Space for people vs. space for stuff is what it comes down to when deciding whether you need a midsize SUV with a third row. The 2025 Kia Sorento and 2025 Chevrolet Blazer present good options for 3-row and 2-row SUVs that are about the same size, but one carries more people while the other is geared toward carrying more stuff.
Let’s check out the highlights of the new Kia Sorento and Chevy Blazer.
2025 Kia Sorento
Extra seats are helpful when it comes to carrying more people, but not everyone needs the biggest 3-row SUV available. The Kia Sorento fits that bill.
The third row is designed to haul smaller people for shorter runs. It’s not a huge space, but it’s big enough. It also means you don’t have to pay large-SUV prices. Plus, it has all the good things expected of top vehicles in the segment. A standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen display appears in each trim level, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone projection.
While the base model comes powered by a 191-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, you can get another 90 hp for a bit more money via a turbocharged engine. The turbo pushes output to 281 hp, but the average EPA-estimated combined fuel economy only drops from 26 mpg to 23 mpg. Both powertrains can be had with all-wheel drive (AWD) as well. New for 2025 is black badging for the X-Line and X-Pro trim levels. Also a new Panthera Metal paint option replacing the outgoing Gravity Gray option. Prices start at $33,365, including destination charges.
Kia Sorento Highlights
Drive Wise: Standard on every Sorento, this is a suite of safety technology that includes automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, driver-attention warning, forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction-turning detection, and lane-departure warning.
Class-leading warranty: The Kia Sorento boasts the best warranty in its class. It’s covered by a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, which is much longer than what the Chevy Blazer offers.
X-Line: The X-Line models in the Sorento lineup add a rugged appearance package with an extra inch of ground clearance, high-utility roof rails, and unique wheels and bumpers. They all come standard with torque-vectoring all-wheel drive for added capability. The X-Pro model tops the lineup and comes with 17-inch matte-black alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires. It can tow up to 4,500 pounds when properly equipped.
Read our Kia Sorento Expert Review or see 2025 Kia Sorento models for sale near you.
2025 Chevrolet Blazer
The Chevy Blazer has an athletic and muscular exterior borrowed heavily from the Camaro sports car. It also offers plenty of space for five people and their stuff. The interior features a spacious cabin with plenty of convenience and safety technology.
The Blazer comes standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that makes 228 hp, which is fine for getting around town. If you want its performance to equate to its looks, you’ll want to move up to the 308-hp 3.6-liter V6. If you want AWD, that, too, will be extra — $2,700.
The Blazer’s ride is good and surprisingly quiet, courtesy of active noise cancellation. A 10.2-inch touchscreen handles all of the infotainment duties. Pricing begins at $36,795, including destination charges.
Chevrolet Blazer Highlights
Special editions: The Blazer offers two appearance packages: the Midnight Edition adds sleek black trim and black wheels, and the Redline Edition gives the Blazer 2LT and 3LT a sporty look without the added expense of upgrading to the RS trim. Unlike the Kia Sorento, there is no off-road package.
Chevy Safety Assist: This standard suite of tech bundles driver assistance features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, a following distance indicator, forward collision alert, and automatic high beams.
Standard remote start: Standard across the lineup, you can start your Blazer with your key fob as long as you are in range — a nice option on hot summer days or cold winter nights. It’s a feature that’s rarely standard on lower trim levels of other vehicles — but it is also standard on the Sorento with the vehicle Smart Key and Kia Access app.
Read our Chevrolet Blazer Expert Review or see 2025 Chevrolet Blazer models for sale near you.
Similarities
The Kia Sorento and Chevy Blazer are good-looking SUVs offering plenty of space and a lot of safety and convenience technology.
Conclusion
This choice seems pretty straightforward: If you need three rows, the Kia is the best option. However, if you want more cargo space, it’s hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet. However, there is one sticking point: price. The Sorento is more than $3K cheaper. Buying a 3-row SUV where you never use the third row might be worth it for the difference in price, not to mention the Kia’s better warranty.
New 2025 Kia Sorento Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$33,405 |
$31,784 |
|||
$36,305 |
$34,569 |
|||
$39,505 |
$37,762 |
|||
$43,105 |
$41,005 |
|||
$43,205 |
$41,256 |
|||
$44,905 |
$42,628 |
|||
$47,805 |
$45,539 |
|||
$48,805 |
$46,086 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Kia Sorento vehicles and New 2025 Chevrolet Blazer vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
| 2025 Kia Sorento | 2025 Chevrolet Blazer | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 191 hp @ 6,100 rpm | 228 hp @ 5,000 rpm |
| Torque | 195 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 258 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 9-speed automatic |
| Fuel Economy | 23 city/31 highway/26 combined mpg | 22 city/29 highway/25 combined mpg |
| Also Available | AWD; 2.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder | AWD; 3.6-liter V6 |
| 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 | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 7 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 inches | 112.7 inches |
| Overall Length | 189.6 inches | 191.8 inches |
| Width | 74.8 inches | 76.7 inches |
| Height | 66.7 inches | 67.0 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.9 feet | 38.7 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.3 inches | 39.8 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 39.1 inches | 38.6 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 36.8 inches | N/A |
| Legroom, Front | 41.4 inches | 41.0 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 41.7 inches | 39.6 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 29.6 inches | N/A |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 59.1 inches | 59.1 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 58.1 inches | 58.6 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 53.0 inches | N/A |
| Cargo Volume | 12.6/38.5/75.5 cubic feet | 30.5/64.2 cubic feet |
