2027 Kia Sorento vs 2027 Volkswagen Taos
The Kia Sorento wins clearly, 100 to 91.6, on fuel & range.
2027 Kia Sorento
The 2027 Kia Sorento is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sorento Hybrid FWD, is…
2027 Volkswagen Taos
The 2027 Volkswagen Taos is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Taos, is EPA-rated at 30 mpg …
2027 Kia Sorento
Clear winThe Kia Sorento wins clearly, 100 to 91.6, on fuel & range.
| Category · weight | 2027 Kia Sorentooverall 100 | 2027 Volkswagen Taosoverall 91.6 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 80.4 | |||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 100 | |||||||||
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 & cargonot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Performancenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Overall | 100 | 91.6 | |||||||||
Safety-only comparison · 2 of 7 categories compared · specs not available for Kia Sorento
Kia Sorento: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available) · Volkswagen Taos: base trim S FWD. 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 2027 Kia Sorento wins
- It costs $450 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,800 against $2,250).
- It is rated 37 combined against 30 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
What they share
- A Safety Signal of 100.
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
50 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Kia Sorento | Volkswagen TaosS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | — | $26,500 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | — | 4 |
| Engine displacement | — | 1,498 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | — | 1.5L inline four cylinder, 16V, turbocharged/intercooled, TSI (EA211) |
| Fuel injection system | — | TSI |
| Valve configuration | — | DOHC |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | — | 174 hp |
| Torque | — | 184 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 27 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 30 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 35 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 3.24 |
| Transmission speeds | — | 8 |
| Transmission type | — | automatic hybrid |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 6.5 in |
| Overall height | — | 64.5 in |
| Overall length | — | 176 in |
| Overall width | — | 72.5 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 106 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | — | 65.9 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | — | 27.9 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 99.5 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 40.7 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 39.8 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 40.1 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 37.9 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 3,206 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 3,206 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 4,365 lbs |
| Payload capacity | — | 937 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | — | strut-type with lower control arms, coil springs, telescopic dampers, anti-roll bar |
| Rear suspension type | — | torsion beam with coil springs, telescopic dampers |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | — | rack and pinion, electric power assist |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 35.1 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 312 mm |
| Front brake type | — | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | — | electro-mechanical |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 272 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | — | 17 in |
| Wheel material | — | alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 7 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 215/55 R17 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 13.2 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | myVW |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | — | 56.5 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 55.2 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
46 features · differences first, then sharedSafety18 differ · 18 listed
| Feature | Kia Sorento | Volkswagen TaosS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go | — | std |
| IQ.DRIVE • Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning & Automatic Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian & Cyclist Monitoring) | — | std |
| Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning & Automatic Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian & Cyclist Monitoring) | — | std |
| Rear Traffic Alert | — | std |
| Dual front & side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags | — | std |
| Dual front & side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags | — | std |
| Dual front & side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags | — | std |
| Lane Assist (Lane Keeping System) | — | std |
| Rearview Camera | — | std |
| 3-point seatbelts with tensioner height adjust | — | std |
| Active Side Assist (Blind Spot Monitor) | — | std |
| Automatic Post-Collision Braking System | — | std |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | — | std |
| Emergency Assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency) | — | std |
| Intelligent Crash Response System | — | std |
| Light Assist (High Beam Control for headlights) | — | std |
| Travel Assist (semi-automated driving assistance) | — | std |
| Tire pressure monitoring system | — | std |
Infotainment9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Kia Sorento | Volkswagen TaosS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| myVW w/ available Wi-Fi | — | std |
| 6-speaker sound system | — | std |
| Bluetooth connectivity | — | std |
| Composition Media MIB3 infotainment w/ 8-inch display, AM/FM/HD Radio, media player, and voice control | — | std |
| Leatherette-wrapped, heated multifunction steering wheel | — | std |
| SiriusXM w/ 360L | — | std |
| USB-C ports: 2 front (data and charge) | — | std |
| Volkswagen Digital Cockpit w/ 8-inch display | — | std |
| Wireless App-Connect (CarPlay, AndroidAuto, MirrorLink) w/ multi-phone pairing capability | — | std |
Convenience2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Kia Sorento | Volkswagen TaosS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| KESSY keyless access with push-button start | — | std |
| 12-volt outlet | — | std |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Kia Sorento | Volkswagen TaosS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual HVAC | — | std |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Kia Sorento | Volkswagen TaosS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated front seats | — | std |
| 6-way manual driver seat | — | std |
| Cloth seats | — | std |
Interior1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Kia Sorento | Volkswagen TaosS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Leatherette-wrapped, heated multifunction steering wheel | — | std |
Exterior9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Kia Sorento | Volkswagen TaosS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Premium LED projector headlights w/ LED DRLs, all-weather lights | — | std |
| 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels w/ all-season tires | — | std |
| 18-inch five-spoke machined alloy wheels w/ all-season tires | — | std |
| Black roof rails | — | std |
| Heated front washer nozzles | — | std |
| LED taillights and LED rear license plate lighting | — | std |
| Power-adjustable, heated side mirrors | — | std |
| Rain-sensing wipers | — | std |
| Automatic headlights w/ "Coming Home/Leaving Home" feature | — | std |
Powertrain3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Kia Sorento | Volkswagen TaosS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4Motion all-wheel drive | — | std |
| Front-wheel drive | — | std |
| Driving Mode Selection | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPKia Sorento
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Volkswagen Taos
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Kia Sorento | Volkswagen TaosS FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | $26,500 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — | $26,500 – $35,900 9 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Sorento Hybrid FWD | Taos |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 37 | 30 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,800 | $2,250 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | 4 yr / 50,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | 3 yr |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2027 Kia Sorento or the 2027 Volkswagen Taos?
The Kia Sorento wins clearly, 100 to 91.6, on fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2027 Kia Sorento scores 100 and the 2027 Volkswagen Taos 91.6. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2027 Kia Sorento or the 2027 Volkswagen Taos?
2027 Kia Sorento: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2027 Volkswagen Taos: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 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 2027 Kia Sorento and the 2027 Volkswagen Taos?
Where the 2027 Kia Sorento wins: it costs $450 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,800 against $2,250) and is rated 37 combined against 30 (EPA mpg or MPGe). What they share: a Safety Signal of 100.