2022 GMC Terrain vs 2021 Kia Sorento

The 2021 Kia Sorento marked a significant departure from its previous generation's jelly-bean-inspired styling, embracing 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, enhancing its rugged appeal. The front showcased an expansive tiger-nose grille with a noticeable curve, complemented by squinting headlights and a silver accent between the front fender and the door. The rear design included beautiful vertical taillights, and despite the large D-pillar potentially creating a blind spot, the overall look was cautiously modern and stylish.

Inside, the Sorento offered high-value features such as heated outside mirrors, second-row air vents, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and keyless entry. The base LX trim had a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, while higher trims provided 10-way adjustment with power lumbar support. The SX Prestige trim boasted real perforated leather upholstery, and the panoramic sunroof allowed ample light into the cabin. Despite the large D-pillars, exterior visibility was excellent, and the seats were comfortable, though more thigh support was desired.

The 2022 GMC Terrain received updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level featured a bolder grille, black 17-inch alloy wheels, and AT4 badges, with a steel skid plate for off-road protection. Our test vehicle, equipped with Ebony Twilight metallic paint and a black leather interior, included the Tech Package, Infotainment Package II, GMC Pro Safety Plus Package, and a Skyscape panoramic sunroof, bringing the MSRP to $41,810.

The Terrain offered more affordable SLE and SLT trims with standard front-wheel drive, while the luxurious Denali trim added a layer of sophistication. However, the quality of materials and execution reflected its entry-level status. The head-up display projected data onto a clear plastic panel rather than the windshield, and the pushbutton transmission controls were not intuitive. Despite these drawbacks, the caramel-colored contrast piping and stitching in the AT4 trim added a touch of elegance to the cabin.

The 2021 Kia Sorento came with a range of small powertrains, including a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. However, our test car featured the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission to all-wheel drive. This setup provided ample power for merging, cruising, and passing. The Sorento also offered a hybrid version with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine and electric motor, as well as a plug-in hybrid variant.

The AWD system in our test car included torque vectoring and a center-locking differential for improved traction. 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, ensured a smooth and comfortable ride. The various drive modes, including Eco, Normal, and Sport, made a noticeable difference in performance, with Sport mode providing the best throttle response.

The 2022 GMC Terrain featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. The previously available turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, which offered better acceleration and towing capacity, was no longer available. The 1.5-liter engine could tow up to 1,500 pounds and required learning to ride the torque band for optimal performance. The nine-speed automatic transmission kept the Terrain in the torque band, but the engine lacked the rapid acceleration needed for short freeway on-ramps and passing zones.

The Terrain AT4 offered FWD mode for fuel conservation, AWD mode for better traction, and Off-Road mode with Hill Descent Control. The four-wheel independent suspension and 17-inch wheels provided a good ride and decent handling on pavement, but the AT4's ground clearance of 7.9 inches was less than some competitors. The Terrain struggled off-road, with the front air dam and skid plate scraping the ground. The sport-terrain tires lacked grip in curves, and the overall driving experience was dull, with numb steering and an underpowered engine. However, the Terrain met fuel economy expectations, achieving 26.2 mpg on the evaluation loop.

The 2021 Kia Sorento, a three-row SUV, was best considered a four-seater in its top trims due to the second-row captain's chairs and tight third-row seating. The cargo space behind the third row was limited to 12.6 cubic feet, making it more practical to fold those seats down. The second-row captain's chairs were comfortable, and the front and rear seats offered ample legroom at 41.4 inches and 41.7 inches, respectively. The Sorento provided various storage solutions, including a phone spot with an optional wireless charger, cupholders, and a center console bucket. Total cargo volume was 75.5 cubic feet, comparable to compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

The 2022 GMC Terrain's interior was roomy for a compact crossover, with numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions. Our Terrain AT4 included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air-conditioning vents. The eight-way power driver’s seat and tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel ensured a comfortable driving position. The AT4 trim featured perforated leather upholstery with caramel-color contrast stitching and piping, adding an upscale feel. The back seat was spacious, with plenty of legroom and foot room, and included a rear USB charging port.

GMC maximized storage options with various slots and shelves throughout the interior. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, with a large storage bin underneath the trunk floor. Folding the rear seat down expanded the cargo space to 63.3 cubic feet, and the front passenger seat could also be folded down for longer items.

The 2021 Kia Sorento offered two touchscreen options: an 8-inch display on the LX, S, and EX trims, and a 10.25-inch screen on the SX and SX Prestige trims. The smaller screen included hard buttons, volume and tuning knobs, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen featured haptic touch buttons and required a physical connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sorento had plenty of USB ports but lacked USB-C ports. The optional Bose stereo system was underwhelming, and the navigation system needed improvement. Most drivers would likely rely on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for navigation.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems: a 7-inch touchscreen on the SLE trim and an 8-inch high-definition touchscreen on the SLT, AT4, and Denali trims. Both systems included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar. The larger screen added connected navigation, natural voice recognition, and an optional Bose premium sound system. Our test vehicle had the Infotainment Package II, which included these upgrades. The voice recognition system was excellent, accurately responding to various prompts. The Bose speakers were less impressive, and the head-up display projected data onto a clear plastic panel. The Tech Package added front and rear park assist sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a Tire Fill Alert system.

The 2021 Kia Sorento came 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. Our test car also had a surround-view camera and adaptive cruise control. The lane-keeping assist system occasionally made excessive corrections, but overall, the safety systems worked well. The NHTSA awarded the Sorento four out of five stars overall, while the IIHS gave it a Top Safety Pick designation, with the SX trim levels receiving perfect scores for their LED headlights.

The 2022 GMC Terrain included the GMC Pro Safety Package as standard, featuring forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The GMC Pro Safety Plus Package, available on SLE, SLT, and AT4 trims, added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. Our Terrain AT4 had all these features, which worked effectively and subtly. The IIHS awarded the Terrain mostly "Good" crash-test scores, with a "Marginal" rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain's crashworthiness at the time of this review.