2021 Kia Sorento vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2021 Kia Sorento marked a significant departure from its predecessor'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 running lights. A silver accent between the front fender and door added visual interest. The Sorento's design struck a balance between modernity and ruggedness, with vertical taillights that looked cohesive and a large D-pillar that, while potentially a blind spot, contributed to its stylish profile.

Inside, the Sorento offered high-value features, including 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 offered 10-way adjustment with power lumbar support. The front passenger seat had varying levels of adjustment depending on the trim. Heated seats were available on all but the LX trim, and the SX Prestige with the X-Line package included ventilated seats. The panoramic sunroof provided ample light, though it could let in too much sunlight during hot weather. The interior materials, especially the perforated leather on the SX Prestige, exceeded expectations in comfort and quality.

The 2022 Kia EV6, in contrast, boasted a sportier and more svelte design, reminiscent of a Ford Mustang Mach-E. Its lower and wider stance, highback tail with a lip spoiler, and wheels pushed to the chassis corners gave it a dynamic look. The EV6's voluptuous curves, squinting headlights, and sealed air intake mimics added to its aggressive aesthetic. The matte silver paint on the test car enhanced its sleek appearance. The EV6's design was a blend of style and stability, with recessed lights below the rear spoiler and chrome trim adding a touch of sparkle.

Inside, the EV6 featured dual 12-inch screens on a linear dash, a floating center console, and seats covered in suede and leather. Ambient lighting flowed around the dash and rear passengers, creating a futuristic ambiance. The hockey-puck shifter and digital controls emphasized the EV6's modernity. Despite its wild design, the EV6 prioritized driving enjoyment, with a car-first, computer-second approach.

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, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, was 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 to 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 an electric motor, available only in FWD. The AWD system in the 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 Sorento's drive modes, including Eco, Normal, and Sport, significantly impacted throttle response and fuel economy. Despite its 4,000-pound weight, the Sorento handled corners well without excessive body lean.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line e-AWD, with its dual electric motors producing 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque, offered exhilarating performance. The 77-kilowatt-hour battery, mounted low in the chassis, enabled the 4,600-pound car to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds. The upcoming GT trim promised even more power with 576 horsepower and a sub-3.5-second 0-60 time. The base EV6 Light, with a smaller 58 kWh battery and 167 horsepower, was less impressive. The single-motor Wind and GT-Line models, with 225 horsepower, provided a more balanced performance.

The dual-motor GT-Line excelled in Sport mode, delivering instant torque and seamless power distribution. The EV6's regenerative braking system offered over eight settings, allowing for one-pedal driving in the maximum I-Pedal setting. The adaptive cruise control and drive modes were easily adjustable, enhancing the driving experience. However, the EV6's range was disappointing in cold weather, with the test car achieving only 65 percent of its 274-mile EPA estimate. Charging times varied, with the EV6 accepting up to 240 kW, but real-world charging networks often fell short of this capability.

The 2021 Kia Sorento, as a three-row SUV, was practical but best suited as a four-seater in its top trims. The second-row captain's chairs were comfortable, but the third row was too tight for adults. Cargo space behind the third row was limited to 12.6 cubic feet, making it more practical to fold those seats. The second-row seats 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, and a center console bucket. Total cargo volume was 75.5 cubic feet, comparable to compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4.

The 2022 Kia EV6 reinvented core functions with features like pop-out door handles, paddle shifters, and a twisting rotary shifter. The climate controls and stereo shortcuts were combined in a thin touchscreen, which could be frustrating to use while driving. The EV6 provided generous legroom and headroom in all seating positions, with rear seats that reclined and had air vents and optional heated cushions. However, the cargo space was limited, with 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 cubic feet when folded. The high load floor and low roof height further restricted cargo capacity. The EV6's towing capacity was 2,300 pounds, and it featured an onboard power generator for 120-volt equipment.

The 2021 Kia Sorento featured 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 looked fantastic but required a wired connection for smartphone projection. The Sorento had plenty of USB ports but lacked USB-C ports. The optional Bose stereo was decent but not exceptional. The navigation system needed improvement, particularly in voice search and Point-of-Interest functions. Most drivers would likely rely on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for navigation.

The 2022 Kia EV6's infotainment system was user-friendly, with dual 12-inch screens and a 360-degree surround-view camera. The instrument panel displayed vehicles in surrounding lanes and a 3D bar graph of power and speed. The EV6's head-up display (HUD) used augmented reality for directional arrows and adaptive cruise control tracking. The tech package included Highway Driving Assist (HDA), blind-spot monitoring, fast-charging, and a wireless charger. Higher trims featured a 14-speaker Meridian stereo and a remote parking system. However, Kia Connect features were disabled for Massachusetts residents due to compliance issues with state laws.

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 adaptive cruise control. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Sorento four out of five stars overall, with perfect scores 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 receiving top marks for their LED headlights.

The 2022 Kia EV6 had no published test results from U.S. agencies, but it came with impressive standard safety tech. The base Light trim included HDA, lane-keeping, cyclist and pedestrian detection, front and rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitor, rear parking sensors, safe exit warning, and rear occupant alert. Higher trims added features like automatic rear braking, 360 cameras, evasive steering assist, and adaptive cruise with "machine learning."