2025 Kia Sorento vs 2026 Buick Enclave

$31,990 · Crossover

$46,200 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The most significant numerical disparity between the 2025 Kia Sorento (Car 1) and the 2026 Buick Enclave (Car 2) is the MSRP, with the Enclave commanding a $14,210 premium, starting at $46,200 compared to the Sorento's $31,990. This price gap is reflected in performance metrics, where the Enclave produces 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque, significantly overshadowing the Sorento's 191 hp and 181 lb-ft. Fuel economy is tighter, with the Sorento achieving 26 MPG combined versus the Enclave's 23 MPG combined. Dimensionally, the Enclave is substantially larger, measuring 207.6 inches long versus the Sorento's 189.6 inches, which translates directly to a superior cargo capacity of 22.9 cu ft in the Buick compared to the Kia's 12.6 cu ft. Both utilize front-wheel drive and 8-speed automatics, but the performance differential makes the Enclave significantly more potent.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento wins for commuters due to its superior combined fuel economy of 26 MPG versus the Enclave's 23 MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Buick Enclave

The 2026 Buick Enclave offers substantially more room, boasting 22.9 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Sorento's 12.6 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Buick Enclave

The Enclave delivers 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque, a massive performance advantage over the Sorento's 191 hp.

💰 Best Value

2025 Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento offers a much lower barrier to entry with an MSRP that is $14,210 less than the Buick Enclave.

Choose the Kia Sorento if...

Budget constraints require minimizing the initial purchase price, starting at $31,990.
Maximizing fuel efficiency is a priority, as the Sorento achieves 26 MPG combined.
A more compact footprint is desired, with a length of 189.6 inches compared to the Enclave's 207.6 inches.

Choose the Buick Enclave if...

Access to higher power figures is essential, demonstrated by the Enclave's 328 hp engine.
Maximum utility is needed, reflected in the Enclave's 22.9 cu ft cargo capacity.
A physically larger vehicle, measuring 79.6 inches in width and 71.0 inches in height, is preferred.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Sorento	Buick Enclave
Length	189.6"	207.6"
Width	74.8"	79.6"
Height	66.7"	71.0"
Wheelbase	110.8"	120.9"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Buick
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 Solid Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	2
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	—
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	—
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
Brake Preparation System	—	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	—	✓
Rear Folding Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Buick
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	191 hp @ 6100 rpm	328 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque	181 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	326 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
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	Kia	Buick
Transmission Type	8-speed automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	—

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Buick
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	23/31 MPG	20/27 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	26 MPG	23 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	407.1/548.7 mi.	388.0/523.8 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.7 gal.	19.4 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

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

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Buick
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	30.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	12
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
Premium Speaker Brand	—	Bose
Subwoofer Count	—	1
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	—	✓

Power Feature

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

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Buick
Front Head Room	40.3 in.	42.6 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	44.3 in.
Front Shoulder Room	59.1 in.	62.2 in.
Front Hip Room	55.6 in.	58.7 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	2-way
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	—	6-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓
Passenger Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power
Driver Seat Heating	—	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	—	Multi-level

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Buick
Rear Head Room	39.1 in.	40.0 in.
Rear Leg Room	41.7 in.	41.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.1 in.	62.1 in.
Rear Hip Room	55.1 in.	58.5 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	—
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	✓
Folding Rear Seatback	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Buick
Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Wheel Size	17 x 7.0 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	235/65R17	P255/55R20
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Underbody Mounted
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy
Wheel Diameter	—	20 in.

Suspension

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

Warranty

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Sorento and 2026 Buick Enclave.

What is the primary functional difference in size between the 2025 Sorento and the 2026 Enclave?

The 2026 Buick Enclave is significantly larger across all dimensions; for instance, it has 10.3 cubic feet more cargo capacity (22.9 cu ft vs. 12.6 cu ft) and is nearly 18 inches longer overall.

How significant is the performance gap between the two crossovers?

The performance discrepancy is substantial, with the Enclave generating 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque, which is 137 more horsepower than the Sorento's 191 hp.

Which vehicle offers better daily running costs based on efficiency?

The Kia Sorento is more efficient for daily commuting, returning 26 MPG combined, while the more powerful Enclave is rated for 23 MPG combined.

Considering the MSRP difference, does the Enclave offer better value than the Sorento?

Value is subjective; however, based purely on initial outlay, the Sorento is superior, costing $14,210 less than the Enclave's $46,200 starting price.

Do either of these models offer AWD capability based on the provided specifications?

Based solely on the provided data, both the 2025 Kia Sorento and the 2026 Buick Enclave are listed with a front-wheel-drive (FWD) configuration.

Are the transmissions functionally different in these models?

Both vehicles utilize an 8-speed automatic transmission, though the Enclave specifies it as 'shiftable automatic' while the Sorento is listed simply as '8-speed automatic'.