As our schedules become increasingly cluttered with extracurricular activities, working out, seeing friends, and more, having a roomy vehicle to accommodate the family and all of their stuff becomes critical.
More and more buyers are looking for vehicles with more and more room for passengers and cargo. With the 2024 Honda Pilot and 2024 Kia Sorento, you get SUVs that can perform multiple tasks and look good doing it.
Let’s see how these 3-row midsize utility vehicles match up.
2024 Honda Pilot
The Pilot received a significant redesign in 2023, giving it a tougher look to compete with other 3-row utes. The upside is that it can still perform soccer parent duties while being ready to head out to the great beyond and enjoy nature’s beauty. The best-equipped trim level for that is the Pilot TrailSport, featuring a rugged and functional appearance package, the TrailWatch Camera System to better navigate rocks and trees around the vehicle, and special software designed to help it traverse more challenging terrain than its predecessor.
Whether you’re looking to get away from it all for a few days or simply need a roomy, comfortable SUV that can seat up to eight, the Pilot is ready. With this latest version, Honda has upgraded the Pilot’s on-road componentry, such as its suspension and steering, and made it stiffer to give it more agility while maintaining comfort. Pricing for the Pilot starts at $38,485, including destination charge.
Honda Pilot Highlights
Off-road ready: The rugged Pilot TrailSport is up for almost anything. In addition to the 285-horsepower V6 engine that powers every Pilot, it boasts all-terrain tires, an off-road-tuned suspension system, and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Like other AWD Pilot models, it can also tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Spaciousness: If you’re driving a 3-row SUV, you’re looking for as much seating as possible. The Pilot provides that with room for up to eight passengers. It has considerably more passenger and cargo space than the smaller Kia Sorento.
Honda Sensing: While Honda has made this the most capable Pilot ever, it’s also improved its safety systems, too. The Honda Sensing Suite comes standard on every new Pilot. It features a slew of advanced driver safety technology, including Traffic Jam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, as well as available blind-spot information and parking sensors with low-speed braking control.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Pilot models for sale near you.
2024 Kia Sorento
Sometimes you just want a little more room, yet still retain a relatively compact footprint. Thus, not everyone needs the biggest 3-row SUV available. For buyers who only require a third row every now and then, there is the just-right-sized 2024 Kia Sorento.
If you have two kids and want to let them each bring a friend to an event, the Sorento is your vehicle. There is no excessive room, and to help your budget, there is no excessive price tag, either. However, it does have all the good things expected of top vehicles in the segment. Prices start at $33,365, including destination fee.
Kia Sorento Highlights
Available turbo power: Lower models come with a 191-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, but a turbocharged unit that adds 90 more horsepower is available. Adding the turbocharger pushes the output to 281 hp, but the average combined fuel economy drops just one little mpg from 26 mpg to 25 mpg. The Sorento can also be had as a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.
Nice cabin: It’s a pretty spacious place — at least for the first two rows — and the higher trim levels also offer quilted leather seats, open-pore wood, and bright satin finishes, bringing a truly premium air to the Sorento.
Quality entertainment: The 2024 Sorento comes standard with an impressive 12.3-inch infotainment system. Its large touchscreen features Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, navigation, and SiriusXM, and it’s available with a Bose audio system.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Sorento models for sale near you.
Similarities
Although sized and priced a bit differently, the Honda Pilot and Kia Sorento both fit in the midsize 3-row SUV segment. They’re similarly equipped with modern safety and infotainment tech, and they both have impressive off-road-ready trims via the Pilot TrailSport and Sorento X-Pro.
Conclusion
The Pilot is more expensive but has a bigger presence with more space and the ability to seat eight. It also comes standard with a V6 engine. The Kia Sorento gives you plenty of options, and it’s base price is around $5,000 less. If you plan on using the third row regularly, your passengers will appreciate the extra space in the more minivan-like Pilot. However, if you only occasionally need additional seating, the smaller Sorento offers a nice discount and a better warranty.
| 2024 Honda Pilot | 2024 Kia Sorento | |
| Starting Price | $38,485 | $33,365 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 3.5-liter 6-cylinder | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 285 hp @ 6,100 rpm | 191 hp @ 6,100 rpm |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm | 181 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Fuel Economy | 19 city/27 highway/22 combined mpg | 24 city/29 highway/26 combined mpg |
| Also Available | AWD | AWD; 2.5-liter turbo; Hybrid/PHEV |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | TBD | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 8 | 7 |
| Wheelbase | 113.8 inches | 110.8 inches |
| Overall Length | 199.9 inches | 189.0 inches |
| Width | 78.5 inches | 74.8 inches |
| Height | 71.0 inches | 66.7 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.8 feet | 37.9 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.5 inches | 40.3 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 40.2 inches | 39.1 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 39.3 inches | 36.8 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.0 inches | 41.4 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 40.8 inches | 41.7 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 32.5 inches | 29.6 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 61.9 inches | 59.1 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 61.7 inches | 58.1 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 59.5 inches | 53 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 18.6/48.5/87.0 cubic feet | 12.6/38.5/75.5 cubic feet |
