2021 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Kia Sorento

The 2021 Honda Odyssey had a familiar look that was subtly updated for the new model year. It featured a new grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation across all trims, and a new gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretching the width of the taillights. New wheel designs were introduced for the top three trim levels, modernizing the Odyssey by reducing brightwork. Buyers could choose from five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, with base prices ranging from $31,790 to $47,820. The test vehicle, a Lunar Silver Metallic Elite trim, was priced at $48,940, including the destination charge. The Elite trim added perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, new dashboard ambient lighting, and tri-color floor mats, enhancing the upscale look and feel. The handsome new 19-inch wheels with Shark Gray paint and machined surfaces, along with a more luxurious interior, brought the Odyssey Elite closer to being the Acura of minivans.

The 2021 Kia Sorento represented a significant step forward in design compared to its predecessor. It shed the bubbly design of the outgoing model for a more athletic, muscular silhouette. The test car, an SX Prestige trim with the X-Line package, featured roof rails, a shark fin antenna, and a rear roof spoiler. The front showcased Kia’s expansive tiger-nose grille, which curved toward the car’s front corners, and headlights accented by running lights. The side profile included a silver accent between the front fender and the door, while the rear featured long, pointed side windows and large D-pillars. The taillights were vertical rectangles, two on each side, giving the Sorento a cohesive and cautiously modern look. The interior boasted high-value features, including heated outside mirrors, second-row air vents, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and keyless entry. The SX Prestige trim added real perforated leather upholstery, providing a comfortable and luxurious experience.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a ten-speed automatic transmission, delivering 280 horsepower to the front wheels. The transmission offered Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow driving modes, along with paddle shifters. The V6 engine featured variable cylinder management for fuel efficiency, with an EPA rating of 22 mpg in combined driving. During testing, the Odyssey averaged 21.8 mpg. However, the lack of all-wheel drive (AWD) put the Odyssey at a disadvantage in snowy regions. The new electronic brake booster improved brake pedal feel and response, supporting the adaptive cruise control’s stop-and-go capability. The Odyssey’s ride and handling were enjoyable, with perfectly weighted steering, a firm but comfortable ride, and well-managed body motions. The 19-inch wheels on the Touring and Elite trims enhanced handling. However, the brakes struggled under heavy use, heating up and fading during a mountain descent, indicating a need for a braking component upgrade.

The 2021 Kia Sorento offered a range of powertrains, with the most common being a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. However, the test car featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with a wet clutch to AWD. This setup provided ample power for merging, cruising, and passing. The Sorento also had a hybrid version with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine and electric motor, available only with FWD. The AWD system included torque vectoring and a center-locking differential for slippery conditions. The X-Line package added 1.3 inches of ride height, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a roof rack. The suspension, consisting of McPherson struts up front and a multi-link setup in the rear, offered a smooth and comfortable ride. The Sorento’s drive modes, including Eco, Normal, and Sport, significantly impacted performance and fuel economy. Despite its 4,000-pound weight, the Sorento handled well, with minimal body lean and head-tossing in corners.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered a well-designed interior with legible instrumentation, logical controls, and ample storage. The 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, standard in all but the base LX trim, was comfortable and included inboard adjustable armrests. The Elite trim added a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Storage space was excellent, with shelves in the front doors and a wireless smartphone charger on the center console’s top tray. The Magic Slide second-row seat layout, available in all trims except LX, allowed for various seating configurations. The second-row seats provided good support but lacked adjustable armrests. The third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space measured 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 144.9 cubic feet with all seats removed. However, removing and reinstalling the second-row seats was cumbersome.

The 2021 Kia Sorento, while practical, was best suited as a four-seater in its top trims due to the tight third-row seating. The second-row captain's chairs in the test vehicle were comfortable, with ample legroom in both the front (41.4 inches) and rear (41.7 inches). Cargo space behind the third row was limited to 12.6 cubic feet, making it more practical to fold the seats for additional storage. The Sorento offered good storage for small items, with a phone slot (optional wireless charger), two cupholders, and a center console bucket with a tray insert. The door pockets accommodated water bottles, and the second-row seats had built-in cupholders. Total cargo volume was 75.5 cubic feet, comparable to compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4. The Sorento’s closest competitor in size and performance was the Mazda CX-9.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, starting with the EX trim, featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, text-messaging support, basic HondaLink connectivity, and a Cabin Control smartphone app. The Touring trim added a navigation system, HondaLink subscription service plans, WiFi capability, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk in-vehicle PA system. The Elite trim included an 11-speaker premium sound system, multi-zone listening options, and wireless smartphone charging. HondaLink Security, Remote, and Concierge subscription plans were available, with varying free trial periods. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system, available on Touring and Elite trims, included a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray disc player, wireless headphones, and streaming apps. Despite these features, the non-touchscreen display and reliance on a remote were less appealing to tech-savvy children.

The 2021 Kia Sorento offered a smaller 8-inch touchscreen display on 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 SX and SX Prestige trims featured haptic touch buttons, knobs, and easy navigation but required a physical connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The right third of the screen displayed redundant information, reducing its effective size. The Sorento had ample USB ports but no USB-C ports. The optional Bose stereo system was underwhelming, lacking immersive audio quality. The navigation system needed improvement, particularly in voice search and Point-of-Interest functions. However, most drivers would likely use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for navigation.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety features with the standard inclusion of Honda Sensing on all trims. The system included adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, pedestrian braking, road-sign recognition, and a new Honda Sensing menu button for easy access to ADAS settings. LED headlights with automatic high-beam assist were also standard, contributing to the expected Top Safety Pick recommendation from the IIHS. The Odyssey’s ADAS worked accurately but could be smoother, with adaptive cruise control applying uneven braking and lane-departure warning wobbling the steering wheel. The Odyssey received top five-star ratings from the NHTSA for all assessments except rollover resistance, which earned a four-star score.

The 2021 Kia Sorento came equipped with a comprehensive array of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, 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 excessive corrections. The NHTSA awarded the Sorento four out of five stars overall and in all frontal-impact crash tests and rollover, with a perfect five-star rating in side-impact crash tests. The IIHS awarded a Top Safety Pick designation to the Sorento, with the SX trim levels and their LED headlights receiving top ratings, while the LED reflector headlights on lower trims received a poor rating.