2021 Lexus RX vs 2021 Kia Sorento

The 2021 Kia Sorento represented a significant departure from its previous generation's design. It shed its bubbly, jelly-bean-inspired look for a more athletic and muscular silhouette. The SX Prestige trim with the X-Line package added roof rails and a shark fin antenna, enhancing its rugged appeal. The front featured an expansive tiger-nose grille with a noticeable curve, complemented by squinting headlights and running lights. The side profile was accentuated by a silver trim between the front fender and the door, while the rear showcased vertical rectangular taillights. The interior boasted high-value features like heated outside mirrors, second-row air vents, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and keyless entry. The SX Prestige trim offered luxurious perforated leather seats, although the front passenger seat adjustments were limited in lower trims.

In contrast, the 2021 Lexus RX embodied the modern design aesthetic of Lexus with its large grille, angular headlamps, shapely body, and floating roof. The RX was available in five variants, including the performance-focused RX F Sport and the extended-body RXL with a third row of seating. The 2021 model retained the elongated headlights and refined front end introduced in 2020. Standard features included 18-inch aluminum wheels, LED lighting, rear privacy glass, and integrated LED turn signals. The interior was well-appointed with NuLuxe-trimmed seats, power-adjustable front seats, and a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel. Optional upgrades included semi-aniline leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a power-folding third row. However, the center console design and infotainment system were criticized for being dated.

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. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. 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. 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 an electric motor, available only in FWD. The AWD system in the test car included torque vectoring and a center-locking differential, enhancing traction and stability. The suspension setup, consisting of McPherson struts in the front and a multi-link rear, ensured a smooth and comfortable ride.

The 2021 Lexus RX, RXL, and RX F-Sport were powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The RX Hybrid and RXL Hybrid models combined a 3.5-liter V6 with three electric motors, generating 308 horsepower and managed by an electronic continuously variable transmission (e-CVT). The RX offered a comfortable and planted ride, with AWD providing stability in corners. The F Sport Handling package added adaptive variable suspension, enhancing the driving experience. The RX was capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 7.7 to 7.9 seconds, depending on the drivetrain. The RX Hybrid matched this performance but had a lower top speed of 112 mph.

The 2021 Kia Sorento, a three-row SUV, was best suited as a four-seater in its top trims due to the tight third-row seating. The second-row captain's chairs were comfortable, and the front seats offered ample legroom. Cargo space behind the third row was limited to 12.6 cubic feet, but folding the seats expanded the total cargo volume to 75.5 cubic feet. The Sorento provided practical storage solutions, including a phone slot, cupholders, and door pockets. However, its cargo capacity was more in line with compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4.

The 2021 Lexus RX offered a functional interior with seating for five in the two-row models and six or seven in the three-row RXL variants. Front and second-row seats provided ample space, but the third row was tight. The RX's cargo space was limited, with 18.4 cubic feet behind the second row and 56.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The three-row RXL offered just 7.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 58.5 cubic feet with all seats folded. The RX's cargo capacity was less than competitors like the Nissan Murano and Honda CR-V. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available.

The 2021 Kia Sorento featured an 8-inch touchscreen display with hard buttons, a volume knob, and a tuning knob, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger 10.25-inch screen on higher trims used haptic touch buttons and required a physical connection for smartphone integration. The Sorento offered plenty of USB ports but lacked USB-C ports. The optional Bose stereo system was decent but not exceptional. The navigation system needed improvement, particularly in voice search and point-of-interest functions.

The 2021 Lexus RX came standard with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, HD Radio, a WiFi hotspot, six USB ports, and a nine-speaker sound system. Upgrades included a 12.3-inch touchscreen, additional USB ports, a moonroof, wireless charging, navigation, and a 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound system. The touchpad controller for the infotainment system was functional but not as refined as competitors. The RX lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2021 Kia Sorento came equipped with 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 adaptive cruise control. The Sorento received four out of five stars overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2021 Lexus RX received a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, scoring all Good marks on crashworthiness tests. The NHTSA rated the RX 350, RX 350L, and RX 450h with four out of five stars overall. Standard safety features included a rearview camera, 10 airbags, enhanced vehicle stability control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and Lexus Safety System+ 2.0. This suite included a pre-collision system, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-trace assist, and road sign assist.