Ford Edge vs. Kia Sorento: Everything You Need To Know

Published January 31, 2022
in Model Info

When it comes to comparing Ford Edge vs. Kia Sorento, it’s a battle of the effective but older design against a flashy new but untested design. The Ford Edge hasn’t seen a significant redesign for a few years now, while the latest Kia Sorento is a heavily changed vehicle. Ford is trying to capitalize on a design that still works. Kia is trying to increase the popularity of a smaller SUV to match its larger, more popular design.

Given that these two SUVs are in the same class, similar sizes, and look similar on the surface, it’s a natural comparison. But is there a natural winner?

We’ll take a closer look at the details of both of these SUVs to see how they hold up, where they excel, and which design comes out on top.

Ready to dig into the details?

Ford Edge vs. Kia Sorento: Comparing the Interiors Head-to-Head

The interior of your vehicle is absolutely critical. You’re going to spend most of your time sitting in your vehicle, which means that it needs to be comfortable, have the features and adaptations you need, and be well designed so that everything is accessible and easy to use.

Do the Ford Edge and Kia Sorento rise to the challenge?

Details according to Newcars.com.

Base price: Kia Sorento
Front headroom: Ford Edge
Rear headroom: Tie
Front legroom: Ford Edge
Rear legroom: Kia Sorento
EPA Cargo Volume: Kia Sorento
Maximum seating capacity: Kia Sorento

While these Ford and Kia offerings might seem like they’re the same size and otherwise similar on the surface, interior space tells a different story. The Kia offers more all-around comfort for the first and second rows by using captains’ chairs for the driver and first three passengers. An optional 3rd row of seating gives you even more passenger room in this vehicle, with plenty of space for everyone.

However, if you don’t need to pack in the passengers, the Ford Edge does offer a little more room and comfort to the driver and front passenger.

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Ford Edge vs. Kia Sorento: Comparing the Sizes Head-to-Head

Size matters when it comes to SUVs. Larger vehicles offer better passenger-cargo capacity, improved passenger comfort, and usually have better-towing capacity to boot. But they lose out in terms of maneuverability, can be harder to park, and usually have lower fuel efficiency compared with smaller alternatives.

Knowing what you’re looking for in an SUV is important if you want to know what size to aim for. But before you decide, let’s see how the Ford Edge and Kia Sorento stack up. Stats according to Kelly Blue Book.

Length: Tie
Height: Ford Edge
Width: Ford Edge
Wheelbase: Ford Edge

In this category, the Ford Edge stands out. It’s just a little larger in most dimensions, which means there’s just a little more room to work with. The taller profile is also well designed for visibility great for driving in traffic or on crowded highways.

The Kia Sorento’s slimmer profile is just a little more maneuverable and a little easier to park, but you’ll lose some of that forward visibility in exchange.

Ford Edge vs. Kia Sorento: Comparing the Performance Head-to-Head

Performance tells you a lot about how a vehicle will feel on the road, which may be the most important single factor when you’re deciding on a new car. When it comes to SUVs, power and fuel efficiency are the name of the game, and both Ford and Kia have good commuter versions of their SUVs, as well as optional sportier designs that offer even better stats.

Let’s see which comes out the better performer—stats from Kelly Blue Book.

Engine: Ford Edge
Engine type: Gas
Fuel economy: Kia Sorento
Cruising range: Kia Sorento

If you’re looking for speedy acceleration and beefy performance, you might want to consider the Ford Edge. The addition of a standard turbo gives the Edge a significant performance advantage. But its older design shows in the lower fuel efficiency and shorter cruising range on most versions of the Edge.

The Kia Sorento’s slimmer profile and newer technology mean it’s got significantly better fuel economy and that it’s similarly efficient in almost all conditions and on most terrain.

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Ford Edge Breakdown

Ford is known for power, control, and reliability. All three of those qualities are on display with the Ford Edge, so it’s no wonder that they’ve stuck with this older design for so long. Minor quality of life improvements are the only real changes to the most recent models, but this is still a popular SUV.

The starting MSRP of the Ford Edge is $36,425, and the average market price is only slightly higher than that. That’s good news because it means you’re getting your vehicle at close to the real value, and also because it’s a reasonable price for the advanced safety features and other benefits included with the Ford Edge.

Its spacious front cabin is also highly comfortable. A smaller than average infotainment screen might be a downside for some, but the UI is good, and the driver-assist features are easy to use.

Pros

Great safety features
More front passenger space
Slightly taller design offers better visibility
Turbo provides better acceleration

Cons

Lower than average fuel economy
Not as much room for passengers

Kia Sorento Breakdown

If you’re looking for a brand new and sleek-looking SUV, the latest redesign on the Kia Sorento might just be a good fit. With a starting MSRP of $33,605, and a market average price that’s actually slightly lower, this SUV is a good steal for almost any consumer.

The Sorento’s addition of the second row of bucket seats and an optional third bench also makes it one of the best passenger capacity SUVs of its size. Smaller than a typical van, but with passenger capacity that comes close, this is a great option for road trippers and large families.

The Sorento also has a suite of advanced tech and safety features, all of which make it a good option for people who are looking for the latest design features in their next vehicle.

Pros

Recent redesign
Two rows of captain’s chairs
Optional third-row seating
Maneuverable and responsive steering
Good fuel economy

Cons

Slower acceleration
No V6 option

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Is There a Winner Here?

In this case, these SUVs are well-matched, but we’re going to have to give the win to the Kia Sorento for most consumers. The lower price point combined with a similar suite of features, newer design, improved passenger seating, and other key features makes it a better value for the price.

However, for consumers that are looking for a tried and tested design, the Ford Edge is still a solid competitor.

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