
With lots of choice--five seats or seven, four cylinders or six, front- or all-wheel drive--the 2012 Kia Sorento opens itself up to a lot of worthy competitive threats.
There's the Chevy Equinox, a spacious five-seater that also hits 32 mpg in four-cylinder form, and has a nifty sliding second-row seat, but no third-row option.
The Ford Edge is a five-seater only, but a new turbo four edition tops 30 mpg highway, and teams acceptably well with the bigger, more imposing Edge.
The Honda CR-V is new this year, with improved styling and infotainment features, and a clever second-row folding seat.
The Dodge Journey and Toyota Highlander have as much choice as the Sorento, and the Journey excels with its infotainment features, while the Highlander suffers a bit on interior efficiency and on price.
Get FREE Dealer Quotes
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quick Specs | |||||
With the right size, the right gas-mileage numbers, and the right standard features, the 2012 Kia Sorento is an easy recommendation in the crossover class. |
A versatile layout, impressive performance, good ride comfort, and reasonable pricing all add up to make the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox a strong value—and a good pick for small families. |
Practical without being too prim, the 2012 Dodge Journey cuts an interesting figure and spans the gulf between compact crossovers and family-grade SUVs. |
The 2012 Ford Edge rises to the top of the five-seat crossover niche with forward-thinking technology and a gas-saving EcoBoost option. |
The 2012 Honda CR-V is a great family vehicle, with a thoughtfully designed and comfortable interior, and improved refinement, but it lacks the confident, sprightly feel present in past CR-Vs. |
The 2012 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid to roomy, three-row family crossover wagons what the Camry is to mid-size sedans: comfortable, safe, and full-featured—but more than a little bland. |
MSRP From | |||||
$21,250 | $23,530 | $18,995 | $27,770 | $22,495 | $28,240 |
Gas Mileage | |||||
18 MPG City / 30 MPG Hwy | 20 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy | 16 MPG City / 26 MPG Hwy | 17 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 17 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy |
Engine | |||||
Gas I4 | Gas/Ethanol I4 | Gas I4 | Gas V6 | Gas I4 | Gas I4 |
EPA Class | |||||
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 2WD Sport Utility Vehicle | 2WD Sport Utility Vehicle | FWD Sport Utility Vehicle | 2WD Sport Utility | Sport Utility Vehicle |
Style Name | |||||
2WD 4-Door I4 Base | FWD 4-Door LS | FWD 4-Door American Value Pkg | 4-Door SE FWD | 2WD 5-Door LX | FWD 4-Door I4 (GS) |
Drivetrain | |||||
Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
Passenger Capacity | |||||
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
Passenger Doors | |||||
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Body Style | |||||
4 Door | 4 Door | Sport Utility Vehicle | Sport Utility | Sport Utility Vehicle | 4 Door |
Transmission | |||||
Manual | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
2012 Kia Sorento vs. 2012 Chevrolet Equinox | 2012 Kia Sorento vs. 2012 Dodge Journey | 2012 Kia Sorento vs. 2012 Ford Edge | 2012 Kia Sorento vs. 2012 Honda CR-V | 2012 Kia Sorento vs. 2012 Toyota Highlander |