Subaru Crosstrek vs Kia Sorento

The Subaru Crosstrek starts from $36,490 before on-road costs, while the Kia Sorento 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 Subaru Crosstrek and Kia Sorento hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 83% for the Subaru Crosstrek and 82% for the Kia Sorento.

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 Subaru Crosstrek and 7 in the Kia Sorento.

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

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

The Subaru Crosstrek uses a Petrol producing 115kW and 196Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.9 seconds.

The Kia Sorento responds with a Petrol making 200kW and 332Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8 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 Subaru Crosstrek measures 4,495mm long on a 2,670mm wheelbase, 320mm shorter than the Kia Sorento at 4,815mm (2,815mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Kia Sorento generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 559L in the Subaru Crosstrek and 179L in the Kia Sorento, 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 $2,195/year for the Subaru Crosstrek and $1,938/year for the Kia Sorento. That is a $257 annual difference in favour of the Kia Sorento.

Estimated annual total: $2,195 (Subaru Crosstrek) vs $1,938 (Kia Sorento). 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: 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru Crosstrek) vs 7 years / 999,999km (Kia Sorento). The Kia Sorento has longer coverage.