2023 Cadillac Escalade vs 2022 Kia Sorento

The 2022 Kia Sorento, especially with the X-Line treatment, offered a visually appealing blend of ruggedness and style. Enhancing its aesthetic were rugged bumpers, matte-finish wheels, and black lower body cladding, with a lifted suspension and robust roof rails adding a purposeful definition to this midsize SUV. The X-Line package, available with S, EX, and as-tested SX Prestige trim, included standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and additional features like Wolf Gray paint, Rust-colored leather, floor mats, and a cargo net, culminating in a total MSRP of $45,310, including the $1,215 destination charge.

Despite a different price point, even the base LX trim’s starting price of $29,590 (plus destination) exuded quality, whether it was the quality of the leather upholstery, the simulated wood trim on the dashboard, or the fit and finish of the door releases and transmission shifter. The Sorento's cabin had rock-solid construction with an impressive attention to design detail, even in the most affordable LX model, without sacrificing practical storage space.

In terms of consumer perception, the 2022 Kia Sorento promised value for money, ensuring every drive felt like an excellent investment.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade made a bold statement just by its sheer size, towering nearly six-and-a-half feet above the ground and stretching between 18 and 19 feet in length. This SUV, with three rows of leather seats and a multitude of tech features, resembled a motorized cargo container, designed more for show than practicality. Whether it was the towering LED taillights or the darkened chrome bits on the Sport Platinum trim, the Escalade managed to cleverly disguise its hefty frame with thin lights and horizontal lines creating athletic and trim visual impressions.

Cadillac offered six trims with 22-inch wheels and a variety of grille designs, adding unique touches like a light show with three-foot-high taillights when the vehicle was unlocked. The interior looked rich and sophisticated with a curved, leather-edged 38-inch screen array across the dashboard and seven choices of wood trim. The leather upholstery varied with each trim, including elaborate details and perforation patterns that indicated luxury. However, the use of cheaper parts for controls and switches diminished the overall luxe feel, pointing to a need for unique design elements exclusive to Cadillac.

The 2022 Kia Sorento provided multiple engine options to satisfy a range of drivers. The base engine, a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder, could accelerate the 3,715-pound SUV to 60 mph in a sluggish 9.5 seconds. However, the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine in the Sorento EX proved far more exciting with 281 hp and 311 pound-feet of torque, improving the 0-60 mph time to about 7.5 seconds. Despite the X-Line’s lifted suspension, the Sorento delivered spirited performance akin to a sports sedan with excellent body control and adequate braking reliability.

The Escalade's 6.2-liter gasoline V8 engine generated 420 hp and 460 pound-feet of torque, enabling leisurely cruising with a dynamic muscle-car sound. Its 10-speed automatic transmission facilitated smooth gear shifts, though the standard configuration felt a bit sluggish under passing acceleration. The optional supercharged Corvette V8 in the Escalade-V drastically elevated performance with 682 hp and 653 pound-feet of torque, offering a thrilling driving experience. Additionally, a more efficient 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 produced 277 hp and offered a better fuel economy of 22 mpg in combined driving.

Despite its massive size, the Escalade’s magnetic dampers and optional air suspension enabled responsive handling, reduced body roll, and made it agile compared to other large SUVs.

The Kia Sorento’s interior echoed a sense of luxury, despite some questionable leather color naming choices like "Rust." The SX Prestige model featured a 14-way power driver’s seat with thigh support extension and 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seats, both of which were heated and ventilated. However, second-row seats catered more to children with built-in cupholders, USB charging ports, and rear A/C vents. The third-row seats, while functional for kids, offered limited comfort for adults due to restricted legroom and headrest alignment.

For cargo, the Sorento had a meager 12.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 38.5 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and a maximum of 75.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The Escalade showcased unrivaled interior space, boasting 25 cubic feet behind the third row, 73 cubic feet behind the second row, and an expansive 121 cubic feet with both rows down. The ESV variant extended even further to offer 41 cubic feet, 94 cubic feet, and 143 cubic feet in respective configurations. Thanks to its independent rear suspension, every row featured generous headroom and legroom, offering comfort for six adults without space constraints.

Ease of access was facilitated by simple controls, a front console refrigerator, and power-retractable side steps. However, a complaint was raised regarding the positioning of the 12-volt power outlet.

The 2022 Sorento elevated its tech game by endowing most trims with a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen display, including navigation, satellite radio, Kia Connect services, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, while the base infotainment system offered wireless integration, the upgraded system required a wired connection. Despite intuitive controls and ample features, the voice recognition system lagged compared to Hyundai’s equivalent, reflecting the shared technology between these corporate siblings. The SX Prestige X-Line also included a 12-speaker Bose premium surround-sound system, a feature reserved for higher trims.

Cadillac’s Escalade took tech features to another level with its extensive OLED screens spanning 38 inches across the dashboard. A high-res front camera displayed navigation and road information directly in the driver’s field of view for improved visibility. The highlight was Super Cruise, a $2,500 hands-free highway driving system using infrared eye-tracking to ensure attentiveness. The Escalade also integrated night vision with pedestrian detection and an impressive 36-speaker AKG audio system. Additional features included five-way massaging front seats and a rear-seat entertainment system capable of streaming content.

The 2022 Sorento came equipped with Kia Drive Wise, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features, including some less common apps like a rear-seat reminder and Junction Assist. The Blind View Monitor provided live video feed to assist with lane changes, and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist in conjunction with Highway Driving Assist, offered a semi-autonomous driving experience, particularly effective during long freeway commutes.

The Sorento earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with the top trims scoring high on headlights and other safety criteria. The NHTSA rated the Sorento with four stars overall, limiting its rating due to moderate performance in frontal-impact and rollover tests.

The Escalade scored four out of five stars from the NHTSA due to a lower rating for front-passenger protection and rollover resistance but had five stars in other assessments. It featured a suite of standard safety equipment, including forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, a Safety Alert seat, and rear parking sensors. Optional tech included reverse emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and Super Cruise. Its performance in real-world testing indicated occasional false positives with reverse emergency braking.