2021 Kia Sorento vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was a highly anticipated addition to the Ford lineup, serving as a smaller sibling to the rugged Bronco. It featured a modern retro design reminiscent of the Land Rover, with short front and rear overhangs, tall fender wells, and a tucked-in body for trail driving. The front grille and tailgate prominently displayed the "BRONCO" name, with a smaller "SPORT" postscript. The wheels varied by trim, ranging from 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels on the Base model to 18-inch Ebony Black-painted wheels on the Outer Banks and Badlands models. The interior was rugged yet tasteful, with a unique HVAC vent design, an 8-inch infotainment screen, and a rotary gear selector. Interior trim levels ranged from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats, with practical features like a rubberized cargo floor and second-row seat protector.

The 2021 Kia Sorento marked a significant departure from its previous jelly-bean-inspired design, adopting a more athletic and muscular silhouette. The SX Prestige trim with the X-Line package featured roof rails, a shark fin antenna, and a rear roof spoiler. The front end showcased Kia's expanded tiger-nose grille, accented by running lights and squinting headlights. A silver accent between the front fender and door added visual interest. The rear featured vertical rectangular taillights, which were more cohesive than those on the 2022 Tucson. The Sorento's interior boasted high-value features, including heated outside mirrors, second-row air vents, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and keyless entry. The upper trims offered 10-way driver’s seat adjustment with power lumbar support, while the SX Prestige with the X-Line package included heated and ventilated seats.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims were equipped with a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. The Badlands and First Edition models featured a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 245 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. All models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD), along with a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, four-wheel independent suspension, and generous suspension travel. On-road, it offered good manners, with the 2.0-liter engine providing a better match for the vehicle's character.

The 2021 Kia Sorento offered a range of powertrains. The most common was a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). However, the test car featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with a wet clutch and AWD. This setup provided ample power for merging, cruising, and passing. The Sorento also offered a hybrid version with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor, available only in FWD. The AWD system included torque vectoring and a center-locking differential for slippery conditions. The suspension, consisting of McPherson struts up front and a multi-link setup in the rear, delivered a smooth and comfortable ride. The Sorento's various drive modes, including Eco, Normal, and Sport, made a noticeable difference in performance.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with features like a cargo space designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes and a catalog of over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could hold up to 150 pounds (100 with a moonroof), and the 2.0-liter engine could tow up to 2,200 pounds, while the 1.5-liter engine could tow 2,000 pounds. The cargo hold featured a flip-up rear glass, an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin offered ample storage compartments, including big door pockets and multiple cubbies. However, taller drivers might find outward visibility challenging due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2021 Kia Sorento, a three-row SUV, was best suited as a four-seater in its top trims, with second-row captain's chairs and a tight third row. The LX and S trims offered a second-row bench seat, accommodating up to five adults. The cargo space behind the third row was limited to 12.6 cubic feet, making it more practical to fold the seats. The second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom, with 41.4 inches in the front and 41.7 inches in the rear. The Sorento offered various storage solutions, including a phone spot with an optional wireless charger, cupholders, a center console bucket, and door pockets. Total cargo volume was 75.5 cubic feet, comparable to compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also offered Ford+Alexa and SiriusXM capability, along with FordConnect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The base audio system included an AM/FM stereo with six speakers, while a Bang & Olufsen sound system was available on higher trims. The terrain management system included up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, with additional off-road assistance from trail control technology. Intelligent access with push-button start was standard on all trims except the Base model, and higher trims included heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels and a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel.

The 2021 Kia Sorento offered an 8-inch touchscreen display on the LX, S, and EX trims, with hard buttons, volume and tuning knobs, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger 10.25-inch screen on the SX and SX Prestige trims featured haptic touch buttons and required a physical connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sorento included plenty of USB ports but lacked USB-C ports. The optional Bose stereo system provided decent audio quality, though not as immersive as expected. The navigation system needed improvement, particularly in voice search and Point-of-Interest functions. However, most drivers would likely rely on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for navigation.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. The optional Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system, SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link, and road-sign recognition. Trailer sway control was available as part of the tow package. All Bronco Sport models featured AWD and a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes, enhancing traction control, anti-lock braking, and electronic stability control. However, crash-worthiness ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available.

The 2021 Kia Sorento boasted a comprehensive array of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a driver-attention warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, lane-following assist, and auto high beams. The test car also had a surround-view camera and front- and rear camera views at low speeds. The adaptive cruise control worked smoothly, while the lane-keeping assist system occasionally made noticeable corrections. The NHTSA awarded the Sorento four out of five stars overall and in frontal-impact crash tests, with a perfect five-star rating in side-impact crash tests. The IIHS awarded the Sorento a Top Safety Pick designation, with the SX trim levels receiving top marks for their LED headlights.