2024 Kia Sorento vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Kia Sorento underwent a significant visual update, aligning its design more closely with its popular siblings, the Telluride and EV9. The new front end featured a bold grille, vertically-stacked LED headlights, and wing-like daytime running lights, giving it a more imposing presence. The rear updates were subtle, with LED taillights and new bumpers enhancing its appeal. The rugged X-Line and X-Pro trims offered a more aggressive look with blacked-out wheels and earth-tone paint colors, appealing to those seeking an outdoorsy aesthetic. Inside, the Sorento boasted a redesigned dashboard with a cleaner look, featuring a combined gauge cluster and infotainment display under a single pane of glass. Higher trims offered twin 12.3-inch displays, and the materials used in the cabin were upgraded for a more upscale feel.

The 2025 Subaru Outback stood out as one of the few remaining wagons in the U.S., embracing crossover trends with its rugged design elements like chunky wheel-arch flares and skid plate-like fascias. The Outback's design was intended for off-road adventures, with a roof rack setup that complemented its adventurous spirit. The interior featured a black leather finish, and the Outback looked best in earthy shades. Subaru focused on catering to buyers who needed a vehicle capable of handling dirt roads, and this strategy paid off, as the Outback, along with the Crosstrek and Forester, became best-sellers. The 2025 model saw no major changes, with trims offering various upholstery options and features like a power moonroof, navigation, and a 360-degree heated steering wheel in the Limited trim. The Touring XT trim added Nappa leather upholstery and ventilated front seats, enhancing comfort and luxury.

The 2024 Kia Sorento retained its mechanical components, with the base engine being a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine struggled with the Sorento's weight, resulting in a sluggish 0-60 mph time of nearly 10 seconds. The EX and higher trims featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine delivering 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, offering a more spirited performance with 0-60 times in the mid-seven-second range. The Sorento was primarily front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The X-Line and X-Pro trims provided enhanced off-road capabilities, with increased ground clearance and all-terrain tires. The X-Pro trim excelled in challenging conditions, offering improved engine cooling and a towing capacity of 4,500 pounds. While the gas-powered Sorento's fuel economy was average, the hybrid and PHEV versions offered better mileage.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured a horizontally opposed "Boxer" engine, available in two forms. The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, while the XT trims benefited from a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. Both engines ran on regular unleaded gas and were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive. The turbocharged engine provided a more dynamic driving experience, making it a recommended choice for those seeking better performance. The Outback's 8.7 inches of ground clearance and Subaru's X-Mode enhanced its off-road capabilities, with the Wilderness model offering even more ground clearance and additional off-road features. The Outback's smooth and comfortable ride, combined with its light steering and powerful brakes, made it a pleasant companion on various road conditions.

The 2024 Kia Sorento's cabin was modern and comfortable, with ample space in the first two rows but a tighter third row. It offered advantages over smaller SUVs with optional third-row seating, providing more room than competitors like the Mitsubishi Outlander and Volkswagen Tiguan. The Sorento's front seats offered 41.4 inches of legroom, while the second row provided 41.7 inches, making it more spacious than many two-row SUVs. The third row, with 29.6 inches of legroom, was suitable for occasional use by children. The Sorento's cargo space was limited with the third row in use, offering only 12.6 cubic feet, but folding it down increased capacity to 38.5 to 45 cubic feet, depending on the trim. With all seats down, it offered up to 72.1 cubic feet of cargo space. Higher trims included features like a power liftgate and noise-insulating acoustic glass.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape provided practicality, with easy entry and exit due to its lower chassis. The lower roof height made loading the roof rack more convenient, and the flat-four engine design contributed to a low center of gravity, enhancing agility. The Outback offered 32.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up and 75.6 cubic feet with the bench folded. While slightly smaller than some crossovers, the cargo area's flat floor and square shape maximized usability. The Outback's total passenger volume of 109 cubic feet was larger than its crossover competitors, offering more front headroom and legroom. Buyers were encouraged to test different trims, as the differences in driving experience were notable. The Outback's towing capacity increased to 3,500 pounds with the turbocharged engine option.

The 2024 Kia Sorento featured a single-pane, twin-screen setup for its gauge and infotainment displays, with all models now equipped with a 12.3-inch screen. The infotainment system, called "Connected Car Navigation Cockpit" (CCnC), was redesigned for ease of use and future-proofing. It prioritized popular features on the home screen, with navigation standard on all but the base model. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were now standard, and the system supported over-the-air updates. The Sorento offered USB-C outlets in all three rows and an auxiliary jack for older devices. Higher trims included a Bose 12-speaker surround sound system and Digital Key 2.0, allowing keyless access and driving via compatible smartphones.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's technology package included an 11.6-inch touchscreen with large icons, though the Starlink infotainment system was slow to respond, especially at startup. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, with wireless connectivity available on most trims. The Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system provided good sound quality, though navigational commands occasionally disrupted audio. The dashboard featured a mix of physical controls and touchscreen functions, with a CD player included in the Touring trim. The Outback offered both USB-A and USB-C ports for device connectivity.

The 2024 Kia Sorento's Drivewise suite of active safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included navigation-based adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist 2, which offered semi-autonomous capabilities. The Sorento's safety systems generally performed well, though sensors could be blocked by dirt and snow. The IIHS had not fully evaluated the 2024 Sorento, but it received "Good" ratings in several tests. The NHTSA had not yet rated the 2024 model, but previous models received four-star overall ratings.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured EyeSight driver-assist technology, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The system kept the Outback in its lane, though with some side-to-side movement. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The DriverFocus system monitored for driver distraction, though it occasionally issued false notifications. The 2024 Outback earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, and the 2025 model was expected to perform similarly. The NHTSA awarded the 2025 Outback a five-star overall safety rating.