Subaru WRX Sportswagon vs Kia Sorento

The Subaru WRX Sportswagon starts from $52,290 before on-road costs, while the Kia Sorento opens at $51,380. That makes the Kia Sorento the more affordable entry point by $910.

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 $57,519 and $56,518 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Subaru WRX Sportswagon by roughly $1,850 in fuel alone.

The Kia Sorento holds a 5-star ANCAP rating vs 4 stars for the Subaru WRX Sportswagon.

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 WRX Sportswagon.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 8 in the Subaru WRX Sportswagon and 7 in the Kia Sorento.

The Subaru WRX Sportswagon features a 11.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 4.2-inch digital dash, while the Kia Sorento gets a 8-inch display and 4-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Subaru WRX Sportswagon stands out with Apple CarPlay that you will not find on the Kia Sorento. The Kia Sorento counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Subaru WRX Sportswagon uses a Petrol producing 202kW and 350Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.4 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 Subaru WRX Sportswagon has the clear power advantage at 202kW vs 200kW. In the real-world sprint, the Subaru WRX Sportswagon is 1.6s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Subaru WRX Sportswagon measures 4,670mm long on a 2,670mm wheelbase, 145mm 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 441L in the Subaru WRX Sportswagon and 179L in the Kia Sorento, giving the Subaru WRX Sportswagon a 262L advantage. The Kia Sorento seats 7 vs 5.

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

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,423/year for the Subaru WRX Sportswagon and $2,793/year for the Kia Sorento. That is a $370 annual difference in favour of the Subaru WRX Sportswagon.

Estimated annual total: $2,423 (Subaru WRX Sportswagon) vs $2,793 (Kia Sorento). The Subaru WRX Sportswagon saves you roughly $370 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru WRX Sportswagon) vs 7 years / 999,999km (Kia Sorento). The Kia Sorento has longer coverage.