The way cars are advertised (and written about on websites like this one) could make you think that shoppers look at cars in distinct categories. But our research tells us you don’t. Instead, you often look at cars from several categories that overlap in price.
On paper, the Kia Sorento and Honda CR-V don’t have much in common. The Sorento is a midsize SUV with up to three rows of seating. The CR-V is a compact SUV with just two.
But they overlap in price, and both offer an excellent hybrid option for those looking to bypass the pump as often as possible.
Let’s compare these two cars, not often measured against each other.
2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid
The Kia Sorento Hybrid is packed with value. It’s a midsize SUV with a compact SUV’s price tag. Standard captain’s chairs and a third row let it carry more than almost any other vehicle similarly priced. And it has Kia’s signature long feature list and long warranty. Prices start at $36,690.
Kia Sorento Hybrid Highlights
Second-row comfort, third-row flexibility: The Sorento Hybrid comes standard with captain’s chairs in the second row and a third-row bench seat. That means second-row passengers get more space and privacy than in the CR-V. And third-row passengers? The CR-V doesn’t have a third row. The Sorento’s rearmost seat is small and best suited for occasional use, but it beats the nonexistent third row in the CR-V Hybrid.
The longest warranty available: Kia’s 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty protect you from surprise mechanical repair bills for a full decade. Toyota offers about half that sense of security. There is still no automaker willing to beat it. Honda’s coverage is a little more than half as long.
A feature list that belies its price: The least expensive Sorento Hybrid, the EX model, is equipped like a more expensive car, with standard luxuries like heated front seats wrapped in synthetic leather and a power-adjustable front passenger’s seat.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Sorento Hybrid models for sale near you.
2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid
The Honda CR-V Hybrid is an upscale-looking small SUV with an outstanding reputation for long-term reliability and resale value. Our expert test driver says, “The CR-V is a superb, well-considered package. It does virtually everything right, including build quality, cabin space, safety, and easy-to-use tech.” It offers two rows of seating to the Sorento’s three. Prices start at $33,350.
Honda CR-V Hybrids Highlights
Lower starting price: If you don’t need the Sorento’s third row, why not save thousands of dollars with the CR-V? Or get more car for similar money – the CR-V’s mid-level Sport-L Hybrid trim carries almost the same price as the base Sorento.
More fuel efficient: Another advantage of the CR-V’s smaller size? Greater fuel economy. It manages 40 mpg in combined driving, compared to the Sorento’s 37. If buying a 3-row model means you’ll mostly be hauling around an empty row of seats, you might be better off with two rows, getting more out of every gallon.
Refined design inside and out: The Honda CR-V looks more elegant than the Sorento. It looks more elegant than most affordable SUVs. A recent redesign gave it the gravitas many compact vehicles lack. That’s particularly true inside, where thoughtful and stylish design reigns.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the CR-V Hybrid models for sale near you
Similarities
Both offer hybrid efficiency, available all-wheel drive (AWD), and a starting price not much higher than many gas-powered SUVs.
Conclusion
The Kia Sorento Hybrid gives you a third row of seats and a more adult-worthy second row thanks to a pair of captain’s chairs instead of a bench seat. You’ll pay a bit more up front and a bit more at the pump for the added flexibility of a third row. But you’ll get a longer warranty, too.
The Honda CR-V Hybrid is less expensive and more fuel efficient, thanks partly to its smaller size. But that smaller size might be right for many buyers. It costs money to haul empty seats around. So, if you won’t use the third row, you might be better off spending less or putting the extra money toward a higher trim level with more features.
Only your lifestyle can tell you which of those descriptions fits you better.
Specifications
| 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid | 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid | |
| Starting Price | $36,690 | $33,350 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with electric motor | 2.0-liter hybrid 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 227 hp | 204 hp @ 6,100 rpm |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft | 247 lb-ft @ 0-2,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic | CVT |
| Fuel Economy | 35 city/39 highway/37 combined mpg | 43 city/36 hwy/40 combined mpg |
| Also Available | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, 2.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder; AWD; plug-in hybrid | AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 4 stars | TBD |
| Max Seating Capacity | 7 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 inches | 106.3 inches |
| Overall Length | 189.0 inches | 184.8 inches |
| Width | 74.8 inches | 73.5 inches |
| Height | 66.7 inches | 66.2 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.9 feet | 37.3 feet |
| Headroom, 1st Row | 40.3 inches | 38.2 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 39.1 inches | 38.2 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 36.8 inches | N/A |
| Legroom, 1st Row | 41.4 inches | 41.3 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 41.7 inches | 41.0 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 29.6 inches | N/A |
| Shoulder Room, 1st Row | 59.1 inches | 57.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 58.1 inches | 55.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 53.0 inches | N/A |
| EPA Cargo Volume | 12.6/38.5/75.5 cubic feet | 39.3/76.5 cubic feet |
