Compare the2025 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2025 Kia Sorento

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

Safety

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

Both the Traverse and the Sorento have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 all wheel drive, 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 Chevrolet Traverse is safer than the Kia Sorento:

	Traverse	Sorento
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	165	446
Neck Injury Risk	20.1%	23%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	208 lbs.
Neck Compression	2 lbs.	58 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	32/13 lbs.	276/445 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	234	340
Neck Injury Risk	35.9%	43%
Neck Compression	48 lbs.	52 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 Traverse is safer than the Sorento:

	Traverse	Sorento
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	135/90 pounds	202/315 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	135/90 pounds	202/315 pounds
Leg Forces L/R	315/450 pounds	472/697 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD

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 Chevrolet Traverse is safer than the Kia Sorento:

	Traverse	Sorento
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	117 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches

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

The Chevrolet Traverse 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 is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

The Traverse’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Sorento’s (6/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

There are almost 4 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Traverse has a standard 220-amp alternator. The Sorento’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Traverse first among midsize suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Sorento isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked fourth.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 8th.

Engine

The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 137 more horsepower (328 vs. 191) and 145 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 181) than the Sorento LX/S’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 47 more horsepower (328 vs. 281) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 311) than the Sorento EX/SX’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Traverse FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento (19.4 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Traverse AWD’s standard fuel tank has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento (21.7 vs. 17.7 gallons).

The Traverse has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sorento doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Traverse’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 are solid, not vented.

The Traverse stops much shorter than the Sorento:

	Traverse	Sorento
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Traverse has larger standard tires than the Sorento (255/65R18 vs. 235/65R17). The Traverse’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sorento (275/45R22 vs. 255/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Traverse has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento LX. The Traverse’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Sorento EX/SX.

The Chevrolet Traverse’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Kia Sorento only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Traverse’s wheelbase is 10.2 inches longer than on the Sorento (121 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Traverse is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Sorento.

The Traverse High Country AWD handles at .80 G’s, while the Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

The front grille of the Traverse uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Sorento doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Traverse uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Sorento doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Traverse offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Sorento can only carry 7.

The Traverse has 51.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento (157 vs. 105.3).

The Traverse has 2.3 inches more front headroom, 2.9 inches more front legroom, 3.1 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear hip room, 4.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.5 inches more third row headroom, 2.5 inches more third row legroom, 6.1 inches more third row hip room and 4.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sorento.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Traverse	Sorento
Behind Third Seat	22.9 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	56.6 cubic feet	38.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	97.6 cubic feet	75.5 cubic feet

Both the Traverse and the Sorento offer second row automatic folding seats. The Traverse RS/High Country’s third row seats also fold up or down at the press of a switch. The Sorento doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sorento is limited to 4500 pounds. The Traverse offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The Traverse uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Sorento uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Traverse’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Sorento does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

The Traverse’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key standard on the Sorento doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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 Traverse’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Sorento’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Traverse RS/High Country’s standard rear and 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 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Traverse has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Sorento Prestige.

The Traverse has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Sorento S/EX/SX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Traverse has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Sorento S/EX/SX offers wireless charging.

The Traverse’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Sorento doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Chevrolet Traverse and the Kia Sorento, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the Kia Sorento by 7% during 2024.

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