2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2022 Kia Sorento

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, which debuted in 2005, was still in its second generation by 2021. The current generation, introduced in 2014, received a significant refresh in 2018 that carried over into 2021. This refresh included a dual-screen center console, a defining feature of Land Rover interiors. A plug-in hybrid variant was introduced in 2020, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Range Rover Sport offered various trims, including SE, HSE Silver, HST, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography, SVR, and SVR Carbon Edition, each with a range of luxurious features.

The 2022 Kia Sorento, particularly with the X-Line package, presented a stylish and rugged appearance. The X-Line treatment added rugged bumpers, matte-finish wheels, black lower body cladding, a lifted suspension, and robust roof rails. Our test vehicle, an SX Prestige with the X-Line package, included all-wheel drive, Wolf Gray paint, Rust-colored leather, and additional accessories, bringing the total MSRP to $45,310. The Sorento's interior exuded quality, with leather upholstery and simulated wood trim, and offered a rock-solid construction. The cabin design was practical and stylish, with ample storage space and thoughtful details.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a variety of powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain, available in the SE and SE Silver Edition, combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model featured a more potent P400 version, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition also offered plug-in hybrid and diesel powertrains, with the P400e plug-in hybrid generating 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, and the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 producing 254 hp and 443 lb-ft. The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims boasted a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, while the SVR and SVR Carbon Edition had an even more powerful version of this engine, making 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive, with height-adjustable air suspension and a Terrain Response system. The Range Rover Sport could tow up to 7,716 pounds, except for the SVR, which could tow 6,613 pounds.

The 2022 Kia Sorento's standard engine was a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which took nearly 9.5 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph. However, the Sorento offered more powerful options, including a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, a turbocharged hybrid powertrain, and a new-for-2022 turbocharged plug-in hybrid powertrain. The turbo engine, available starting with the EX trim, was paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission and could achieve 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds with all-wheel drive. The Sorento's suspension provided a blend of compliance and composure, making it feel more like a sports sedan than an SUV. The X-Line package increased ground clearance to 8.2 inches, but the Sorento was best suited for light off-roading. The EPA estimated the Sorento SX Prestige X-Line's fuel economy at 24 mpg combined, but real-world testing showed an average of around 20.7 mpg.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row increased seating capacity to seven, but with the third row in use, cargo space was limited to 10.8 cubic feet. Both the first and second rows provided ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was best suited for children.

The 2022 Kia Sorento's interior felt luxurious, though the Rust-colored leather was an odd choice. The SX Prestige featured a 14-way power driver's seat with a thigh support extension, 10-way power front passenger seat, and heated and ventilated front seats. The second-row captain's chairs, standard from the EX trim, were heated in the SX Prestige X-Line and designed with kids in mind, offering cupholders, USB ports, air conditioning vents, and storage pockets. The third-row seat was less comfortable, with limited legroom and headroom, making it better suited for occasional use. With the third row folded, cargo space increased from 12.6 cubic feet to 38.5 cubic feet, and with the second row folded, the Sorento offered 75.5 cubic feet of cargo space. The "smart" power tailgate made loading easier when your hands were full.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's interior was dominated by a dual-screen center console. The lower screen controlled climate settings and vehicle functions, while the upper screen handled infotainment. The system had a learning curve and was not always intuitive, but the dual dials on the lower screen were versatile, controlling various functions. The upper touchscreen had reasonably sized icons for easy navigation between menus, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Despite some usability issues, the system had a real volume button, though it was somewhat hidden.

Starting in 2022, the Kia Sorento's base LX trim was the only one with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Other trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, satellite radio, Kia Connect services, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the larger screen required a wired connection for smartphone integration. The infotainment system was user-friendly, but the font style, graphics, and colors might not appeal to everyone. The Sorento's system shared technology with Hyundai models, but Kia's voice recognition was less effective. The SX Prestige X-Line included a 12-speaker Bose premium surround-sound system and wireless smartphone charging from the EX trim onward.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with standard driver assistance features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. However, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. Additional available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist, as well as a head-up display.

The 2022 Kia Sorento featured Kia Drive Wise as standard, with varying contents depending on the trim. Our test vehicle had a comprehensive list of features, including a rear-seat reminder system with ultrasonic sensors, Junction Assist, and a Blind View Monitor system. Intelligent Speed Limit Assist and Highway Driving Assist were also available, with the latter offering Level 2 semi-autonomous driving. The Sorento earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with the only negative rating for headlights on lower trims. The NHTSA gave the Sorento a four-star overall crash-test rating, with four-star ratings for frontal-impact protection and rollover resistance, and five-star ratings in other assessments.