Kia Sorento vs Ford Edge

The 2021 Ford Edge retained its familiar styling, largely unchanged since its 2019 refresh. This redesign harmonized the Edge’s existing body with Ford’s contemporary aesthetic, making it a cleaner alternative to more flamboyant competitors like the Chevy Blazer or Hyundai Santa Fe. The higher trims of the Edge were particularly distinctive. The Edge Titanium flaunted a sophisticated look with additional chrome accents, while the Edge ST had a sporty edge with a blacked-out grille, 20-inch standard wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line mirrored the ST's aggressive styling sans the performance upgrades and hefty price tag.

However, the interior of the Edge showed signs of aging. Over the years, Ford had awkwardly adjusted the cabin design to integrate new features like a larger touchscreen, which left the interior looking somewhat outdated. While the Edge Titanium offered leather upholstery and the ST trim featured sporty front seats with enhanced bolstering and contrasting stitching, the overall design didn't match the exterior's modernity.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Sorento exuded style across all trims. The X-Line package, in particular, gave the Sorento a rugged and assertive demeanor with matte-finish wheels, lifted suspension, robust roof rails, and black lower body cladding. Our test vehicle had the X-Line package, which included all-wheel drive (AWD) and sported additional features like Wolf Gray paint and Rust-colored leather. The luxurious touches elevated the Sorento's appearance, making it feel upscale despite its reasonable price.

Inside, the Sorento's cabin combined quality with thoughtful design. From leather upholstery and simulated wood trim to well-placed controls, everything about the Sorento screamed quality. The 2022 model offered a rock-solid cabin construction, inventive design details, and practical storage solutions without compromising the interior style. The third-row seats, however, were best suited for children or short trips due to limited legroom and comfort, making the Sorento a better fit for families with younger kids.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered diverse engine options. Most models were equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Buyers could opt for standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or the optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The performance-focused Edge ST came with a more powerful EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, churning out 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque on 93-octane fuel. The ST also featured AWD, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and performance-tuned suspension.

Ford’s claims of benchmarking the Edge ST against high-performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan were met with skepticism, but the Edge ST still managed to provide an engaging driving experience. While the non-ST models' turbo-four engine was noted for being somewhat sluggish, the ST felt refined for its class. In terms of towing, the Edge offered competitive capacities, with the base FWD model towing up to 3,958 pounds, AWD models up to 4,122 pounds, and the V6-powered ST up to 4,525 pounds.

The 2022 Kia Sorento offered four powertrains to choose from, starting with the rather underwhelming 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which took nearly 9.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. For a more engaging drive, the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine was recommended, producing 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission, providing peppy acceleration and smooth gear changes.

The turbocharged engine made the Sorento feel energetic, with Kia claiming a 0-60 mph time of about 7.5 seconds for AWD models. The X-Line package, despite its raised suspension, maintained a sports-sedan-like drive with precise handling and excellent suspension tuning. The Sorento’s fuel efficiency was lower than expected, with real-world driving averaging around 20.7 mpg compared to the EPA's 24 mpg estimate.

The 2021 Ford Edge excelled in interior space for its category. It provided the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers, and both rows offered ample legroom, only second to the Hyundai Santa Fe. The dual-zone automatic climate control ensured comfort for all passengers.

Cargo-wise, the Edge offered 39.2 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up and 73.4 cubic feet with them folded, making it one of the tops in its class for cargo volume. However, the narrow center console negated some of the space-saving benefits of the rotary shift knob, and the storage nook was hard to reach and easy to forget.

The 2022 Kia Sorento was designed to feel luxurious, despite the oddly named Rust-colored leather. The new SX Prestige trim included a 14-way power driver’s seat with a thigh support extension, 10-way power front passenger seat, and both heated and ventilated front seats. The second-row captain's chairs, comfortable with thoughtful storage solutions, were now heated from the EX trim onwards. However, the third row remained cramped and was best suited for children.

In terms of cargo capacity, the Sorento edged out the Edge slightly with 38.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 75.5 cubic feet with the second row folded. The third row's usability was minimal, expanding only 12.6 cubic feet when in use. The smart power tailgate added a layer of convenience but could be accidentally triggered by the proximity of the key fob.

Ford kept the 2021 Edge technologically advanced with the inclusion of the Sync 4 infotainment system. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a 12-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, SiriusXM radio, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. For audiophiles, the Edge ST added a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Four USB ports, including newly added rear USB-C ports, ensured connectivity for all passengers.

The 2022 Kia Sorento featured a similar level of technology, though there were some differences across trim levels. The base LX trim had an 8-inch touchscreen, while all other trims enjoyed a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, satellite radio, and Kia Connect services, albeit requiring a cable for Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The bold graphics and color schemes might not have been to everyone’s taste, but the overall interface was intuitive.

Unique to the Sorento was the 12-speaker Bose premium surround-sound system, reserved for the highest trim levels. Wireless smartphone charging was standard from the EX trim onwards, enhancing the tech-savvy nature of the vehicle.

The 2021 Ford Edge earned strong safety credentials, as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features under Ford Co-Pilot360 included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

For 2022, the Kia Sorento included the Kia Drive Wise safety suite, which varied by trim. Unique features like rear-seat reminder, Junction Assist, and Blind View Monitor added advanced levels of safety. The IIHS recognized the Sorento as a Top Safety Pick, with the superior trims earning the top headlight rating. The NHTSA, however, rated the Sorento lower with a four-star overall crash-test rating.