Compare

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento

2026 Honda CR-V vs 2026 Kia Sorento — two rivals compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Honda CR-V

2026 Honda CR-V

Midsize Station WagonsAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS3 – 3Tie: 3 categories each
Kia Sorento

2026 Kia Sorento

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

Swap in a different car →

The short version

The Honda CR-V is more fuel-efficient: 40 vs 37 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $100 a year less in fuel for the Honda CR-V (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Kia Sorento is the bigger car, about 4 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Kia Sorento has had fewer recall campaigns (42 vs 60).

The two cars

The 2026 Honda CR-V is a midsize station wagon offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 1.5L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 185 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,635 lb (4dr SUV AWD).

The 2026 Kia Sorento is a small SUV offered with 3 engines (1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl and 2.5L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 189 inches long and 75 inches wide on a 111-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,825 lb (2.5l SUV).

Buying used? The 2022 CR-V and the 2024 Sorento have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2018 CR-V and the 2016 Sorento.

Basics

Midsize Station Wagons
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Hybrid, eFCV, Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

40 MPG
Best combined MPG
37 MPG
43 city
City / highway MPG (best)
37 city
$1,700
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,800

Performance & space

190 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
281 hp
184.6 in
Length
189 in
73.6 in
Width
74.8 in
66.1 in
Height
66.9 in
3,525 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,825 lb

Safety & reliability

14
Driver-assist features standard
13
2
Recalls (2026)
2
60
Recalls, all years since 2005
42
177
Owner complaints (latest year)
9

Interest

36,497
Wikipedia views, 30 days
15,695

Buying used

2022
Best used year
2024
2018
Year to avoid
2016

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Honda CR-V if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (40 vs 37 MPG)
  • You want something easier to park (4 in shorter)

Choose the Kia Sorento if…

  • You want more power (up to 281 vs 190 hp)
  • You want more room (4 in longer)
  • You put reliability history first (42 vs 60 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Honda CR-V

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 40 MPG combined — 56% better than the average 2026 midsize station wagon (25.7 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Kia Sorento

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 37 MPG combined — 23% better than the average 2026 small SUV (30.2 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Honda CR-V specs →Full 2026 Kia Sorento specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →