2022 Subaru Forester vs 2021 Kia Sorento

The 2021 Kia Sorento marked a significant departure from its predecessor’s more rounded design, adopting a sharper, bolder look. This transition introduced a muscular silhouette, prominently characterized by Kia's expansive tiger-nose grille. The redesigned front end drew attention with a sculpted lower edge that effectively integrated the LED running lights and headlights. Perhaps most appealing in the exterior design was its harmonious blend of style and functionality—the vehicle looked prepared for adventure while maintaining a sleek, modern aesthetic.

Our SX Prestige model with the X-Line package featured eye-catching vertical taillights and a rear roof spoiler, anchored by a shark fin antenna and roof rails for an outdoorsy touch. The large D-pillars, while offering a design flair, tended to create sizable blind spots. Despite this, the Sorento’s modern design felt unlikely to age poorly.

Inside, the Sorento continued to impress. Standard features included heated outside mirrors, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity across all trims. Higher trims boasted luxurious touches like leatherette or real perforated leather upholstery, with heated and ventilated seats available in the SX Prestige X-Line package. The cabin offered ample space and comfort, contributing to an overall high-value, high-comfort feel.

The 2022 Subaru Forester, particularly in its new Wilderness trim, emphasized functionality over form. Test-driven in the rugged Cascade Mountains, the Forester Wilderness sported functional features like a suspension lift, beefier ground clearance, and oversized protective cladding. The matte-black hood decal and additional cladding gave it a rugged appearance.

Inside, the Forester prioritized practical design with a straightforward layout. While the use of hard plastic and softer materials might come across as less luxurious, it emphasized quality and clarity of purpose. Copper-colored accents and durable StarTex upholstery catered to adventurous users, though their water-resistant nature lacked breathability.

The 8-inch Starlink infotainment system provided seamless operation, augmented by accessible physical knobs and buttons. The interior felt roomy and functional, with excellent visibility. Compared to the Sorento, the Subaru’s emphasis on rugged functionality prevailed over luxurious appeal.

The 2021 Kia Sorento lineup offered a variety of powertrains. The base models featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission. However, our test vehicle packed the more potent turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder, producing a substantial 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, provided an engaging driving experience with seamless power delivery for merging, passing, and cruising.

Kia's drive modes, including Eco, Normal, and Sport, provided noticeable differences in throttle response and overall driving dynamics. While the Sorento offered decent off-road capability with its AWD system and increased ride height, its on-road performance and driveability were commendable. Fuel economy exceeded expectations in Eco mode during our summer road trip.

The 2022 Subaru Forester retained its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which delivered 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. Coupled with a CVT, the Forester’s powertrain might not deliver thrilling acceleration but provided adequate driveability for most scenarios. The Wilderness variant boasted a specialized CVT to enhance low-speed torque, doubling its towing capacity to 3,000 pounds.

Subaru’s dual-function X-Mode and advanced AWD system contributed to remarkable off-road prowess. Despite its less powerful engine, the vehicle excelled in various environments, handling rough terrains, steep inclines, and muddy paths with ease. The Forester's suspension modifications for the Wilderness trim enhanced ride comfort and off-road capability, cementing its status as a practical SUV for adventurous pursuits.

The 2021 Kia Sorento’s interior was spacious yet limited in practicality for large families. Its three-row seating configuration was best considered for occasional use, with the third-row space being quite tight. The second-row captain’s chairs provided ample comfort, with legroom measuring 41.4 inches in the front and 41.7 inches in the rear.

Cargo space behind the third row was a mere 12.6 cubic feet, but folding the third row unlocked a more generous 75.5 cubic feet of storage. This was sufficient but comparable to smaller compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

The 2022 Subaru Forester offered unparalleled functionality with its practical design. Entry and exit were easy due to the tall seating hip points, while the standard water-resistant StarTex upholstery made the Forester a reliable companion for outdoor activities. The spacious interior comfortably accommodated passengers, with ample rear air conditioning vents and charging ports.

Cargo space started at 28.9 cubic feet (26.9 with a sunroof), extending to 74.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Though slightly less than the Sorento, the Forester’s squared-off shape optimized available space for real-world usage. New roof rails with higher load capacities further enhanced its practicality for outdoor enthusiasts.

Kia equipped the 2021 Sorento with modern infotainment features but with a few quirks. The base models came with an 8-inch touchscreen surrounded by physical buttons, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The upscale trims featured a striking 10.25-inch screen, though only supported wired phone connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Additional USB ports were plentiful but lacked USB-C options. The Bose sound system in our test vehicle fell short of expectations, delivering merely adequate audio quality.

Conversely, the 2022 Subaru Forester provided a robust infotainment setup even in base trim. A 6.5-inch touchscreen with smartphone mirroring, satellite radio, and HD Radio was standard, while higher trims enjoyed an 8-inch screen with available navigation and Harman Kardon audio. The Wilderness trim added handy features like a 180-degree forward-view camera. Though the navigation system was practical, an added breadcrumb function for off-road tracking would have been beneficial.

Subaru’s Starlink connected services enhanced the Forester's usability with remote engine start, WiFi hotspot, and PIN Code Access for keyless entry, effectively catering to tech-savvy and outdoorsy users alike.

The 2021 Kia Sorento impressed with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The surround-view and low-speed front-and-rear camera views were particularly beneficial for parking. Despite occasional overzealous lane-keeping assist, the overall driver-assistance technologies worked seamlessly on long drives.

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the EyeSight 4.0 safety system, which doubled the field of vision for more accurate operation. The suite of ADAS features included automatic emergency steering, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. The Forester’s safety prowess was evident, with fewer false warnings and confident functionality. Additional features such as the rear-seat reminder, blind-spot monitoring, and DriverFocus facial recognition system on the Touring trim added layers of protection.

The Sorento received four stars overall from the NHTSA, with the IIHS awarding it a Top Safety Pick. The Forester earned an impressive five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, and the expectation was high for retaining its IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation.