2020 Honda Passport vs 2019 Kia Sorento

The 2019 Kia Sorento was an attractive SUV, featuring updated styling with revised front and rear bumpers, a new grille, and redesigned headlights and taillights. The SX Limited trim, which was the top-tier option, boasted premium Nappa leather upholstery, a new steering wheel, and updated instrumentation. However, despite its high price, the interior had some inexpensive plastic surfaces that detracted from its overall appeal.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Passport had a rugged and athletic exterior, resembling a smaller Honda Pilot but with more ground clearance. The Elite trim came loaded with features like perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and a moonroof. The interior was spacious and well-appointed, with a mix of hard-wearing and soft-touch materials, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2019 Kia Sorento offered a 185-horsepower, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine for the L and LX trims, and a 290-horsepower, 3.3-liter V6 for the higher trims. The V6 engine provided quick acceleration and was paired with a new 8-speed automatic transmission. The Sorento's handling was surprisingly athletic, thanks to its meaty 19-inch wheels and Torque Vectoring Cornering Control (TVCC). During testing, the Sorento SX Limited returned 20.7 mpg, close to its EPA rating of 21 mpg combined.

The 2020 Honda Passport featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Passport's fuel economy was slightly lower, with an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined for front-wheel-drive models. The all-wheel-drive version achieved 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. The Passport excelled in off-road conditions, with Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes, and could tow up to 5,000 pounds when equipped with the towing package.

The 2019 Kia Sorento was a 3-row, 7-passenger SUV, but the third-row seat was best suited for emergency use due to its limited accessibility and lack of comfort. As a 5-passenger SUV, the Sorento offered 38 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 73 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The SX Limited trim featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. However, rear-seat comfort was less impressive due to tight legroom and a flat bottom cushion.

The 2020 Honda Passport was a practical 2-row SUV with ample space for four adults. It offered 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. The Passport's seats were comfortable and spacious, with available perforated leather upholstery and tri-zone automatic climate control. The SUV also featured a power liftgate and plenty of small-item storage, making it a convenient choice for families.

The 2019 Kia Sorento came with three infotainment systems depending on the trim level. The base system included a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. The top-tier system also included UVO eServices with a 5-year service plan and various safety features.

The 2020 Honda Passport's base Sport model had a 5.0-inch display, while higher trims featured an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen was responsive and easy to navigate. Higher trims also offered a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Passport's dashboard design was a bit outdated, but the switchgear was reliable and functional.

The 2019 Kia Sorento was a safe choice, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert standard on all trims except the base L. The EX trim and above included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Sorento received top marks from both the NHTSA and IIHS.

The 2020 Honda Passport also prioritized safety, earning good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA and being named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. The Passport came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which included collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic detection.