Compare the2026 Subaru AscentVS 2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2025Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. SRGB2-WYXKA 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2025/12/18

The Ascent has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Ascent. But it costs extra on the Sorento Hybrid.

The Subaru Ascent’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Kia Sorento Hybrid does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Ascent and the Sorento Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

	Ascent	Sorento Hybrid
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	190	446
Neck Injury Risk	21%	23%
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	58 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	159/292 lbs.	276/445 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	210	340
Neck Injury Risk	33%	43%
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 lbs.	118/119 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Ascent is safer than the Sorento Hybrid:

	Ascent	Sorento Hybrid
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

	Ascent	Sorento Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	117 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	29 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	228

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Subaru Ascent achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2025 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Sorento Hybrid is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

The Ascent’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sorento Hybrid runs out after 100,000 miles.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ascent second among upper midsize suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Sorento Hybrid isn’t in the top three in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 9th.

Engine

The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 33 more horsepower (260 vs. 227) and 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 258) than the Sorento Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Ascent is faster than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

	Ascent	Sorento Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	8.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	16.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.5 MPH	87.2 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Ascent has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento Hybrid (19.3 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The Ascent has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Ascent’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Sorento Hybrid:

	Ascent	Sorento Hybrid
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	12.8 inches

The Ascent’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Sorento Hybrid are solid, not vented.

The Ascent stops shorter than the Sorento Hybrid:

	Ascent	Sorento Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	121 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Ascent has larger tires than the Sorento Hybrid (245/60R18 vs. 235/55R19).

The Ascent Limited/Touring’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sorento Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ascent Limited/Touring has standard 20-inch wheels. The Sorento Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ascent’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the Sorento Hybrid (113.8 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

The Ascent Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Sorento Hybrid EX (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a 1.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento Hybrid (8.7 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Ascent offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Sorento Hybrid can only carry up to 7.

The Ascent has 47.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento Hybrid (153.2 vs. 105.3).

The Ascent has .9 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more front hip room, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear hip room, 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.1 inches more third row legroom, 3.4 inches more third row hip room and 4.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sorento Hybrid.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Ascent’s middle and third row seats recline. The Sorento Hybrid’s third row seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Ascent is 1.3 inches lower than the Sorento Hybrid (17.7” vs. 19”). The Ascent’s rear step up height is .9 inches lower than the Sorento Hybrid’s (18.1” vs. 19”).

Cargo Capacity

The Ascent’s cargo area provides more volume than the Sorento Hybrid.

	Ascent	Sorento Hybrid
Behind Third Seat	17.8 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	43.5 cubic feet	38.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	75.6 cubic feet	75.5 cubic feet

The Ascent’s cargo area is larger than the Sorento Hybrid’s in almost every dimension:

	Ascent	Sorento Hybrid
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	20.3”/48”/82.9”	15.5”/42.5”/76.5”
Max Width	50.5”	54”
Min Width	45.9”	42.4”
Height	34”	33”

Towing

The Ascent’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sorento Hybrid’s (5000 vs. 2000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Ascent is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Sorento Hybrid. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Kia. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 56% lower rating, Kia is ranked 27th.

Ergonomics

The Ascent’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sorento Hybrid’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s exterior PIN entry system. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Ascent’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Sorento Hybrid’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Ascent has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Ascent’s standard rear view mirror and optional side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Sorento Hybrid has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Subaru Ascent has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Kia charges extra for Homelink® on the Sorento Hybrid.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Ascent and the Kia Sorento Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

See Available Inventory