2026 Kia Sorento vs 2026 Tesla Model Y
The Kia Sorento wins clearly, 85.7 to 74.8, on safety, tech & comfort, price. The Tesla Model Y is ahead on fuel & range.
2026 Kia Sorento
The 2026 Kia Sorento is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas compact SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sorent…
2026 Tesla Model Y
The 2026 Tesla Model Y is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Model Y Long Range RWD, is…
2026 Kia Sorento
Clear winThe Kia Sorento wins clearly, 85.7 to 74.8, on safety, tech & comfort, price. The Tesla Model Y is ahead on fuel & range.
| Category · weight | 2026 Kia Sorentooverall 85.7 | 2026 Tesla Model Yoverall 74.8 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 81 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 29.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 95.9 | 63.1 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 71.4 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 59.4 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 85.7 | 74.8 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Kia Sorento: base trim LX FWD · Tesla Model Y: base trim Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Kia Sorento wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (9 against 439 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists 26 standard driver-assist features against 2.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (32 points against 19 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2026 Tesla Model Y answers
- It is rated 138 combined against 37 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $1,250 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $1,800).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
51 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Kia SorentoLX FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $32,390 | $39,990 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 2,497 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.5L 4-cylinder Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 191 hp | — |
| Torque | 181 lb-ft | — |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 23 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 26 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 31 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.798:1 (FWD) | — |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | — |
| Transmission type | automatic | — |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 6.9 in | 6.4 in |
| Overall height | 66.7 in | 63.8 in |
| Overall length | 190 in | 189 in |
| Overall width | 74.8 in | 78 in |
| Wheelbase | 111 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 75.5 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 38.5 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 12.6 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 7 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.3 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 39.1 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | 36.8 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.4 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 41.7 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | 29.6 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,814 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,814 lbs | 4,061 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 5,512 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | McPherson Strut | — |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-Link | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | C-MDPS | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 19 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 325 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Parking brake type | epb | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 305 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | — |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | — |
| Wheel width | 7 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 235/65R17 | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 17.7 gal | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | Grok |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 59.1 in | — |
| Second-row shoulder room | 58.1 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | 53 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
126 features · differences first, then sharedSafety28 differ · 28 listed
| Feature | Kia SorentoLX FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Spot Collision Warning (BCW) with Parallel Exit | std | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA) Fusion Type, Car, Pedestrian and Cyclist, Junction Assist | std | — |
| Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go (SCC) | std | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Junction Turning (FCA-JT) | std | — |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA) | std | — |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA) | std | — |
| Dual front advanced airbags | std | — |
| Dual front seat-mounted side airbags | std | — |
| Full-length side curtain airbags | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | std | — |
| Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) | std | — |
| Rear view camera with dynamic guidelines | std | — |
| Downhill Brake Control (DBC) | std | — |
| Driver Attention Warning, including Lead Vehicle Departure Alert (DAW) | std | — |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) | std | — |
| Rear Side Airbags | std | — |
| Safe Exit Assist (SEA) | std | — |
| 4-wheel Antilock Brakes System (ABS) | std | — |
| 8 exterior cameras | — | std |
| Driver's knee airbag | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) | std | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | — |
| Full Self-Driving (Supervised) capable; Traffic-aware cruise control | — | std |
| High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | — |
| Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) | std | — |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | std | — |
| Rear Occupant Alert with Ultrasonic sensors (ROA) | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) High-Line | std | — |
Infotainment16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Kia SorentoLX FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2 wireless phone chargers | — | std |
| 12.3‑inch Touchscreen Display, Radio, Bluetooth, Wireless Android Auto / Wireless Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth Voice Recognition (ccNC Lite) | std | — |
| 15.4" Center Touchscreen | — | std |
| 16'' First-row touchscreen | — | std |
| 3 USB-C ports | — | std |
| 7Speaker audio system | — | std |
| Android Auto™ | std | — |
| Apple CarPlay™ | std | — |
| Auxiliary, USB and iPod audio input jacks | std | — |
| Basic Vehicle Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 mi, whichever comes first | — | std |
| Bluetooth® wireless technology with voice recognition | std | — |
| Cellular data, Wi-Fi, ultra-wide band and Bluetooth connectivity | — | std |
| Grok voice assistant | — | std |
| MSRP (starting price, USD): $39,990 / $41,990 / $45,990 / $49,990 / $57,990 / $61,990 | — | std |
| Standard sound system | std | — |
| Steering wheel audio controls | std | — |
Convenience6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Kia SorentoLX FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Push-button start with Smart Key and remote start button on key fob | std | — |
| 12V Power outlet (rear floor console, luggage) | std | — |
| Driver and Passenger's central door lock | std | — |
| Hands-free power open on approach | — | std |
| Keyless Entry Remote Control with Burglar Alarm and Panic | std | — |
| Manual Tailgate | std | — |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Kia SorentoLX FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Row Air Vents | std | — |
| Manual air conditioning | std | — |
| Particulate and odor filter; First-row touchscreen-adjust air vents; Second-row manual-adjust air vents | — | std |
Seating9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Kia SorentoLX FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd-row 60/40 split-folding seats | std | — |
| First-row heated seats | — | std |
| 6-way adjustable driver's seat with height adjuster | std | — |
| 4-way adjustable passenger's seat | std | — |
| Cloth seat trim | std | — |
| Dual tone with textile and vegan leather | — | std |
| First-row power recline | — | std |
| Five-seat interior | — | std |
| Second-row manual-folding seats | — | std |
Interior17 differ · 17 listed
| Feature | Kia SorentoLX FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | — | std |
| 4.3-inch color TFT LCD supervision meter cluster | std | — |
| Door pocket bottle holder | std | — |
| Front and rear side door pockets | std | — |
| Leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob | std | — |
| Manual-adjust heated steering wheel | — | std |
| Metal paint interior door handles | std | — |
| Open center console | — | std |
| Overhead console, room lamp and cargo lamp | std | — |
| Passenger Seating Capacity 7 Passenger | std | — |
| Polyurethane steering wheel and soft PVC shift knob | std | — |
| Rear center armrest with dual cup holders | std | — |
| Tilt and telescopic steering column | std | — |
| Day and night rear-view mirror | std | — |
| Front console with center armrest, cup holders and storage box | std | — |
| Dual sunvisor, sliding with vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Front seatback pockets | std | — |
Exterior28 differ · 28 listed
| Feature | Kia SorentoLX FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| LED projector headlamps with Low and High Beams | std | — |
| 17-inch alloy wheels | std | — |
| Amber LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) | std | — |
| Body-color outside door handles | std | — |
| Front variable intermittent windshield wipers | std | — |
| Ground Clearance: 6.4" | — | std |
| Heated outside mirrors | std | — |
| Knit textile roof | — | std |
| LED headlights; Auto high beams | — | std |
| LED positioning lamps | std | — |
| LED side mirror repeater lamps | std | — |
| Manual-folding side-view mirrors | — | std |
| Overall Height: 63.8" | — | std |
| Overall Length: 188.7" | — | std |
| Power adjustable outside mirrors with integrated LED Turn Signals | std | — |
| Rear combination lamps | std | — |
| Rear liftgate-mounted spoiler | std | — |
| Satin Chrome DLO surround | std | — |
| Shark fin antenna | std | — |
| Tailgate glass heater with timer | std | — |
| Tinted Front Door Windows and Windshield | std | — |
| Weight (Curb Mass): 4,061 lbs | — | std |
| Wheels: 18" or 19" | — | std |
| Auto light control | std | — |
| Privacy Rear Windows and Tailgate Glass | std | — |
| Solar Front Door Windows and Windshield | std | — |
| LED High Mounted Stop Lamp | std | — |
| Temporary spare tire | std | — |
Powertrain12 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Kia SorentoLX FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | std | — |
| 0-60 mph: 6.8 sec | — | std |
| 2.5L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) 4-cylinder engine | std | — |
| 8-speed automatic transmission | std | — |
| Battery & Drive Unit Warranty: 8 years or 100,000 mi, whichever comes first | — | std |
| Drive Mode Select (Sport, Eco, Smart Modes) | std | — |
| Drive Modes: Chill, Standard | — | std |
| Emissions: SULEV (50-state compliant) | std | — |
| Idle Stop and Go (ISG) | std | — |
| Range (EPA est.): 321 mi | — | std |
| Supercharge in 15 min: 160 mi | — | std |
| Supercharging Max: 225 kW; Pay Per Use | — | std |
Chassis3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Kia SorentoLX FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| MacPherson front suspension and Multi-link rear suspension | std | — |
| Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) | std | — |
| Passive shock absorbers | — | std |
Cargo4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Kia SorentoLX FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-level cargo floor | std | — |
| Luggage area: net hook | std | — |
| Total Cargo Space: 76 cubic feet | — | std |
| Towing Capacity: 3,500 lbs | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPKia Sorento
Top recalls
- high Tires 25V745000 · 45 vehicles
- minor Electrical System 26V046000 · 42,677 vehicles
Tesla Model Y
Top recalls
- high Suspension 26V558000 · 19 vehicles
- high Structure 26V445000 · 15 vehicles
- high Electrical System 25V690000 · 12,963 vehicles
- high Seats 25V410000 · 48 vehicles
- moderate Exterior Lighting 25V658000 · 260 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 25V490000 · 6 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Kia SorentoLX FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $32,390 (base trim) | $39,990 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $32,390 – $53,490 17 trims | $39,990 – $61,990 6 trims |
| Powertrains | PHEV, HEV, GAS | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Sorento Hybrid FWD | Model Y Standard RWD (18in Wheels) |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 37 | 138 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,800 | $550 |
| EV range | — | 321 mi |
| Basic warranty | — | 4 yr / 50,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Kia Sorento or the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
The Kia Sorento wins clearly, 85.7 to 74.8, on safety, tech & comfort, price. The Tesla Model Y is ahead on fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Kia Sorento scores 85.7 and the 2026 Tesla Model Y 74.8. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Kia Sorento or the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
The 2026 Kia Sorento starts lower — $32,390 against $39,990, a gap of $7,600 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Kia Sorento or the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
2026 Kia Sorento: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 2 recalls. 2026 Tesla Model Y: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 8 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Kia Sorento and the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
Where the 2026 Kia Sorento wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (9 against 439 filed with NHTSA), lists 26 standard driver-assist features against 2, and lists more comfort and tech equipment (32 points against 19 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2026 Tesla Model Y answers: it is rated 138 combined against 37 (EPA mpg or MPGe) and costs $1,250 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $1,800). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars.