Hi,
My wife and I are currently looking at both the 2021 Telluride and 2021 Sorento. We've no kids and are in our mid 40's. We share a vehicle and live in a city although we are lucky to have indoor garage parking. We currently have a 2013 Mazda CX-5 the original model with the 2.0 liter engine pushing out an almighty 155HP LOL. It does handle nicely and is easy to get around in although our version is as slow as a week week! It has also been very reliable, just routine maintenance through 83,000 miles. We now want something bigger, faster, more comfortable that handles good and is also reliable. I need more space for tools etc. I'm a handyman, my wife doesn't want something "too big feeling" driving around. Again we share a vehicle some compromises will have to be made!
We did test drive a 2021 Sorento SX X-Line AWD a few days ago. Unfortunately given the unbelievable demand for Tellurides we were not allowed to test drive a Telluride (at that dealership and most around us I've since found out!). However we could sit in it, check it out etc.
We are driving Mazda SUV's going back to 2007 so our comparisons are more or less with our experience with Mazda's. Our initial impressions of the Sorento were overall good but we had a a few minor issues.
The positives first: 1) Styling is subjective but we both thought it looks modern and stylish inside and out.
2) The acceleration off the line is fast and out on the highway or at least for us it's fast! (0-60 about 6.5 secs I'm told with the 2.5 Turbo)
3) It's a nice manageable size, not too big but bigger than the CX-5, Rav 4 etc.
4) A lot of safety features standard (like Telluride) and the tech is cool and easy to use.
5) Seems comfortable enough on initial driving, although it really is a 4 person plus 2 small people in this trim. (we would leave the 3rd row done).
The negatives: 1) The dash material isn't nearly as soft to touch as our 2013 Mazda.
2) The ratcheting 2nd row seat arms were kind of flimsy and in our tester one wasn't working properly at all.
3) There's quite a bit of piano black around the gear shifter that will definitely get scratched up over the years.
4) Because the side mirror caps are gloss black (which I liked) there was a noticeable refection in the side mirrors as the inside of the side mirrors is shiny gloss too. They were reflecting chrome trim from the inside onto the mirrors. It was distracting when using the side mirrors on our test drive Kia should have made the inside of the mirror caps a matte finish.
5) The steering feel is lighter than we're uses too but not a deal breaker.
Again some minor(ish) negatives but overall we both liked the 2021 Sorento.
Again we couldn't test drive the Telluride to compare but could check it out. We both thought as nice looking as the Sorento is the Telluride has a more grandeur Look too it and more road presence for sure. It definitely felt roomier especially in width in the cabin. The seats weren't as side bolstered as the Sorento but felt bigger and a bit more padded and comfortable. My wife preferred the cleaner simpler design of the infotainment screen and analog cluster. She thought the Sorento was a little busy and overly laden with "tech screens" too visually distracting! I kinda agree! The cargo area was noticeable bigger too especially with all the seats down. Also the Sorento's second row don't fold completely flat I think the Telluride's did. Fit and finish in the Telluride seemed a little better to us, although the Sorento's is good overall.
Without test driving to compare the two I'd imagine the Sorento to be a bit more nimble, sportier and has punchier acceleration with a a lot more torque than the Telluride. I'd guess the Telluride is a more relaxed comfortable drive with a luxury feeling cruiser type vehicle. The Sorento is very eager to move a bit busy of a drive mybe?
Anyway love to get your thoughts? We definitely want to test drive the Telluride for comparisons sake. If the Telluride doesn't "drive too big" and the acceleration is good around town and out on the highway I think we'd lean towards Telluride! Side note" Love how the Mazda's drive but they don't have an offering for our needs at the moment. The Cx-9 doesn't offer enough cargo room for my work needs.
Have a nice day and be safe!
My wife and I are currently looking at both the 2021 Telluride and 2021 Sorento. We've no kids and are in our mid 40's. We share a vehicle and live in a city although we are lucky to have indoor garage parking. We currently have a 2013 Mazda CX-5 the original model with the 2.0 liter engine pushing out an almighty 155HP LOL. It does handle nicely and is easy to get around in although our version is as slow as a week week! It has also been very reliable, just routine maintenance through 83,000 miles. We now want something bigger, faster, more comfortable that handles good and is also reliable. I need more space for tools etc. I'm a handyman, my wife doesn't want something "too big feeling" driving around. Again we share a vehicle some compromises will have to be made!
We did test drive a 2021 Sorento SX X-Line AWD a few days ago. Unfortunately given the unbelievable demand for Tellurides we were not allowed to test drive a Telluride (at that dealership and most around us I've since found out!). However we could sit in it, check it out etc.
We are driving Mazda SUV's going back to 2007 so our comparisons are more or less with our experience with Mazda's. Our initial impressions of the Sorento were overall good but we had a a few minor issues.
The positives first: 1) Styling is subjective but we both thought it looks modern and stylish inside and out.
2) The acceleration off the line is fast and out on the highway or at least for us it's fast! (0-60 about 6.5 secs I'm told with the 2.5 Turbo)
3) It's a nice manageable size, not too big but bigger than the CX-5, Rav 4 etc.
4) A lot of safety features standard (like Telluride) and the tech is cool and easy to use.
5) Seems comfortable enough on initial driving, although it really is a 4 person plus 2 small people in this trim. (we would leave the 3rd row done).
The negatives: 1) The dash material isn't nearly as soft to touch as our 2013 Mazda.
2) The ratcheting 2nd row seat arms were kind of flimsy and in our tester one wasn't working properly at all.
3) There's quite a bit of piano black around the gear shifter that will definitely get scratched up over the years.
4) Because the side mirror caps are gloss black (which I liked) there was a noticeable refection in the side mirrors as the inside of the side mirrors is shiny gloss too. They were reflecting chrome trim from the inside onto the mirrors. It was distracting when using the side mirrors on our test drive Kia should have made the inside of the mirror caps a matte finish.
5) The steering feel is lighter than we're uses too but not a deal breaker.
Again some minor(ish) negatives but overall we both liked the 2021 Sorento.
Again we couldn't test drive the Telluride to compare but could check it out. We both thought as nice looking as the Sorento is the Telluride has a more grandeur Look too it and more road presence for sure. It definitely felt roomier especially in width in the cabin. The seats weren't as side bolstered as the Sorento but felt bigger and a bit more padded and comfortable. My wife preferred the cleaner simpler design of the infotainment screen and analog cluster. She thought the Sorento was a little busy and overly laden with "tech screens" too visually distracting! I kinda agree! The cargo area was noticeable bigger too especially with all the seats down. Also the Sorento's second row don't fold completely flat I think the Telluride's did. Fit and finish in the Telluride seemed a little better to us, although the Sorento's is good overall.
Without test driving to compare the two I'd imagine the Sorento to be a bit more nimble, sportier and has punchier acceleration with a a lot more torque than the Telluride. I'd guess the Telluride is a more relaxed comfortable drive with a luxury feeling cruiser type vehicle. The Sorento is very eager to move a bit busy of a drive mybe?
Anyway love to get your thoughts? We definitely want to test drive the Telluride for comparisons sake. If the Telluride doesn't "drive too big" and the acceleration is good around town and out on the highway I think we'd lean towards Telluride! Side note" Love how the Mazda's drive but they don't have an offering for our needs at the moment. The Cx-9 doesn't offer enough cargo room for my work needs.
Have a nice day and be safe!
