Kia Sorento vs Subaru Crosstrek

The Kia Sorento starts from $36,490 before on-road costs, while the Subaru Crosstrek opens at $36,490. Both land at the same RRP, so on-road costs and dealer deals become the real differentiator.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $40,139 and $40,139 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Kia Sorento by roughly $1,285 in fuel alone.

Both the Kia Sorento and Subaru Crosstrek hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 82% for the Kia Sorento and 83% for the Subaru Crosstrek.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Kia Sorento packs more ADAS features with 6 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 5 in the Subaru Crosstrek.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Kia Sorento and 7 in the Subaru Crosstrek.

Both come with modern infotainment systems. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Subaru Crosstrek counters with wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats and power tailgate that the Kia Sorento does not offer. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Kia Sorento lines up producing 200kW and 332Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8 seconds.

The Subaru Crosstrek lines up making 115kW and 196Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 10.9 seconds.

The Kia Sorento has the clear power advantage at 200kW vs 115kW. In the real-world sprint, the Kia Sorento is 2.9s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Kia Sorento measures 4,815mm long on a 2,815mm wheelbase, 320mm longer than the Subaru Crosstrek at 4,495mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Kia Sorento generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 179L in the Kia Sorento and 559L in the Subaru Crosstrek, giving the Subaru Crosstrek a 380L advantage. The Kia Sorento seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Kia Sorento leads with a 2,000kg braked capacity vs 1,200kg. That 800kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,938/year for the Kia Sorento and $2,195/year for the Subaru Crosstrek. That is a $257 annual difference in favour of the Kia Sorento.

Estimated annual total: $1,938 (Kia Sorento) vs $2,195 (Subaru Crosstrek). The Kia Sorento saves you roughly $257 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 7 years (Kia Sorento) vs 5 years (Subaru Crosstrek). The Kia Sorento has longer coverage.