Kia Sorento vs. Subaru Outback: Compact Crossover Comparison

The Sorento is a steady seller for Kia that has much to offer, including a steller warranty, a choice of two engines, many key safety features, and a third row. The Outback is Subaru’s top-selling model with standard AWD, better than average ground clearance, and a choice of two engines.

Let’s take a closer look at how these two popular compact crossovers compare.

Kia Sorento vs. Subaru Outback: Interior

The primary difference between the Sorento and the Outback on the inside is that the Sorento has an available third row of seats. This increases the seating capacity to seven people, while the Outback only seats five. The Sorento and Outback are pretty similar in terms of the actual passenger room inside. Specs for headroom and legroom are almost exactly the same in most areas. Cargo volume in both crossovers is also almost exactly the same.

Kia Sorento vs. Subaru Outback: Exterior

On the outside, the Kia Sorento and Subaru Outback look pretty different. The Outback has a sleek, lifted station wagon appearance with four doors and a small grille with slanted headlights. The Sorento is an SUV with a wider grille and bulkier body. It also has four doors. To sum up, the Outback looks more like a car, and the Sorento looks more like an SUV.

Kia Sorento vs. Subaru Outback: Affordability

The starting price for a new Subaru Outback is $27,845. The starting price for a new Kia Sorento is $29,390. The fuel economy rating for both crossovers is quite similar, but the Outback does edge out the Sorento with 29 MPG combined vs. 26 MPG combined for the Sorento. However, also packed into the affordability category is warranty coverage. There, the Kia wins handily with a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty vs. the Subaru’s five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Kia also has a better basic warranty at five years or 60,000 miles.

Kia Sorento vs. Subaru Outback: Powertrain

The base engine on the Kia Sorento is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. An optional turbocharged version of this engine makes 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. AWD is optional on the Sorento. The Outback also has a choice of engines between a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a turbocharged version. Both engines make less horsepower than the comparable engines in the Sorento. However, the Outback does come with standard AWD on all models. The only transmission available on the Outback is a CVT, which might be off-putting to some drivers.

Verdict: Both the Outback and the Sorento have a lot to offer, but we’d like to recommend the Kia Sorento for its more powerful engines and a fantastic warranty.