. 6.9 inches).

The CX-90 offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid can only carry 6.

The CX-90 has 36.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (141.6 vs. 105.3).

The CX-90 has 1 inch more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more third row headroom, .8 inches more third row legroom and .3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid.

The CX-90’s cargo area provides more volume than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid.

The CX-90’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is only 2000 pounds. The CX-90 offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The CX-90 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Sorento Plug-In 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 CX-90 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The CX-90 Premium’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CX-90 Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed 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 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

On a hot day the CX-90’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-90 Turbo S has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the CX-90 Turbo S is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The CX-90’s optional 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 Plug-In Hybrid has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S has standard front air conditioned seats and the CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.