Compare the2026 Kia SorentoVS 2026 Volvo XC60

With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Kia Sorento is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volvo XC60, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Kia Sorento achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Volvo XC60 has not been tested.

Both the Sorento and the XC60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sorento is safer than the Volvo XC60:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Kia Sorento is safer than the XC60:

The Sorento comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The XC60’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sorento 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the XC60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sorento’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 77 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 6 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Sorento EX/SX’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 34 more horsepower (281 vs. 247) and 45 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 266) than the XC60 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Sorento EX/SX 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the XC60 B5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

Both the Sorento and the XC60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Sorento’s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC60 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sorento uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XC60 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Sorento offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The XC60 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Sorento stops much shorter than the XC60:

The front and rear suspension of the Sorento uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The Sorento X-Line SX Prestige handles at .85 G’s, while the XC60 T8 Core pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sorento X-Line SX Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XC60 B5 Core (26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

The Kia Sorento may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 450 pounds less than the Volvo XC60.

The Sorento has standard seating for 7 passengers; the XC60 can only carry 5.

The Sorento has 2.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC60 (105.3 vs. 103).

The Sorento has 2.3 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 3.7 inches more rear legroom and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC60.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sorento’s middle row seats recline. The XC60’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Sorento’s cargo area provides more volume than the XC60.

The Sorento’s cargo area is larger than the XC60’s in every dimension:

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Sorento’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XC60 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo XC60 is limited to 3500 pounds. The Sorento offers up to a 4500 lbs. towing capacity.

The Sorento has a higher standard payload capacity than the XC60 (1255 vs. 1196 lbs.).

The Sorento has a higher maximum payload capacity than the XC60 (1543 vs. 1354 lbs.).

The Sorento Prestige’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The XC60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Sorento has standard extendable sun visors. The XC60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Sorento to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XC60 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Sorento is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the XC60, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the Sorento offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the XC60.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the Sorento equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The XC60, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Kia Sorento empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

The Sorento Prestige has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XC60 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Sorento is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The XC60 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Kia Sorento retains 47.74% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 46.33% resale value of the 2025 Volvo XC60 after five years, which can save the Kia’s owner up to $8532.08984 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Sorento and the Volvo XC60, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Kia Sorento outsold the Volvo XC60 by almost three to one during 2024.