2025 Buick Enclave vs 2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

$45,100 · Crossover

$48,290 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The most significant measurable difference between the 2025 Buick Enclave and the 2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is the 10 MPG gap in combined fuel efficiency, with the Sorento achieving 33 MPG compared to the Enclave's 23 MPG. This efficiency gain comes despite the Sorento having a higher MSRP of $48,290 versus the Enclave's $45,100. Power figures also diverge significantly, as the Enclave generates 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque from its standard engine, substantially outpacing the Sorento's 261 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Furthermore, the Enclave offers a superior physical footprint, measuring 207.6 inches long, which directly contributes to its 22.9 cu ft of cargo capacity—nearly double the Sorento's 12.6 cu ft. The Sorento does counter with 30 miles of dedicated electric range and standard All-Wheel Drive, a feature absent on the base Enclave.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

The 2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid wins for commuters due to its 33 combined MPG and 30 miles of electric range, drastically reducing reliance on gasoline.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Buick Enclave

The 2025 Buick Enclave is superior for families, offering 22.9 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Sorento's 12.6 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Buick Enclave

Enthusiasts prioritizing raw output will prefer the Enclave's 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque over the Sorento's lower power figures.

💰 Best Value

2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

Despite the initial $3,190 higher MSRP, the Sorento’s 10 MPG fuel economy advantage offers better long-term operational value.

Choose the Buick Enclave if...

You require maximum interior space, as the Enclave provides 22.9 cu ft of cargo room.
You prefer higher baseline performance, evidenced by the Enclave’s 328 hp engine.
You seek the lowest initial purchase price at $45,100 for a large crossover.

Choose the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid if...

Maximizing fuel economy is a priority, featuring a 33 combined MPG rating.
Daily driving needs can be met by the 30 miles of all-electric range.
All-Wheel Drive capability is required, which the Sorento offers standard over the FWD Enclave.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Buick Enclave	Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid
Length	207.6"	189.6"
Width	79.6"	74.8"
Height	71.0"	66.9"
Wheelbase	120.9"	110.8"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Buick	Kia
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Preparation System	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	2	3
Rear Folding Headrests	✓	—
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	—	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Front Fog Lights	—	✓
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Buick	Kia
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	1.6 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	plug-in hybrid
Horsepower	328 hp @ 5500 rpm	261 hp
Torque	326 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm	258 lb-ft
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Buick	Kia
Transmission Type	8-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip
Hill Descent Control	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Buick	Kia
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	20/27 MPG	33/34 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	23 MPG	33 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	388.0/523.8 mi.	409.2/421.6 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	19.4 gal.	12.4 gal.
EPA Efficiency (City/Highway MPGe)	—	77/71 MPGe
EPA Efficiency (Combined MPGe)	—	74 MPGe
EPA Electric Driving Range	—	30 mi.
EPA Energy Consumption (kWh/100 mi)	—	45
Charging Time (240V)	—	3.4 hr.
DC Fast Charging Port Type	—	SAE J1772

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Buick	Kia
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Front View Camera	✓	—
Side View Camera	✓	—
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Manual Rear Seat Easy Entry	✓	✓
Leatherette Steering Wheel	✓	—
Heated Steering Wheel	✓	—
Three Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	—
Sun Sensor	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	✓	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	—	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Buick	Kia
Infotainment Display	30.0 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Premium Speaker Brand	Bose	—
Speaker System	12	6
Subwoofer Count	1	—
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	✓	—
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—

Power Feature

Feature	Buick	Kia
One-Touch Power Windows	4	1
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Buick	Kia
Front Head Room	42.6 in.	40.3 in.
Front Leg Room	44.3 in.	41.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	62.2 in.	59.1 in.
Front Hip Room	58.7 in.	55.6 in.
Seat Material: Leatherette	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	8-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	Power
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	6-way	8-way
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	2-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Lumbar Support	Power	—
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level

Rearseats

Feature	Buick	Kia
Rear Head Room	40.0 in.	39.1 in.
Rear Leg Room	41.5 in.	40.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	62.1 in.	58.1 in.
Rear Hip Room	58.5 in.	55.1 in.
Folding Rear Seatback	✓	—
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	✓
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Buick	Kia
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Diameter	20 in.	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P255/55R20	235/55R19
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Size	—	19 x 7.5 in

Suspension

Feature	Buick	Kia
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Buick	Kia
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	6 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ 100000 mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	1 yr./ unlimited mi.	—
EV Battery Warranty	—	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Hybrid Component Warranty	—	10 yr./ 100000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Buick Enclave and 2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid.

How much more cargo space does the Buick Enclave offer than the Kia Sorento PHEV?

The 2025 Buick Enclave boasts a substantial advantage in utility, offering 22.9 cu ft of cargo capacity behind the rear seats. This is significantly more than the 2026 Kia Sorento PHEV, which provides only 12.6 cu ft in the same configuration.

What is the measurable performance gap between the two crossovers?

The 2025 Buick Enclave produces 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque, giving it a 67 hp advantage over the 2026 Kia Sorento PHEV's 261 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. This translates directly to faster acceleration potential for the Enclave.

Does the plug-in capability offset the Enclave’s better MPG rating?

Yes, the Sorento's plug-in nature allows for 30 miles of zero-emission driving before reverting to its 33 combined MPG rating. The Enclave is limited to a conventional 23 combined MPG, making the Sorento's operational efficiency superior for many daily drivers.

What is the difference in price, and does the Sorento offer AWD standard?

The 2026 Kia Sorento PHEV has a $3,190 higher MSRP at $48,290 compared to the Enclave's $45,100. Furthermore, the Sorento comes standard with All-Wheel Drive, while the base Enclave utilizes Front Wheel Drive.

Which vehicle is physically larger and how do their dimensions compare?

The 2025 Buick Enclave is considerably larger, measuring 207.6 inches long, 79.6 inches wide, and 71.0 inches tall. In contrast, the Sorento is shorter at 189.6 inches long and narrower at 74.8 inches.

Are both vehicles capable of using regular unleaded fuel?

Both the 2025 Buick Enclave and the 2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid are specified to use regular unleaded fuel, which simplifies fueling requirements for both models.