Schomp Honda

Safety

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Honda CR-V deploy with different levels of force or don't deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Honda CR-V's side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Sorento's side airbags don't have smart features and will always deploy full force.

 

The Honda CR-V has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Sorento doesn't offer Daytime Running Lights.

 

Both the Honda CR-V and the Sorento have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding and available all-wheel drive.

 

Warranty

 

The Honda CR-V's 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sorento runs out after 100,000 miles.

 

There are over 61 percent more Honda dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier to get service under the CR-V's warranty.

 

Reliability

 

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Honda CR-V second among compact multi-activity vehicles in their 2010 Initial Quality Study. The Sorento isn't in the top three in its category.

 

J.D. Power and Associates' 2010 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 25th, below the industry average.

 

J.D. Power and Associates' surveys of the owners of three-year-old cars provide the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 20th.

 

Engine

 

The Honda CR-V's 2.4 DOHC 4 cyl. produces 5 more horsepower (180 vs. 175) than the Sorento's standard 2.4 DOHC 4 cyl.

 

As tested in Consumer Reports the Honda CR-V is faster than the Kia Sorento 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

	CR-V	Sorento
Zero to 60 MPH	9.1 sec	10.3 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.7 sec	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	17 sec	17.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	83.8 MPH	79.4 MPH

 

Environmental Friendliness

 

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda CR-V higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Kia Sorento (5 to 6). This means the Honda CR-V produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Sorento every 15,000 miles.

 

Transmission

 

The Honda CR-V comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Sorento.

 

Brakes and Stopping

 

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don't press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The Honda CR-V has a standard brake assist system to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Sorento doesn't offer a brake assist feature.

 

The Honda CR-V stops much shorter than the Sorento:

	Honda CR-V	Sorento
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	140 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	140 feet	Consumer Reports

 

Suspension and Handling

 

The Honda CR-V has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Sorento doesn't offer variable-assist power steering.

 

Chassis

 

The Honda CR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 pounds less than the Kia Sorento.

 

The Honda CR-V is 4.6 inches shorter than the Sorento, making the Honda CR-V easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

 

Passenger Space

 

The Honda CR-V has 1.7 inches more front headroom and .9 inches more rear legroom than the Sorento.

 

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Honda CR-V's rear seats recline. The Sorento's middle row seats don't recline.

 

Cargo Capacity

 

The Honda CR-V has a much larger cargo area with its rear seat up than the Sorento with its rear seat up (35.7 vs. 9.1 cubic feet). The Honda CR-V has a much larger cargo area with its rear seat folded than the Sorento with its rear seat folded (72.9 vs. 72.5 cubic feet).

 

Servicing Ease

 

A Maintenance Minder is standard on the Honda CR-V to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, spark plug replacement, air filter replacement, tire rotation, radiator flush and transmission fluid replacement based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Kia doesn't offer a maintenance reminder on the Sorento.

 

Ergonomics

 

If the windows are left down on the Honda CR-V the driver can raise them all using the key in the outside lock cylinder; on a hot day the driver can lower the windows. The driver of the Sorento can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

 

Recommendations

 

The Honda CR-V has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	Honda CR-V	Sorento
Consumer Reports Recommends	TRUE	n/a
Car Book 'Best Bet'	TRUE	FALSE
Kiplinger's Awards	2	n/a
Intellichoice	A 'Best Value'	n/a

 

Consumer Reports performed a comparison test in its July 2010 issue and they ranked the Honda CR-V EX AWD higher than the Kia Sorento LX AWD.

 

The Honda CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver's 'Top Five Trucks' for 2 of the last 9 years. The Sorento has never been a Car and Driver 'Top Five Truck' pick.

 

The Honda CR-V outsold the Kia Sorento by over two to one during the 2010 model year.

* [1]  Based on 2011 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.