2025 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2024 Kia Sorento

The 2024 Kia Sorento received its first major visual update since its 2021 debut, aligning its design more closely with Kia's other SUVs like the Telluride and EV9. The refreshed Sorento featured a robust new front end, enhanced taillights, and a more upscale cockpit. Its exterior boasted a prominent grille, vertically-stacked LED headlights, and new wheel designs, giving it a larger and more intimidating presence. Inside, the Sorento offered a cleaner dashboard with combined gauge and infotainment displays, and higher trims included luxurious materials like faux open-pore wood grain and quality stitching.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, available in five trims, presented a chiseled and upscale appearance with polished aluminum detailing and sizable 21-inch wheels. The Atlas Peak Edition catered to off-road enthusiasts, while the SEL Premium R-Line offered a sporty look. Inside, the Atlas featured diamond-stitched leather, metallic accents, and a large infotainment touchscreen. Despite its premium feel, the touch-sensitive controls for temperature and volume were less satisfying to use, especially without gloves.

The 2024 Kia Sorento maintained its mechanical components, with the base engine being a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower. This engine struggled with the Sorento's weight, resulting in sluggish acceleration. Higher trims featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with 281 horsepower, offering better performance and a more engaging driving experience. The Sorento's AWD option added ground clearance and improved off-road capability, especially in the X-Pro trim, which excelled in challenging conditions. Fuel economy for the gas-powered versions was average, with turbo models achieving 23 mpg combined.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas replaced its previous engine options with a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. While initially met with skepticism, the engine proved refined and capable for daily driving. However, the Atlas's ride quality was less impressive, with a brittle suspension and excessive body motions at highway speeds. Despite these drawbacks, the Atlas handled predictably on mountain roads, with responsive brakes and steering.

The 2024 Kia Sorento offered a comfortable cabin with ample legroom in the first two rows, though the third row remained tight. It provided more space than smaller SUVs like the Mitsubishi Outlander and Volkswagen Tiguan, and was comparable to larger models like the Toyota Highlander. The Sorento's cargo space was limited with the third row in use but expanded significantly when folded down. The interior featured ergonomic controls and plenty of storage options.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in form and function, with a spacious interior and one of the most comfortable third-row seats in its class. The front seats were supportive, and the second row accommodated three adults comfortably. Access to the third row was easy, and the cargo area was generous, offering up to 96.6 cubic feet of space with the seats folded. The Atlas provided ample storage throughout the cabin, enhancing its practicality for families.

The 2024 Kia Sorento featured a modern infotainment system with a 12.3-inch screen and a redesigned interface called "Connected Car Navigation Cockpit" (CCnC). The system prioritized popular features and offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims included a Bose 12-speaker audio system and Digital Key 2.0 for added convenience.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas used the MIB3 operating system with a 12-inch touchscreen. While it offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the lack of traditional controls and a reliable voice assistant made the system less user-friendly. The Harman Kardon audio system provided excellent sound quality, but the MIB3's glitches and confusing interface detracted from the overall experience.

The 2024 Kia Sorento came equipped with the Drivewise suite of active safety features, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Optional features included surround-view cameras and a rear-view camera mirror. The Sorento received "Good" ratings in several IIHS tests, though full evaluations were pending.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas featured the IQ.Drive suite, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and emergency assist. It also included a five-year subscription to Car-Net Safe & Secure services. The Atlas earned a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and was a 2024 IIHS "Top Safety Pick."