2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs 2022 Kia Sorento

The 2022 Kia Sorento, especially with the X-Line treatment, presented a stylish and rugged appearance. The X-Line package added features like rugged bumpers, matte-finish wheels, black lower body cladding, a lifted suspension, and robust roof rails, enhancing its already attractive design. Our test vehicle, equipped with the X-Line package, came with all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard, Wolf Gray paint, Rust-colored leather, floor mats, and a cargo net, bringing the total MSRP to $45,310, including the $1,215 destination charge. Even without the X-Line package, the Sorento exuded quality, with leather upholstery, simulated wood trim, and rock-solid construction throughout the cabin.

In contrast, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 offered a more subtle and less flashy look compared to its competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. The GLS 450 avoided gaudy grilles and chrome-laden designs, presenting a refined and confident appearance. The interior of our test car, though fairly basic by GLS standards, still felt luxurious with leather upholstery, a panoramic roof, and ambient lighting. The digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen housed under one piece of glass provided a sleek and modern look. Overall, the GLS 450’s interior felt appropriate for a luxury SUV, offering high quality without being overly fragile.

The 2022 Kia Sorento came with a standard 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which took almost 9.5 seconds to accelerate the 3,715-pound SUV to 60 mph. However, the more satisfying turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generated 281 hp and 311 pound-feet of torque, making it a better choice. This engine, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission, powered the front wheels or an optional torque-vectoring AWD system. With AWD, the turbo Sorento could reach 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds. Despite the X-Line’s raised suspension, the Sorento drove more like a sports sedan, offering excellent body motion control and communication. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 24 mpg, but our tests averaged around 20.7 mpg.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission, assisted by Mercedes’ EQ Boost mild-hybrid system. The gasoline engine produced 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, with an electric motor adding 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque in short bursts. The GLS 450’s engine provided ample power, and the electric assist was well-integrated. However, the air suspension exhibited poor body control, bouncing over bumps and leaning in corners. The GLS 450 had a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, which was competitive but not class-leading.

The 2022 Kia Sorento’s interior felt luxurious, with the SX Prestige offering a 14-way power driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Second-row captain’s chairs were standard from the EX trim, and the SX Prestige X-Line added heating to these seats. The third-row seat, however, was cramped and uncomfortable for adults. Cargo space was limited to 12.6 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 38.5 cubic feet with the third row folded and 75.5 cubic feet with the second row down. The “smart” power tailgate was a convenient feature for loading cargo.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came standard with a seven-seat configuration, with an optional six-seat version offering individual captain’s chairs. The second-row seats could slide forward and fold for third-row access, with the bench seat sliding fore and aft as one piece. The GLS offered 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 42.7 cubic feet with the third row folded and 84.7 cubic feet with both rows down. The air suspension could lower for easier loading, and the power-folding seats and tailgate added convenience. However, the touchscreen was difficult to reach, and some ergonomic issues were noted.

The 2022 Kia Sorento featured a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen display with navigation, satellite radio, Kia Connect services, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, except for the base LX trim, which had an 8-inch screen. The infotainment system was intuitive but had a unique font style and color scheme. The SX Prestige X-Line included a 12-speaker Bose premium surround-sound system, and wireless smartphone charging was standard from the EX trim.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, including a 12.3-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and natural-language voice recognition. The 13-speaker Burmester audio system was standard, with a head-up display as an option. The voice recognition system was the easiest to use, while the touchpad controller was cumbersome. The graphics were good, but the navigation system had some issues.

The 2022 Kia Sorento came standard with Kia Drive Wise, offering a range of safety features depending on the trim level. Our test vehicle included a rear-seat reminder system, Junction Assist, Blind View Monitor, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, and Highway Driving Assist. The Sorento received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS included standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, a surround-view camera system, Crosswind Assist, parking assist, and Pre Safe. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and advanced driver-assistance features. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.