2022 Kia Sorento vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson was built on a new platform, offering a long-wheelbase model in North America with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Its front showcased Hyundai's new vehicle face, with a parametric grille that cleverly concealed LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. When lit, these lights formed a distinctive shape reminiscent of the Aztec Spirit Bird's wings. The Tucson's side profile borrowed design elements from the Hyundai Elantra, featuring a silver D-pillar that created a floating roof effect. At the rear, the Tucson sported toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs, adding a unique touch to its design. Depending on the trim level, the Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch alloy wheels, with four different wheel designs available. High-end models boasted premium fascias, skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. The Tucson's cabin was well-appointed, featuring standard stain- and odour-resistant cloth seats, with options for sport combination and leather-trimmed seats. The interior design, with horizontal lines across the dashboard and an uncluttered aesthetic, provided a sense of spaciousness.

The 2022 Kia Sorento, particularly in the X-Line trim, exuded style and presence. Rugged bumpers, matte-finish wheels, black lower body cladding, and robust roof rails added definition to this midsize SUV. In Canada, the X-Line was a standalone mid-grade package, while in the U.S., it was applied to the top trim. All-wheel drive was standard on every Sorento sold in Canada, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The Sorento's cabin was a testament to quality, with leather upholstery and simulated wood trim on the dashboard. The attention to design detail extended to all Sorento models, even the most affordable LX+ model. The Sorento's interior style and traditional cable-operated transmission shifter did not compromise practical storage space. The SUV's cabin reflected rock-solid construction, with nothing appearing flimsy. The Sorento's keen sense of interior style and quality made it a compelling choice for those seeking a stylish and well-built SUV.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered two powertrain variants: a 2.5-litre direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a hybrid powertrain with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor. The ICE engine delivered 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While not particularly inspiring, it was competent and efficient, with a targeted fuel consumption of 8.2 L/100 km combined for FWD models and 9.0 L/100 km for AWD models. The hybrid powertrain, with 226 total system horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, offered a more engaging driving experience. The Tucson Hybrid was more powerful than competitors like the Ford Escape Hybrid and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. AWD was standard on the Tucson Hybrid and available on ICE models, providing excellent performance in off-road testing. The Tucson Hybrid was notably more fuel-efficient, with a combined rating of 6.4 L/100 km. The upcoming Tucson PHEV promised even more power, with an estimated 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful in the lineup.

The 2022 Kia Sorento's standard engine was a 191-horsepower 2.5-litre four-cylinder, which took nearly 9.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. However, the turbocharged 2.5-litre engine, available from the X-Line trim, delivered 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, providing a more satisfying driving experience. This engine was paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission, offering a 0-60 mph time of about 7.5 seconds. The Sorento's turbo engine made it feel energetic, driving more like a sports sedan. The suspension provided a blend of compliance and composure, with excellent body motion control. Fuel consumption for the base engine was 9.7 L/100 km combined, while the turbo engine averaged 11.5 L/100 km during testing. The Sorento Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid offered more fuel-efficient options for those concerned about fuel costs.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson was a budget-friendly compact SUV with a well-appointed interior. It competed with popular models like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue, offering comparable or better appointments. The Tucson featured a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat as standard, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Heated front seats were standard, with options for ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and memory settings for the driver's seat. The Tucson's new platform provided more space for passengers and cargo, with rear seats offering 90 millimetres more legroom than the RAV4. The cabin comfortably accommodated a family of four, with more passenger volume than the CR-V, RAV4, and Escape. The Tucson's cargo space was competitive, with a 1,095-litre capacity and a dual-level cargo floor.

The 2022 Kia Sorento's interior often felt luxurious, with appealing Burgundy leather and standard heated and ventilated front seats. The heated steering wheel was standard on all but the base LX+ grade. Second-row captain's chairs were standard from the EX trim, with heated options in higher trims. The Sorento's second-row area was designed for kids, with cupholders, USB ports, rear climate control vents, and storage solutions. The available panoramic sunroof extended over the second row. However, the third-row seat was less accommodating for adults, with limited legroom and head restraints close to the rear window. Folding the third-row seat expanded the cargo space from 357 litres to 1,274 litres, with a maximum capacity of 2,139 litres. The Sorento's "smart" power tailgate added convenience when loading cargo.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came equipped with a robust set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, HD Radio, Bluetooth, and two USB ports. A 4.2-inch multi-information display was positioned in front of the driver. The Preferred trim added satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, additional USB outlets, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Higher trims offered a fully digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation. The larger screen was embedded within a black plastic head unit, which included climate control and radio/media functionality. While the touchpoints were responsive, the lack of physical differences made it challenging to find the right button while driving. The steering wheel controls, though stylish, were not as user-friendly as bulkier buttons.

The 2022 Kia Sorento featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the LX+, LX Premium, X-Line, and EX trims, while higher trims received a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with navigation, satellite radio, Kia Connect services, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base system offered Bluetooth and wireless smartphone integration, but the larger screen required a USB connection for app connectivity. The infotainment system was intuitive, though the font style, graphics, and colours might not appeal to everyone. The Sorento's system shared technology with Hyundai models, but voice recognition was less effective in Kias. A 12-speaker Bose premium surround-sound system was reserved for the Sorento SX, and a wireless phone charger was standard from the LX Premium trim.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. However, it offered a comprehensive Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite, including standard forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, and rear occupant alert. Additional features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, and remote parking assist. Hyundai provided a 5-year/100,000-kilometre limited warranty for the Tucson.

The 2022 Kia Sorento offered a full list of safety features, including a rear-seat reminder system that used ultrasonic sensors to detect movement and alert the owner. Junction Assist used the forward-collision warning system to prevent unsafe turns. The Blind View Monitor system, available on the SX, provided live video feeds of blind spots. Highway Driving Assist, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system, worked well on highways. The IIHS rated the Sorento as a Top Safety Pick, with a Poor rating for LED headlights in Canada. The NHTSA gave the Sorento a four-star overall crash-test rating, with four-star ratings for frontal-impact collision and rollover resistance.