Kia Sorento vs Jeep Wagoneer

Kia redesigned the popular Sorento last model year and for 2022 the midsize, three-row crossover SUV gets a few changes.

For starters, the appealing X-Line package is now available with S and EX trim in addition to the SX Prestige. All 2022 Kia Sorento models except for the base LX trim now have a standard 10.25-inch infotainment system with navigation and UVO connected services. Additionally, the top-of-the-line SX Prestige adds a more comfortable driver’s seat and heated second-row captain’s chairs as standard equipment.

The big news, however, pertains to a new all-wheel-drive option for the efficient Sorento Hybrid and the debut of the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid, which can travel 32 miles on electricity before switching to gas-electric hybrid propulsion and returning 34 mpg in combined driving.

Jeep is digging deep into its back catalog for new models. The Stellantis brand (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) recently resurrected the Jeep Gladiator pickup truck, and now it’s bringing back another name from the past—the Wagoneer.

The Jeep Wagoneer was one of the original American SUVs and boasted a 28-year production run, spanning 1963 to 1991. It’s a tough act to follow, then, as demonstrated by Jeep’s last attempt at a full-size SUV, the ill-fated Commander.

The Wagoneer returns not just as a new SUV, but as a sub-brand that sits atop the rest of the Jeep lineup in size, price, and prestige. For the 2022 model year, Jeep is launching both the standard Wagoneer and a more luxurious Grand Wagoneer (covered in a separate review). As the lower-tier model, the standard Wagoneer targets full-size SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, and Toyota Sequoia.

The 2022 Jeep Wagoneer launches in Series II and Series III trim levels, with a base Wagoneer Series I model scheduled to join the lineup at a later date. Our test vehicle was a Wagoneer Series II, which is the de facto base model until the Series I arrives.