The Nissan Pathfinder was once known as one of the most efficient utility vehicles when it came to thinking outside the box. Over the past two generations, this model has migrated to a unibody platform, making it less able to venture into places where its name would lead us to believe it would be very comfortable.
That said, the model has been redesigned for 2022 and is proving to be quite interesting. The problem is that the same is true of the 2022 Kia Sorento. In fact, the latter has been redesigned for 2021, so it's still brand new.
And this time, Kia decided to push the limits, so that today, in all respects, the Sorento 2022 is a vehicle that goes further than the Nissan Pathfinder. Here are a few key elements that demonstrate this.
The mechanical offer
With the Nissan Pathfinder, we have to make do with a single engine, a 3.5-litre V6. This engine is proven and does Nissan proud. However, for the buyer who doesn't need all that power, there are few options available.
Fortunately, at Kia, there are. First, the model can receive a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder as an entry-level proposition, a mill that delivers 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. For those who want a little more, it's possible to turn to a 2.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder, this time a mill capable of producing 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque.
Already, we're entitled to more. And that's nothing...
Hybridity
Forget hybridity with the Nissan Pathfinder. It's not offered. With the 2022 Kia Sorento, you have two options. First, a regular hybrid model, and then a plug-in model that offers an estimated electric range of 51 kilometers. The hybrid models of the Sorento 2022 are powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, so there's no shortage of power with 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.
Behind the wheel
The experience aboard a Nissan Pathfinder is focused on comfort and it's very appreciable from that point of view. It lacks nerve, however, and the feeling transmitted to the driver via the steering is rather dull.
With the Kia Sorento, the experience is quite different, because the rigidity of the chassis makes for a model with a nervous attitude. With a Pathfinder, you know you're behind the wheel of a mid-size SUV. With the Sorento, you feel like you're driving a compact SUV. That makes a big difference.
A look at the weight of the two models shows us why. The difference is about 300 kg between the two vehicles. That's huge and it also has an impact on fuel consumption.
With the Pathfinder, the average is 10.5 liters per 100 kilometers. It's 9.7 with the regular Sorento, 6.6 liters with the hybrid variant.
Really, we're talking about two completely different offerings. Nissan's is good, but Kia's is attractive and varied.
