Compare the2026 Kia SorentoVS 2025 Honda Pilot

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2025Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. 7ZAWC-JGLIZ 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2025/11/03

Both the Sorento and Pilot have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Sorento has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Pilot’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Kia Sorento achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Honda Pilot has not been tested.

Both the Sorento and Pilot have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Sorento has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Pilot’s Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Sorento and the Pilot have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sorento is safer than the Honda Pilot:

	Sorento	Pilot
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	23%	28.9%
Neck Stress	208 lbs.	350 lbs.
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	101 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	340	440
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches
Neck Stress	139 lbs.	232 lbs.
Neck Compression	52 lbs.	98 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	118/119 lbs.	396/388 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sorento is safer than the Honda Pilot:

	Sorento	Pilot
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	25	53
Hip Force	196 lbs.	276 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	100
Spine Acceleration	29 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	196 lbs.	540 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	228	340
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	34 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Sorento comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Pilot’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sorento 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Honda covers the Pilot. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Pilot ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Sorento has a standard 760-amp battery. The Pilot’s 650-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Honda is rated lower.

Engine

The Sorento EX/SX’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 49 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Sorento EX/SX 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Honda Pilot:

	Sorento	Pilot
Zero to 30 MPH	2.6 sec	3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.5 sec	7.7 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	3.9 sec	5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	16.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99 MPH	90 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento gets better mileage than the Pilot:

			MPG
Sorento
	FWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/28 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
Pilot
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/25 hwy
		TrailSport 3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/23 hwy

Transmission

The Sorento offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Pilot doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

The Sorento stops much shorter than the Pilot:

	Sorento	Pilot
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Sorento EX/SX’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pilot Sport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition’s 50 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Sorento has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Pilot doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Sorento X-Line SX Prestige handles at .85 G’s, while the Pilot Elite pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sorento X-Line SX Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Pilot TrailSport (26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Sorento has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Pilot (8.2 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Sorento to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Kia Sorento may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 500 pounds less than the Honda Pilot.

The Sorento LX/S/EX/SX is 10.3 inches shorter than the Pilot, making the Sorento easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Sorento has .4 inches more front legroom and .9 inches more rear legroom than the Pilot.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Sorento easier. The Sorento’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.7 inches, while the Pilot’s liftover is 33.2 inches.

The Sorento has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly, without having to lift, carry or store heavy seats, like in the Pilot.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Sorento’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Pilot doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Ergonomics

The Sorento’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition.

Compared to traditional radio, the Kia Sorento’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Sorento and the Honda Pilot, based on reliability, safety and performance.

See Available Inventory