The Telluride and Sorento are two of the most popular SUVs in Kia’s lineup. Introduced in 2020, the Telluride quickly became a favorite among families and adventure-seekers, thanks to its spacious interior and impressive features. The Sorento recently underwent a significant redesign, elevating its appeal with a fresh look, advanced technology, and a range of powertrain options. In this article, we’ll compare the Telluride and Sorento across various categories to help you decide between these two exceptional Kia SUVs.
Exterior Design
The Kia Telluride and Kia Sorento offer a range of eye-catching exterior colors and wheel designs, allowing you to personalize your vehicle. The Telluride boasts a larger, more imposing presence with its wide stance, prominent tiger-nose grille, and square-shaped headlights. Its boxy silhouette and strong lines give it a rugged and adventurous appearance. Customize your Telluride by choosing from one of the following standard paint colors:
- Everlasting Silver.
- Gravity Gray.
- Dark Moss.
- Ebony Black.
- Midnight Lake Blue.
- Dawning Red.
- Glacial White Pearl.
- Jungle Green.
- Wolf Gray.
The Kia Sorento features a sleeker, more aerodynamic design. Its slimmer headlights, sharper lines, and more compact dimensions give it a sportier and more agile look. This vehicle comes in the following wide range of color options:
- Ebony Black.
- Road Rider Brown.
- Everlasting Silver.
- Gravity Gray.
- Glacial White Pearl.
- Dawning Red.
- Midnight Lake Blue.
- Jungle Green.
- Wolf Gray.
Interior Comfort and Space
The Telluride offers seating for up to eight passengers, with ample room in all three rows. Wide door openings and elevated seating positions make entering and exiting the vehicle easy. Kia has crafted the Telluride’s interior with high-quality materials, soft-touch surfaces, and available leather upholstery.
Though slightly smaller than the Telluride, the Sorento still provides a comfortable and accommodating interior. It can seat up to seven passengers, with the option of second-row captain’s chairs for enhanced comfort and easier access to the third row. The Sorento’s interior features a clean, modern layout, intuitive controls, and various color schemes to suit your preferences.
Cargo Space
Both SUVs offer generous cargo space. The Telluride boasts 21 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The Sorento offers 12.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 38.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 75.5 cubic feet with both rows folded.
Performance and Powertrain Options
The Telluride, available in front-wheel or all-wheel drive, comes standard with a 3.8-liter V-6 engine delivering 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission for smooth and responsive performance.
The Sorento offers a range of powertrains. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. An available turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generates 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Both engines come with standard front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive optional. The Sorento also offers a hybrid powertrain combining a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, delivering 227 hp.
Fuel Economy
The Telluride achieves an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway with front-wheel drive and 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway with all-wheel drive. The Sorento’s fuel economy varies by powertrain: the base engine gets 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway, the turbocharged engine gets 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, and the hybrid powertrain delivers 39 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.
Safety Features
Both SUVs have standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a rearview camera. Higher trims offer additional safety technologies, such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera system.
Both the Telluride and Sorento have received high safety ratings. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the Telluride a Top Safety Pick+, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. The Sorento also performed well in safety tests, earning a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.
Technology and Infotainment
The Telluride comes standard with a 12.3-inch touch-screen display. The infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and offers features like wireless device charging, a premium Harman Kardon audio system, and a head-up display.
The Sorento also has an impressive infotainment system with a standard 12.3-inch touch-screen display that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other tech features include a wireless charging pad, a Bose premium audio system, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
Pricing and Value
The Telluride’s base LX trim starts at $36,190, while the top-of-the-line SX Prestige trim starts at $50,890. The Sorento’s base LX trim starts at $31,990, with the range-topping SX Prestige trim starting at $46,390.
Explore Your Options at Huffines Kia Corinth
If you’re in the market for a midsize SUV that combines style, comfort, and performance, the Kia Telluride and Kia Sorento are both excellent choices. To experience these impressive vehicles firsthand, we invite you to visit Huffines Kia Corinth to browse our Telluride and Sorento inventory. The knowledgeable sales team at our dealership in Corinth, Texas, can assist you in finding the perfect SUV to suit your needs and lifestyle.