2021 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Kia Sorento

The 2021 Kia Sorento represented a significant departure from its previous generation's jelly-bean-inspired styling. The new model showcased a more athletic and muscular silhouette, making it a handsome crossover SUV. The SX Prestige trim with the X-Line package added roof rails and a shark fin antenna, complementing the rear roof spoiler. The front featured an expansive tiger-nose grille with a noticeable curve toward the car’s front corners, and the headlights, accented by running lights, squinted without being comically small. A silver accent between the front fender and the door added visual interest. The Sorento’s design leaned into the American SUV styling zeitgeist without appearing overly macho.

At the rear, the long, pointed edge of the side window created a large D-pillar, which looked like a potential blind spot but was a worthwhile sacrifice for style. The taillights were beautiful vertical rectangles, two on each side, offering a cohesive look. The interior boasted high-value features, including heated outside mirrors, second-row air vents, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and keyless entry across the lineup. The base LX trim had a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, while higher trims offered 10-way adjustment with power lumbar support. The front passenger seat had varying adjustments depending on the trim, with the top-tier SX Prestige offering 10-way adjustment with lumbar support.

Heated seats were available on all but the LX trim, and ventilation was reserved for the SX Prestige with the X-Line package. The Sorento’s big windows and windshield provided fantastic exterior visibility, despite the large D-pillars. The panoramic sunroof let in plenty of light, though it occasionally allowed too much hot sunlight during a 2,100-mile road trip through the American Southeast. The interior materials were impressive, with the SX Prestige featuring real perforated leather that exceeded expectations in comfort.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for the 2020 model year, retained a familiar and comfortable feel reminiscent of older Subaru models. The analog gauges, steering wheel design, and seat forms were similar to previous versions. However, the interior was fresher than the smaller 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, especially if you skipped the base trim. The base trim featured two 7-inch touchscreens in matte plastic, while higher trims had an 11.6-inch portrait display that was bright, sharp, and surrounded by polished black plastic and chrome trim. The upper trims also featured contrasting leatherette around the chrome, adding a touch of luxury.

Quality was evident in the window switches, dash padding, and surface materials. Limited and Touring trims with two-tone leather upholstery and contrast stitching gave a luxury car impression. The Onyx Edition XT featured gray and black StarTex, a soft and water-resistant synthetic material with lime green contrast stitching, adding a wild touch to the otherwise conservative design. The exterior had gray cladding on the wheel arches, sills, and bumpers, protecting the paint from scratches. The styling was smooth and plain, with enough length to convey balance and stability. The Outback’s standout feature was its lifted wagon design, making it a great alternative to typical crossovers or SUVs.

The 2021 Kia Sorento offered a range of small powertrains. The most common was the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). 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 on the interstate.

Kia also offered a hybrid version of the Sorento with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, available only in FWD. The AWD system in the test car employed torque vectoring and a center-locking differential for slippery conditions. The X-Line package added AWD, 1.3 inches of ride height (totaling 8.3 inches), 20-inch alloy wheels, and a roof rack. The suspension, consisting of McPherson struts up front and a multi-link setup in the rear, provided a smooth and comfortable ride, even with the 20-inch wheels.

The Sorento’s drive modes made a noticeable difference with the 2.5-liter turbo engine. Eco mode improved fuel economy but made the car feel lethargic. Normal mode was standard, while Sport mode tightened the throttle response. The car’s weight of roughly 4,000 pounds resulted in some lean in corners, but it maintained a smooth ride without excessive head-tossing.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, despite the trend of larger and heavier cars, retained its engine output from the 1990s. The base 2.5-liter flat-four engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This setup struggled to move the vehicle, especially when loaded with passengers and cargo, resulting in slow and noisy performance.

The XT trim, available on Limited, Touring, and Onyx Edition, featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. This engine provided a significant improvement in performance, making the Outback capable of keeping up with traffic. The XT engine was quieter, smoother, and more powerful than the older 3.6-liter flat-six it replaced. Fuel economy for the turbo XT was slightly lower than the base engine, with an EPA-estimated 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway compared to 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway.

The Outback’s handling was squishy, and the steering was imprecise, but it excelled as a long-distance cruiser. The ride comfort and tranquil behavior were fantastic with either engine. The Outback’s 8.7 inches of ground clearance and long-travel springs allowed it to handle rough roads and off-road conditions with ease. Subaru’s electronically-variable AWD system was proactive, driving all four wheels and reacting quickly to varying torque splits. The X-Mode optimized the throttle, CVT ratio, stability control, and torque split for tougher conditions, making the Outback more proficient off-road than many crossovers and SUVs.

The 2021 Kia Sorento, as a three-row SUV, was practical but best suited as a four-seater in the top trims. The LX and S trims had a second-row bench seat, accommodating five adults, while upper trims featured captain's chairs in the second row. The third row was too tight for adults, and the cargo space behind it was limited to 12.6 cubic feet, making it more practical to fold the seats. The second-row captain's chairs were comfortable, and the front and rear seats provided ample legroom, with 41.4 inches and 41.7 inches, respectively.

Cargo space was decent for small items, with a spot for a phone (with optional wireless charging) ahead of the gear selector, two cupholders, and a center console bucket with a tray insert. The door pockets could hold a water bottle, and the second-row seats had cupholders built into the rear doors. Total cargo volume was 75.5 cubic feet, more in line with a compact crossover like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, with its 8.7 inches of ground clearance, could go anywhere larger vehicles like the Chevrolet Tahoe or Ford F-150 could, without the drawbacks of being oversized. The Outback offered 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide, flat, and free of intrusive wheel arches.

Headroom and legroom were ample in all four outboard seating positions, and the seats were comfortable and supportive. Outward visibility was superb, thanks to thin pillars, a low shoulder height, and plenty of glass. Storage was another plus, with large map pockets and bottle holders in each door, a handy pocket on either side of the front center console, and a small shelf on the passenger-side dash.

However, some features were only available on higher trims. Push-button start and rear climate vents were standard on Limited and above trims, with push-button start optional on Premium. The moonroof was bundled with other options, adding to the cost. A power driver’s seat, dual-zone climate, and rear USB ports were standard on Premium and above, while a hands-free power tailgate was optional on Premium and standard on higher trims. The Onyx Edition XT was the only trim with a full-size spare alloy wheel and tire.

The Outback’s best feature was the standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, which could be swiveled and locked in place within seconds, saving money and offering brilliant engineering. The 11.6-inch touchscreen complicated climate controls, with only driver and passenger temperature as buttons. Heated seat controls were within the screen, hampering usability. However, the icons were large, and the screen was generally responsive, making it easier to adjust vehicle settings and scroll through stereo presets.

The 2021 Kia Sorento featured an 8-inch touchscreen display on the LX, S, and EX trims, flanked by hard buttons with volume and tuning knobs, and capable of wirelessly projecting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger 10.25-inch screen on the SX and SX Prestige trims looked fantastic, used haptic touch buttons, retained the knobs, and was easy to navigate. However, the larger screen required a physical connection for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and the right third of the screen was often redundant when using Android Auto.

The Sorento had plenty of USB ports but no USB-C ports. The optional Bose stereo in the test car was just okay, lacking the immersive audio quality expected. The navigation system needed improvement, particularly in voice search and Point-of-Interest search functions. Most drivers would likely rely on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for navigation.

The 2021 Subaru Outback’s infotainment system looked dated, with graphics and typefaces reminiscent of the Nintendo Wii. The central screen in the instrument panel was worse, masking the modern tech underneath. The adaptive cruise control had four settings, but finding and changing them was challenging. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the optional navigation was more modern-looking. The base model’s dual-screen setup was less cohesive and attractive than the single large screen.

Subaru EyeSight was standard on all trims, including adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. The system offered good semi-automated control on marked highways but relied on two forward-looking cameras without forward-facing radar, reducing functionality when the cameras’ view was blocked.

The 2021 Kia Sorento came with 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, aiding in parking. The adaptive cruise control worked smoothly, and the lane-keeping assist system, though occasionally overactive, was generally effective.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Sorento four out of five stars overall and in all frontal-impact crash tests and rollover. It received a perfect five out of five stars in side-impact crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Sorento a Top Safety Pick designation, with the SX trim levels and their LED headlights receiving top ratings, while the LED reflector headlights on lower trims received a poor rating.

The 2021 Subaru Outback rode on a stronger and stiffer chassis than previous models, with a driver’s knee airbag and passenger seat-cushion airbag as standard. More driver assists were available on specific trims, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert optional on Premium and standard on higher trims. Rear emergency braking was optional on the Onyx Edition XT and standard on the Limited 2.5 and Touring trims. A driver-attention monitor was standard on the Limited XT and Touring trims and optional on the Limited 2.5.

The Outback was a 2020 IIHS Top Safety Pick+, earning top ratings in all six crash tests and for headlights, plus the top rating for forward emergency braking. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Outback an overall five stars, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and four stars for the rollover test.