Skip to main content
A photo of the Chevrolet Equinox outdoors.

The 2021 Chevy Equinox and Kia Sorento Have the Same Issue

Deciding between the 2021 Chevy Equinox and 2021 Kia Sorrento may be a little challenging because they struggle with a similar problem. This Chevy Equinox and Kia Sorento issue may have you considering rivals instead.  The 2021 Chevy Equinox and Kia Sorento are both a little weak  The 2021 Kia Sorento and Chevy Equinox are …

Deciding between the 2021 Chevy Equinox and 2021 Kia Sorrento may be a little challenging because they struggle with a similar problem. This Chevy Equinox and Kia Sorento issue may have you considering rivals instead. 

The 2021 Chevy Equinox and Kia Sorento are both a little weak 

The 2021 Kia Sorento and Chevy Equinox are both excellent SUV options, but they need a little more muscle. When Auto Trader compared both options, they said both SUVs would be better with more power. 

The 2021 Chevy Equinox has a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that pumps out 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. This would be a fine amount of power if the Equinox was smaller or you don’t have the need to tow anything. 

2020 Chevy Equinox on display at an auto show
2020 Chevrolet Equinox on display at the 112th Annual Chicago Auto Show | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

The Equinox can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.8 seconds, which is pretty average. But it used to have a 2-liter turbocharges engine that would make the 2021 model a lot sportier to drive. Also, the Equinox can only tow up to 3,500 lb. 

Kia Sorento power 

With the 2021 Kia Sorento, the base engine is a 2.5-liter inline-four option with 191 hp and 182 lb-ft of torque. This is a little weak for a three-row SUV. But you can upgrade to the 2.5-liter turbo-four engine for 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. 

We know 281 hp sounds excellent. But rivals like the Toyota Highlander have V6 engines. The Highlander has a 3.5-liter V6 with 295-hp and 263 lb-ft of torque. The 2021 Sorento can only tow 3,500 lb while the Highlander can tow up to 5,000 lb. 

2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid driving around a bend
2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid | Kia

The Sorento used to have a more powerful V6 engine and could tow up to 5,000 lb with it, but that option was dropped for the 2021 model. Also, the 2021 Sorento can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.4 seconds with the turbocharged engine. The base engine will most likely lag behind that time. 

Chevy Equinox and Kia Sorento features 

It’s a little unfair to compare the 2021 Chevy Equinox to the Kia Sorento. It can only seat five passengers while the Sorento has room for seven. Perhaps the Chevy Traverse is a better match. 

However, the Chevy Equinox has an MSRP of about $23,800, making it an economically priced option. The Kia Sorento has an MSRP of about $29,390, which is also a good price for its class. For example, the three-row Toyota Highlander begins around $34,910. 

2021 Chevy Equinox review

Both the Sorento and Equinox are available with all-wheel-drive. The 2021 Sorento now has a longer wheelbase for increased comfort both on and off the road too. Also, the 2021 Equinox is one of the best compact SUVs for snow. 

The 2021 Chevy Equinox and Sorento are both pretty loaded with advanced tech. The Sorento flexes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto technology, and the Equinox has four-USB ports. 

Both SUVs have tons of standard and available safety features too. Options include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, driver attention warning, lane-keeping assistance, and more.

Related

Avoid The Chevy Equinox If You Want A Capable SUV