Comparison between the 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid and the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The way cars are advertised (and written about on sites like this one) might make you think that shoppers look at cars in different categories. But our research tells us you don’t. Instead, you’re often looking at cars from several classes that overlap in price.

On paper, the Kia Sorento and Honda CR-V don’t have much in common. The Sorento is a mid-size SUV with up to three rows of seating. The CR-V is a compact SUV that only has two wheels.

But they overlap in price, and both offer an excellent hybrid option for those looking to bypass the pump as much as possible.

Let’s compare these two cars, which aren’t often measured against each other. Note that this comparison uses the 2023 Sorento Hybrid and 2024 CR-V Hybrid because those are the models available at dealers today.

Kia Sorento 2023 Hybrid

The Kia Sorento Hybrid is packed with value. It’s a midsize SUV at the price of a compact SUV. Standard captain’s chairs and a third row allow for more cargo than almost any other vehicle for the same price. It has Kia’s long list of features and long warranty. Prices start at $36,690.

Kia Sorento Hybrid Features

Second-row comfort and third-row flexibility: The Sorento Hybrid comes standard with captain’s chairs in the second row and a bench seat in the third row. This means that second-row passengers get more space and privacy than in the CR-V. And third-row passengers? The CR-V doesn’t have a third row. The Sorento’s rear bench seat is small and best suited for occasional use, but it beats the CR-V Hybrid’s nonexistent third row.

Longest warranty available: Kia’s 5-year/60,000-mile Basic Warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty protect you from surprise mechanical repair bills for a full decade. Toyota provides about half of this feeling of security. And there’s still no automaker willing to beat it. Honda’s coverage is just over half.

List of features that belie its price: The Sorento’s least expensive hybrid model, the EX model, is equipped like a more expensive car, with standard luxuries such as heated front seats wrapped in faux leather and a power-adjustable front passenger seat.

Check it out this week Fair purchase price Or see the Sorento hybrid models For sale near you.

Honda CR-V Hybrid 2024

The Honda CR-V Hybrid is an upscale-looking small SUV with an outstanding reputation for long-term reliability and resale value. “The CR-V is a fantastic, well-thought-out package,” says our expert test driver. “It does almost everything right, including build quality, cabin space, safety and easy-to-use technology. It offers two rows of seating to three rows in the Sorento.” Starting prices From $33,350.

Honda CR-V hybrid features

Low starting price: If you don’t need the third row of the Sorento, why not save thousands of dollars with the CR-V? Or get more for the same money – the mid-level Sport-L Hybrid model of the CR-V carries about the same price as the base Sorento.

More fuel efficient: Another advantage of the CR-V’s smaller size? Greater fuel economy. It manages 40 mpg in combined driving, compared to 37 in the Sorento. If purchasing a 3-row model means you’ll mostly be hopping around an empty row of seats, you may be better off getting 2 rows, and getting more out of every gallon.

Sophisticated design inside and out: The Honda CR-V looks more elegant than the Sorento. It looks sleeker than most affordable SUVs. A recent redesign has given it an appeal that many small vehicles lack. This is especially true in the interior, where thoughtful and elegant design prevails.

Check it out this week Fair purchase price Or see the CR-V hybrid models For sale near you

Similarity

Both offer hybrid efficiency, available all-wheel drive (AWD), and a starting price not much higher than many gas-powered SUVs.

Conclusion

The Kia Sorento Hybrid gives you a third row of seating and a more adult-worthy second row thanks to a pair of captain’s chairs instead of a bench seat. You’ll pay a little more up front and a little more at the pump for the extra flexibility of the third row. But you’ll get a longer warranty, too.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid is less expensive and more fuel efficient, thanks in part to its smaller size. But this smaller size may be convenient for many buyers. Moving empty seats costs money. So, if you’re not going to use the third row, you might be better off spending less or putting the extra money into a higher trim level with more features.

Only your lifestyle can tell you which of these descriptions fits you best.

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