2025 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid vs 2026 Mazda CX-90

$47,990 · Crossover

$38,800 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Choosing between the 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV and the 2026 Mazda CX-90 often boils down to prioritizing electric savings versus raw power and space. The Sorento PHEV starts at a higher MSRP of $47,990 but immediately offers better running costs with a combined 33 MPG and an impressive 30 miles of electric range for daily commuting. Conversely, the Mazda CX-90 enters the ring at a significantly lower entry price of $38,800, offering 280 horsepower and substantial torque at 332 lb-ft compared to the Kia's 261 hp. While the Mazda is the larger vehicle at 200.8 inches long with 14.9 cu ft of cargo space, the Sorento's efficiency lead—an 8 MPG combined advantage—will save owners money over the long haul. It’s a classic trade-off: pay less upfront for power with the Mazda, or invest more for PHEV technology and lower running costs with the Kia.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

The Kia Sorento PHEV wins for commuters due to its 30 miles of all-electric range, significantly reducing daily fuel consumption.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Mazda CX-90

The 2026 Mazda CX-90 offers superior overall space, boasting 14.9 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Sorento's 12.6 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Mazda CX-90

The Mazda CX-90 is the enthusiast choice, delivering higher performance metrics with 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque.

💰 Best Value

2026 Mazda CX-90

The Mazda CX-90 offers better initial value with a $9,190 lower MSRP and stronger performance figures.

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

You prioritize fuel economy, benefiting from the Sorento's combined 33 MPG rating.
Your daily drive is less than 30 miles, allowing near-daily all-electric commuting.
You prefer a slightly smaller vehicle footprint, with the Kia measuring 189.6 inches in length.

Choose the Mazda CX-90 if...

Maximum power is essential, utilizing the CX-90's 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque.
You need more room, as the Mazda provides 14.9 cu ft of cargo capacity.
You want to save $9,190 upfront, given the CX-90's starting MSRP of $38,800.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	Mazda CX-90
Length	189.6"	200.8"
Width	74.8"	78.5"
Height	66.9"	68.3"
Wheelbase	110.8"	122.8"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear 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 Assist	✓	—
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Fog Lights	✓	—
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	2	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	—
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Brake Preparation System	—	✓
Self-Leveling Headlights	—	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Base Engine Displacement	1.6 L	3.3 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 6
Base Engine Type	plug-in hybrid	mild hybrid
Horsepower	261 hp	280 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque	258 lb-ft	332 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	24
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

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

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	33/34 MPG	23/28 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	33 MPG	25 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	409.2/421.6 mi.	425.5/518.0 mi.
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.	—
Fuel Tank Capacity	12.4 gal.	18.5 gal.
DC Fast Charging Port Type	SAE J1772	—

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Front Parking Sensors	✓	—
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	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	✓	—
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	—	✓
Three Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	10.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	8
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	—
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	—
Android Auto (Wired)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	—	✓
Memory Card Slot	—	✓
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	—	✓

Power Feature

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

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Front Head Room	40.3 in.	39.7 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	41.7 in.
Front Shoulder Room	59.1 in.	59.2 in.
Front Hip Room	55.6 in.	56.2 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	8-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	—
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	4-way

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Rear Head Room	39.1 in.	39.3 in.
Rear Leg Room	40.7 in.	39.4 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.1 in.	58.1 in.
Rear Hip Room	55.1 in.	55.5 in.
Folding Rear Seatback	✓	—
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	✓
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	—	✓
Folding Center Armrest	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	—
Wheel Size	19 x 7.5 in	19 x 8.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	235/55R19	265/55R19
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Material	—	Alloy

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
EV Battery Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	—
Hybrid Component Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	—
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and 2026 Mazda CX-90.

What is the real-world impact of the 8 MPG difference between these two crossovers?

The Sorento PHEV achieves a combined 33 MPG versus the CX-90's 25 MPG combined rating. Over 15,000 miles driven annually, assuming $3.50/gallon fuel, this 8 MPG gap could save the Kia owner roughly $600 in fuel costs per year, minimizing the PHEV's higher initial MSRP over time.

Is the Kia Sorento's 30-mile electric range enough for most commutes?

Yes, 30 miles of electric range is significant for many drivers; for instance, if your one-way commute is 15 miles, you could potentially drive back and forth exclusively on battery power using regular unleaded fuel only for longer trips.

How does the power output compare between the two vehicles?

The Mazda CX-90 clearly leads in raw output, offering 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, while the Sorento PHEV produces 261 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, making the Mazda quicker despite its larger size.

Which vehicle is physically larger for hauling passengers and cargo?

The Mazda CX-90 is the larger vehicle in every dimension provided; it is over 11 inches longer overall (200.8 vs 189.6 inches) and offers 2.3 cubic feet more cargo capacity (14.9 vs 12.6 cu ft).

Both cars use AWD, but what are the transmission differences?

Both utilize shiftable automatics, but the Sorento PHEV uses a 6-speed unit, while the more powerful CX-90 utilizes a more modern 8-speed transmission, which contributes to its slightly better highway efficiency of 28 MPG.

What is the primary cost factor difference I should consider?

The initial sticker price difference is substantial at $9,190, favoring the Mazda. However, you must factor in the running cost savings of the Kia PHEV, which could offset a portion of that difference over the vehicle's lifespan.