2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Kia Sorento

The 2020 Honda CR-V, as part of the fifth generation since its release in the 2017 model year, had an exterior design that was both familiar and charming. Honda’s designers favored a soft, curvy approach that gave the CR-V a car-like appearance, closely resembling Honda’s sedans with its front and rear fascias. This design made it quite appealing for modern family transportation, leaning more towards a station wagon look than a traditional SUV.

Inside, the interior revealed a mix of textures and materials. Higher trims featured upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery, but these were juxtaposed with some low-quality plastics, which was a reminder that even the expensive versions of the CR-V derived from a more budget-friendly origin. The base CR-V (FWD LX) started at an MSRP of $26,270, with progressively higher trims including EX, EX-L, and Touring. Alloy wheels varied by trim, with 17-inch as standard, 18-inch on the EX, and 19-inch on the Touring. Fabric seating adorned the LX and EX trims, while the EX-L and Touring offered real leather. Roof rails were available only on the Touring trim.

In contrast, the 2021 Kia Sorento took a major stylistic leap from its previous iteration. The new Sorento featured a more athletic and muscular silhouette, bidding farewell to the previous model’s jelly-bean-inspired design. Our test car, equipped with the SX Prestige trim and X-Line package, showcased roof rails and a shark fin antenna complementing the rear roof spoiler. The front sported a larger, more contoured tiger-nose grille, sweeping headlights, and distinctive running lights. Its side profile featured a silver accent and the rear boasted aesthetically pleasing vertical taillights. Despite a somewhat obstructive D-pillar, the design was a worthwhile trade-off for its bold style.

Inside, the Sorento was equipped with high-value, desirable features across its lineup. From heated outside mirrors and second-row air vents to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and keyless entry, it was well-appointed. The layout across trims ensured that comfort and functionality were well integrated, although front passenger seat adjustments varied significantly across trims.

The 2020 Honda CR-V consolidated its powertrain lineup by exclusively offering a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which produced 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), provided a responsive and relatively quick driving experience. Despite initial hesitancy in acceleration, once in motion, the CR-V felt lively, especially in Sport mode. It handled well, much like a small sedan, with nimble steering and minimal body roll. The CR-V’s lightweight design (3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model) contributed positively to both its handling and fuel economy, achieving 30 mpg combined for FWD models and 29 mpg for AWD versions.

In comparison, the 2021 Kia Sorento offered a broader range of powertrains. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine on the LX and S trims produced 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. However, our test car came with the more powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. This engine, mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with all-wheel drive, delivered impressive performance, easily handling interstate merging and passing.

The Sorento also introduced hybrid options, including a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor for FWD only. The AWD system in the Sorento utilized torque vectoring and featured a center-locking differential for challenging conditions, with an X-Line package adding 1.3 inches of ride height and 20-inch alloy wheels. The Sorento's suspension setup—McPherson struts in front and a multi-link rear—ensured a smooth ride despite the larger wheels. Various drive modes, including Eco, Normal, and Sport, tailored the driving experience to different conditions, although the car’s 4,000-pound weight resulted in noticeable lean in corners.

The 2020 Honda CR-V stood out for its masterful packaging and roomy interior. It provided ample head- and legroom both in the driver's seat and passenger seats, rivaling the class leader, Volkswagen Tiguan. The CR-V boasted excellent cargo space with a total volume of 75.8 cubic feet, matching the Tiguan despite being three inches shorter. Thoughtful storage solutions were evident, such as a deep well in the center console, a two-position load floor for the rear cargo area, and sizable door pockets.

Conversely, the 2021 Kia Sorento’s three-row setup catered more realistically as a four-seater in its upper trims, where second-row captain's chairs replaced the standard bench seat. The third row offered limited space, making it less suitable for adults and diminishing cargo space to 12.6 cubic feet with all seats in use. Better suited for carrying four passengers comfortably, the Sorento provided legroom of 41.4 inches in the front and 41.7 inches in the second row. The Sorento’s total cargo volume was 75.5 cubic feet, on par with compact crossovers like the CR-V and RAV4. It featured practical storage elements, such as dedicated phone spots, multiple cupholders, and center console storage, but was not intended to transport a large number of passengers or bulky items effectively.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system revealed its age, especially in its entry-level LX trim, which included a mere 5-inch screen with limited functionality. Higher trims presented a 7-inch touchscreen, but it fell short compared to competitors' larger displays. The system lacked physical buttons, complicating navigation through functions, even with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. However, the EX trim and above added numerous USB ports, including two high-powered ones in the rear, and wireless phone charging in the Touring trim.

The 2021 Kia Sorento, while equipped with a robust tech suite, had a few quirks. The base 8-inch touchscreen, available on LX, S, and EX trims, featured physical buttons and knobs, and allowed wireless projection of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The upper trims, SX and SX Prestige, offered a larger 10.25-inch screen, but required a wired connection for phone projection. Unfortunately, Android Auto on the larger screen was compromised by redundant information limiting its effective display area.

While the Sorento came with ample USB ports and an optional Bose stereo system, its overall experience was middling. Navigation system reliability was also an issue, making smartphone-based navigation a preferable choice.

The 2020 Honda CR-V included Honda Sensing as standard, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. Automatic high beams were standard, with blind-spot and cross-traffic monitoring on EX trims and above. NHTSA awarded it five stars in most categories, while IIHS gave it a Top Safety Pick, limited by lower trim headlight performance.

Kia equipped the 2021 Sorento with an impressive safety suite including automatic emergency braking, driver-attention warning, lane-keeping and departure assist, lane-follow assist, and auto high beams. Our test car also featured a surround-view camera and adaptive cruise control, showcasing smooth operation and effective lane-keeping. NHTSA rated the Sorento four out of five stars overall, and IIHS designated it a Top Safety Pick, with better ratings for the SX trim's LED headlights compared to the lower trims' reflector headlights.