Buckle up y’all. We have one heck of a Kia SUV battle today. We’re seeing if the 2022 Kia Sorento can stand up to the 2023 Kia Sportage. While the Sportage is flexing a new design, the Sorento has plenty of great things to brag about. 

2022 Kia Sorento  vs. 2023 Kia Sportage 

Let’s dive right in with pricing. You can get started in a 2022 Kia Sorento for about $29,590. The 2023 Kia Sportage for about $25,990. These prices are the MSRPs, so they don’t include the destination fee or dealership markups. 

The Sorento costs about $3,600 more, and that’s because it comes with more. It has a third row. You can fit up to seven passengers in the Sorento and six if you go for the optional captain’s chairs. If you don’t need extra seats, the Sportage will be fine with its five seats. 

Also, the Sorento gets an EPA-estimated 24 mpg in the city and up to 29 mpg on the highway. The Sorento Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 39 mpg in the city and up to 35 mpg on the highway. With the PHEV, you get a 32-mile battery-only range with 79 MPGe. 

With the Sportage, you get an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in the city and up to 32 mpg on the highway. The Sportage Hybrid is expected to have a 39 mpg range with 500 miles between fillups, and the PHEV hasn’t been officially rated yet. 

Does the Sportage or Sorento have more power? 

The 2022 Kia Sorento comes with 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 hp and 182 lb-ft of torque. Upgrading to the hybrid model gets you 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Also, the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine cranks out 281 hp, and the PHEV model provides 261 hp. 

With the 2023 Kia Sportage, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is standard. It’s expected to pump out 187 hp. Kia hasn’t released spec about the hybrid or PHEV engines. Also, the Sportage may be available with a more powerful gasoline-powered engine. 

When properly equipped, the Sorento can tow up to 3,500 lbs. The previous generation of the Sportage can tow up to 2,000 lbs. The new model might be able to tow more. The Sorento comes with standard AWD, and you can add AWD to the Sportage. 

Both the Sorento and Sportage have an X-Line package available. It provides the SUVs with a more rugged look and enhanced equipment for off-roading. 

Does the Sportage or Sorento have better features? 

The 2022 Kia Sorento spices things up with an optional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.3-inch infotainment system. An 8.0-inch touchscreen comes standard. Plus, a rear-seat entertainment system with dual touchscreens is available. 

With the 2023 Kia Sportage, you get a 12.3-inch instrument panel that can be paired with a 12.3-inch touchscreen to create one massive seamless screen. Both vehicles come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Both rides come with standard forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert are optional. 

It seems like the Kia Sportage may have a more advanced feeling interior. However, the Sorento delivers on modern tech, luxury comfort, off-roading capabilities, and an excellent fuel economy. If you want the extra row of seats, it’s a bargain.