2017 Kia Sorento vs Subaru Outback

What's the difference?

This tiger may be more at home in the concrete jungle than the forests of Asia, but it has the presence and growl to make people sit up and take notice. It's nice to look at, and easy to drive, with impressive inclusions and a solid safety package. This Sorento Platinum, with its spacious interior, feeling of prestige, and air of sophistication, is a great option for large and growing families.

The Outback is a classic Subaru. Over the last two decades it has evolved from a cladding-and-ride-height Liberty special to a car in its own right. It looks like nothing else on the road and does it with a very good spec.

In the value for money stakes, it's almost unbeatable with advanced safety features (diesel manual excepted), plenty of standard equipment and surprisingly low prices. If you had to pick one, it would probably be the 2.5i Premium - it has all the safety gear without the penalty of the 3.6R's fuel consumption, plenty of comfort and is a bargain.

Allow your imagination to run a bit and it's easy to see how the Sorento's 'Tiger Nose' grille came by its name. More a relaxed, playful tiger, than a ferocious, snarling one, but a tiger all the same.

The Sorento is a handsome looking chap, sleek and sophisticated, sitting low on its haunches, a high belt line adding to a decidedly muscular appearance.

The air of prestige is replicated on the inside where two tone leather, in our test car at least, sat alongside brushed metal highlights and tasteful wood grain. Kia has stepped up a gear here to produce interior delights in line with a post $50,000 price tag, and unsurprisingly, those tend toward subtly suave, rather than bold and brash.

Instrumentation is logical and clear, the climate controls easy to reach on the move, and thanks to a reach and rake adjustable steering wheel, the perfect driving position is (you guessed it) easy to achieve.

The 7.0-inch colour touchscreen may be a tad small for a dash of this size but is nicely integrated into the console, and simple to operate.

Heated and cooled front seats (heated in the second row) are accommodating; long enough under the thigh and wide enough across the shoulders to satisfy most shapes and sizes.

The Outback is looking less and less like the Liberty as the years wear on. With its high ride height (ground clearance is a lofty 213mm) it looks like an SUV, even though it's a wagon. It goes without a bull bar or nudge bar but, with lots unpainted black plastic, has a rugged exterior.

Sadly, despite its credentials as an adventurer, there's no panoramic sunroof option - you'll have to make do with a conventional one.

As you move up the range, some of that unpainted black plastic is swapped out for a satin metallic finish but there's not a great deal of visual difference if you're using that measure by way of comparison. One clue is a dark window tint on the upper models, and LED headlights.

As the cabin photos show, it's a classy, high quality interior. Again, as you work your way up the range, leather seats join the party to make a good interior even more comfortable. The dash is typical Subaru - clear, concise and packed full of information in its detailed trip computer.

Seven seaters, especially those built in the Kia mould, are nothing if not practical. That easy-fold third row offers a number of efficiencies, especially for larger families, and the one in this Sorento Platinum is sturdy, comfortable, and able to offer reasonable-sized adults acceptable lodgings on shorter trips.

Headroom may get tight, but not neck-crickingly so. Passengers in the third row get cupholders, a storage cubby and climate controls, too.

My girls were quick to avail themselves of the luxuries of the second row, decadently sprawling out in comfort. Window blinds help keep things cool and there are air vents and cupholders, as well deepish door bins that can hold a water bottle, not to mention a healthy number of Pokémon figurines and trainer balls.

There are no built-in DVD players, which didn't bother my chatterboxes, but may be missed by families that regularly take long trips.

Three ISOFIX points in the second row make for the easy installation of child seats, and top tether points on the back of the seat, rather than the floor of the cargo area, means the straps don't impact luggage space.

There are a number storage options for the driver and front passenger, including space in the doors for water bottles, a deep covered centre console box and a couple of cupholders to keep them happy.

With all seven seats in place the boot still manages a healthy 320 litres. This grows to 1077 litres with the 50/50 split third row dropped, and an amazing 2066 if you also lower the 40/20/40 split second row.

The luggage area has two hooks to hang a couple of shopping bags on and a screen and net if you are carrying larger items. The latter two store neatly into the under-floor compartment when not in use.

The second row slides forward and aft to accommodate passengers, while large door openings and lowered seats help with entry and exit. Access to the third row could by sharpened if the second row seats tumbled over instead of just leaning forward.

All Outbacks have cup holder count of four - two up front and two in the rear.

There is no third-row seating available in the Outback. As a result, the question of how many seats is easily settled - five. The generous interior dimensions mean plenty of space for passengers of just about any size, with good front and rear legroom.

Boot space is impressive, with 512L to start and when you fold down the rear seats, a massive 1801L of cargo capacity. Boot dimensions are identical across all five models. You can secure your luggage with an optional cargo barrier or take advantage of the space over your head using the roof rails or an approved roof rack. There is also a cargo cover to hide your stuff from prying eyes. If you need to keep your eye protection from rolling around the interior, there is a sunglass holder, and you can fit the owner's manual in the glove box - not something every car can manage.

The turning circle is reasonable at 11 metres.

The Outback price range stretches from $35,470 for a good honest diesel manual through to a flat-six auto at $48,740, with three distinct models sandwiched in between. Subaru likes to publish the drive-away price on its website, however we'll be dealing in list prices (before on-road costs) here.

The range breaks down into three petrol models and two diesels, for a total of five trim levels.

The 2.0D opens the range at $35,470 for the six-speed manual while the 2.0D Premium manual starts at $42,240. Add $3000 for the CVT automatic transmission.

Standard features on the 2.0D with manual transmission are 17-inch alloy rims, six speakers, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, reverse camera, rain sensing wipers, cruise control, daytime running lights, halogen headlights (no xenon, projector or HID headlights), a mild body kit with side skirts, power windows, cloth trim, full size spare tyre, hill holder and electric power steering.

Opt for the CVT diesel and you pick up EyeSight, which adds active cruise control and a suite of safety features as well as X-Mode which helps in the slippery stuff and includes hill descent control. This isn't an off-road review, but X-Mode is very effective on the slippery stuff.

If you're after a more premium package, the aptly-named 2.5i Premium sees the addition of Vision Assist to go with EyeSight.

Stepping up to the 2.5i yields larger 18-inch alloy wheels, standard CVT automatic transmission, leather steering wheel, rear spoiler, and it swaps out the turbo diesel for a non-turbo petrol four-cylinder. The 2.5i starts at $36,240.

If you're after a more premium package, the aptly-named 2.5i Premium sees the addition of Vision Assist to go with EyeSight, leather trim, sunroof, sat nav, powered heated front seats, a bigger touch screen at 7.0-inches, two USB ports, powered tailgate, keyless entry, push button start and LED headlights. It costs $42,240.

Finally, the 3.6R gets you the big-banger performance from the flat six and an 11-speaker stereo (including subwoofer). It costs $48,740.

The accessories range includes floor mats, boot liner and various protective parts.

Still missing across the range are Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but you can plug in your iPhone or Android device to the sound system or pair via Bluetooth. Powered by Subaru's Starlink touchscreen software, the multimedia system comprises of a CD player and AM/FM radio (but no DAB across the range). Your multimedia needs can also be fulfilled with a USB port where you can plug in a phone or use the inbuilt MP3 player with a memory stick.

The accessories range includes floor mats, boot liner and various protective parts (underbody protection is limited to wheel-arch liners).

Missing from the standard spec lists are a DVD player, parking sensors (dealer fitted only), heated steering wheel, snorkel, bull bar, nudge bar, driving lights, seat belt extender, tonneau cover, canopy, chrome exhaust tips (they're hidden away behind the bumper), park assist, performance suspension or a high capacity spare battery.

Colours include Crystal Black, Dark Blue, Lapis Blue, Oak Brown Pearl, Tungsten (a sort of pink), Venetian Red, Dark Grey, Platinum Grey, Ice Silver and Crystal White. Sadly, the traditional green and gold combo of the original is no longer available. The vivid orange on the XV is - perhaps mercifully - also unavailable.

A regular question we get from prospective buyers is, "Where is the Subaru Outback built?". In the Australian case the Outback hails from Japan, while US buyers get theirs from Subaru's Indiana plant.

The AWD Sorento Platinum is powered by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel good for 147kW/441Nm. That torque is available from a low 1750rpm, delivering the grunt needed to move this two tonne SUV along.

A six-speed automatic transmission with Sport mode is an accomplished support and difficult to fault. There are steering wheel paddles if you have occasion to drive this family carrier like a race machine.

The Sorento is also available with a 3.3-litre V6 petrol (199kW/318Nm) but that seems to be the preserve of the front-wheel drive models.

All Outbacks are all-wheel-drive. There are no LPG or plug-in hybrid models. So for fuel choice, it's down to diesel vs petrol.

Engine specs depend on your chosen model. The diesel motor is a 2.0-litre boxer four turbo developing 110kW and 350Nm. The diesel specs are identical between the 2.0D and the Premium. Being a Subaru, all wheels are driven through a six-speed manual gearbox or optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). Only the diesel features a centre differential with viscous limited-slip differential that can be locked for better off-road capabilities, but it does go without X-Mode torque vectoring.

Manual vs automatic figures for the 0-100km/h dash are 9.7 seconds for the former and CVT 9.9 for the CVT, so acceleration is brisk rather than startling.

The torque specs of the diesel make it ideal for long trips, with a towing capacity of 1700kg (braked) and 750kg (unbraked).

For a bit more horsepower at the expense of torque and fuel economy, there are two petrol options, but if you like a clutch, you're out of luck.

The flat-four 2.5-litre petrol's specifications come in at 129kW and 235Nm, which is a little skinny for this engine size because it's not turbocharged. The 0-100 argument is over in 10.2sec, a little slower than the diesel.

If you have a tow bar, the load capacity for the 2.5i will haul 1500kg braked and 750kg unbraked.

Stepping up to the 3.6-litre flat six, probably the last engine like it in the world, you get more power at 191kW and a torque figure identical to the diesel's at 350Nm (although without the advantage of diesel fuel economy).

Towing ratings for the 3.6-litre are 1800kg unbraked and 750kg braked. Across the range, the Outback's gross vehicle weight is 2130kg.

Kia claims a combined economy figure of 7.8L/100km. Over 800km we recorded closer to 8.6L/100km and we're pretty happy with that. The tank holds 71 litres.

Diesel fuel consumption weighs in at a claimed 5.7L/100km for the manual and 6.3L/100km for the CVT.

The petrol consumption figures vary between the four and six cylinder units. The 2.5i delivers a claimed 7.3L/100km while the 3.6 rises to a claimed 9.9L/100km.

In our hands, the 3.6's mileage was a fair way off the claimed, delivering 16L/100km. Part of that is attributable to the extra weight of the 3.6i, which is a hefty 1702kg. This one may leave you wishing for a larger fuel tank size - fuel tank capacity is 60 litres.

The thing about good family cars, like the Sorento, is they're so efficient at going about their business, they allow you to calmly go about yours. On the road, the Sorento is capable and assured, quick to respond, and unflappable when you change your mind.

It's quiet, thanks to increased dashboard insulation, with reinforced transmission and rear suspension bushes helping to nullify vibration and harshness.

Braking is good and the Sorento is easy to manoeuvre in the confines of a busy city.

Localised suspension tune makes for a super comfortable ride, with the Sorento able to make short work of all but the most aggressive bumps. Naturally, given its size, there is some lean in the corners but even those movements are controlled with the SUV never giving the impression it's out of sorts.

Braking is good and the Sorento is easy to manoeuvre in the confines of a busy city, around tight traffic circles and even tighter shopping centre car parks. Unlike its Hyundai Santa Fe cousin, the Sorento misses out on an automated parking system, but it's hardly a deal breaker.

While the Sorento does well on secondary tracks, it's not really suited for more serious off-road adventures. The AWD system will send drive mostly to the front wheels in general everyday situations. When cornering quickly, or on loose or wet surfaces, when one or two wheels lose traction, the AWD ability offers assurance.

The Sorento has no centre diff, but at speeds below 40km/h you can lock the drive distribution between the front and back, which can be useful if you are making slow progress on muddy ground or sand.

The Outback driving experience is a good one - it's a very quiet car. If you had to pick the loudest, it would probably be the diesel, but even then it's not bad. Tyre and road noise are well suppressed, although we have experienced a bit of cabin noise on dirt roads at speed in some versions of the car.

Without resorting to trickery like air suspension, the Outback is excellent both on the road and off it. The diesel and 2.5-litre petrols provide adequate performance while the 3.6-litre, especially in S# mode, is very quick - if not a sports car in the handling department.

The Outback's steering is unusually quick for both a Subaru and a car of this type. The body hangs in pretty well, but will eventually start to roll in higher-speed cornering through wide radius corners.

Off-road performance is better than most, with CVT cars equipped with X-Mode and a good ground clearance for moderately adventurous manoeuvres. Subaru doesn't list a wading depth, but with the usual caution, the Outback will be good for shallow water crossings.

When fitted, the EyeSight system can be a little on the scaredy-cat side. White lines can confuse it and oncoming vehicles on winding roads give it palpitations. And a thing that annoys me across all Subarus is the key fob - the Subaru logo unlocks the car and is the most prominent and easily pressed button.

Standard safety features include seven airbags (including driver's knee airbag), ABS, brake assist, stability and traction controls (sometimes known as ESP) and brake force distribution adding up to a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating.

With the exception of the diesel manuals, all Outbacks feature Subaru's own EyeSight safety system. Together with the Vision Assist package (not on 2.0D manual), you get blind-spot monitoring, high and low speed forward collision mitigation (auto emergency braking), lane change assist, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert.

Depending on which type of baby car seat you have, there are two ISOFIX points or three top-tether child seat anchor points.

The Sorento is backed by Kia's trio of seven - seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, seven-year capped-price servicing and seven-year roadside assistance. Service intervals are 12 months or 15,000km.

The standard warranty is three years/unlimited km, and a dealer will no doubt happily supply an extended warranty at a cost.

Capped-price servicing is available to help keep down per service cost. You'll be returning to the dealer every six months or 12,500km. There's an extra maintenance cost on the 3.6R, with a $253 service after the first three months/5000km.

Oil consumption should not cause issues on any engine type, with previous complaints on earlier models having been address by Subaru. Buyers often ask whether the engines are fitted with a timing belt or chain - all are timing chain engines, meaning no regular replacement required. Oil capacity and oil type is dependent on the engine and fuel.

Resale value statistics are good - Subarus generally hold their value well and as the Outback is a popular model, with little in the way of reliability issues or faults. Common problems and complaints tend to be minor if you have a quick skim of the usual internet forums and we have a page to cover any diesel problems, automatic transmission problems or diesel engine problems. Suspension problems only ever seem to arise when the car is heavily abused.

Overall, we think the reliability rating of the Outback to be better than average.