A battle of the crossovers

The Kia Sorento and the Ford Edge are both popular choices in the competitive crossover segment. When you compare the two, you see that the Sorento, on sale here at Wagner Kia in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, offers more versatility and value.


The 2014 Kia Sorento starts at an MSRP of $24,100 and is available in LX, EX SX and Limited trim levels. The 2014 Ford Edge, on the other hand, starts at a significantly higher MSRP, $28,100, and is available in SE, SEL, Limited and Sport trims. The $4,000 Sorento base price advantage grows to $5,250 when the vehicles are comparably equipped, meaning you could step up to the Sorento EX trim for close to the same money you’d pay for a base-level Edge. Another main Sorento advantage is its available seven-passenger capacity, where the Edge can only seat five.


Both vehicles offer four-cylinder and six-cylinder engine choices. In the Kia Sorento, standard power comes from a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder with Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing and Gasoline Direct Injection that produces 191 hp and 181 lb/ft of torque. Paired with an electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic manual shifting, the four-cylinder returns an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. Also available is a new 3.3-liter V6 that delivers 290 hp and 252 lb/ft of torque through a six-speed automatic. Even with all that additional power, the V6 returns an estimated 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. A full-time all-wheel drive system with locking center differential and Torque Vectoring Cornering Control is also available.


The standard engine in the Edge is a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 285 hp and 253 lb/ft of torque through a six-speed automatic. The Sorento V6 offers more hp and achieves its maximum horsepower at a lower rpm. While a four-cylinder is available in the Edge, the least expensive way to get it still costs $29,095. Replacing the four-cylinder in the Sorento LX with the more powerful V6 only brings the MSRP to $25,700, which is still less than the Edge V6.


Standard equipment differences highlight the superior valued offered by the Sorento. The Sorento LX comes with 17-inch wheels; heated exterior mirrors with LED turn signal indicators; air conditioning; an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with SiriusXM Satellite Radio, USB port and auxiliary input; Bluetooth wireless connectivity; a trip computer; wood trim; and versatile seating for up to seven with second-row under-floor cargo storage. Even though it’s more expensive, the Edge standard equipment list lacks the heated mirrors, SiriusXM radio, under-floor cargo storage, and Bluetooth.


As you climb the Sorento trim levels, standard or available features include 19-inch chrome wheels, chrome trim accents, Xenon High-Intensity Discharge headlamps, FlexSteer selectable steering system, the UVO infotainment system, a navigation system with eight-inch color display, Infinity premium audio, a leather/wood trimmed heated steering wheel, push-button start with Smart Key, a power liftgate, leather seating surfaces, ventilated front seats and even heated rear seats. The Edge can’t match the Sorento when it comes to affordable variety. Also, the Sorento holds advantages in front legroom, hiproom and shoulder room. The Sorento holds more cargo behind both the first- and second-rows seats, too, and dwarfs the Edge in passenger volume, 151.4 cubic feet (in seven-passenger variety) to 108.4 cubic feet in the Edge.


Safety is another area where the Sorento excels. All models come standard with front active headrests, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control System, Hill Start Assist Control, Antilock Brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist System, and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System. The Sorento is also available with a rear camera display, Backup Warning System and a Blind Spot Detection System. The Edge again can’t match this comprehensive suite of safety equipment, and it shows in the “4-Star Overall” rating it received from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, compared to the “5-Star Overall” rating earned by the Sorento. The Sorento also earned a “Top Safety Pick” designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, where the Edge did not.
The final blows are the Sorento standard 10-year/100,000-mile Limited Powertrain Warranty and five-year/60,000-mileLimited Basic Warranty with Roadside Assistance.. Edge drivers get a five-year/60,000-mile Limited Powertrain Warranty and a three-year/36,000-mile Limited Basic Warranty.
Stop by today to learn more about the Kia Sorento, and be sure to save some time for a test drive

This article is presented by Wagner Kia in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts