A Three-Row Showdown: The 2025 Kia Sorento vs The 2025 Honda Pilot

The SUV segment is fiercely competitive, with two names often rising to the top of buyers’ lists–the 2025 Kia Sorento and the 2025 Honda Pilot. The SUVs are renowned for their sleek styling, spacious interiors, modern technologies, and overall versatility as three-row models. Yet, a closer look reveals how Kia goes above and beyond to deliver more value, more style, and more choices for drivers who demand and deserve more from their SUV.

Are you sensing a theme? Shopping for the 2025 Kia Sorento for sale near Jacksboro guarantees more of everything, especially at our dealership. Blending its bold design with everyday practicality, the 2025 Sorento gives you the confidence to tackle your daily commute, venture beyond the city limits for a weekend getaway with your family, or explore scenic vistas dotting your favorite backroads.

While the 2025 Pilot is a respected competitor, the 2025 Sorento outshines and outperforms its Honda rival in areas that matter most. Here’s how Kia accomplishes this feat and seals the Sorento’s fate as a segment leader in 2025.

#1 – Affordability and Value

The 2025 Sorento gains its first advantage with its more affordable price tag. Honda is known for building vehicles that can log hundreds of thousands of miles with routine maintenance. Unfortunately, Honda capitalizes on that reputation and forces drivers to spend more without offering tangible value via updated technologies and features.

Jacksboro drivers will find the 2025 Pilot starts at an MSRP of $40,200, a much higher starting MSRP than the 2025 Sorento, which starts at $31,990.^[a] The price difference is significant, with that gap widening as you compare base trims and the features included with your investment.

The 2025 Pilot Sport starts the lineup, sitting on 20-inch alloy wheels and equipped with heated front seats, Honda’s all-wheel drive system, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a Blind Spot Information with Cross Traffic Monitor as part of the Honda Sensing Suite. Its interior tech is lacking, with a small 7-inch color touchscreen offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth compatibility.

In contrast, the 2025 Sorento LX offers far more for your money. The three-row SUV has LED projector headlights, an expansive 12.3-inch center touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a comprehensive lineup of driver-assist tools. These features include Blind Spot Detection Technology, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, and conveniences such as Smart Key with Push-Button Start and Remote Start.

#2 – Trim Options

Honda and Kia acknowledge that drivers have unique needs, but Honda misses a key audience–drivers looking for hybrid alternatives. Because of this oversight, the 2025 Pilot’s trim family is not as diverse as what you’ll find in the 2025 Sorento lineup.

The 2025 Honda Pilot has a six-trim family that starts with the Sport and progresses to the EX-L, more rugged TrailSport, and the luxurious Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. With the Pilot’s starting price significantly higher than the 2025 Sorento’s base MSRP, you can expect top-tier trims to be priced considerably higher than their Kia rivals.

Fortunately, Kia fills the gap, offering a diverse lineup that caters to every need, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. The 2025 Sorento’s trim family starts with the basics – the LX, S, EX, and SX.

From there, its X-Line trims exude athleticism and include the X-Line EX, SX, SX Prestige, and X-Pro SX Prestige. The EX Hybrid, SX Prestige Hybrid, EX PHEV, and SX Prestige PHEV complete the Sorento’s more efficient trims. Notably, these trims are more feature-rich than the 2025 Pilot, especially with the Sorento’s more budget-friendly MSRP.

#3 – Performance

Honda’s reputation for reliability is certainly ingrained in the Pilot’s DNA, but the automaker doesn’t give drivers a choice of powertrains. Instead, the 2025 Pilot relies on a 3.5L V6 engine to make 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. While the output makes the Pilot responsive and agile, it ignores the need for more engaging performance or hybrid alternatives.

Kia takes a vastly different approach, making the 2025 Sorento more appealing to drivers in Jacksboro. Why? The 2025 Sorento has a four-engine lineup that caters to every need.

The 2025 Sorento LX and S are powered by a 2.5L inline-four engine that produces 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, resulting in an EPA-estimated combined fuel economy of 26 MPG on front-wheel drive models. Kia’s turbocharged 2.5L inline-four is a worthwhile upgrade, making the Sorento engaging and fun to drive by producing 281 hp and an impressive 311 lb-ft of torque.

The Sorento’s advantage widens, thanks to its hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The Sorento hybrid trims have a 1.6L inline-four hybrid engine that puts 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of near-instant torque at your feet for an EPA-estimated 36 MPG combined (FWD).

For a higher horsepower output, opt for the PHEV powertrain that pairs the 1.6L inline-four with a 13.8 kWh battery to produce 261 hp. With an all-wheel drivetrain, the PHEV yields an EPA-estimated 74 MPGe and a 30-mile all-electric range.

#4 – Digital Landscape

Kia is praised for designing sophisticated interiors that blend innovative technologies with premium features. The 2025 Sorento is no exception and gains an obvious advantage over the 2025 Pilot, particularly in its larger digital landscape and more intuitive connectivity features.

The 2025 Pilot Sport features a seven-inch color touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, which requires additional driver input and a charging cable for connectivity. The landscape is surprising considering the Pilot’s higher starting price of $40,200 for the entry-level Sport. It’s how Honda entices drivers to spend more on an EX-L or higher trim, which has a nine-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration, and a wireless smartphone charger.

Kia refuses to make that demand and gives drivers far more for their money. The 2025 Sorento features an expansive 12.3-inch touchscreen, a defining feature on every trim. The Kia Connect touchscreen offers seamless connectivity via wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also features SiriusXM Satellite Radio, with mid-tier trims, such as the EX and above, adding navigation.

#5 – Driver-Assist Technologies

Kia and Honda prioritize driver safety, utilizing advanced driver-assist technologies to instill confidence on the road. Jacksboro drivers will find the 2025 Sorento offers more standard technologies than the 2025 Pilot.

The 2025 Pilot features Honda Sensing as a standard component on every trim. The suite equips the Pilot with a Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Blind Spot Information with Cross Traffic Monitor, and Adaptive Cruise Control. The Pilot EX-L and subsequent trims are also equipped with parking sensors.

Kia goes above and beyond with the 2025 Sorento’s extensive lineup of cutting-edge driver-assist technologies. The toolbox includes Blind-Spot Detection Technology, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Junction Turning Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Avoidance Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane-Keeping Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Rear Occupant Alert, and Safe Exit Assist.

Depending on the trim, the 2025 Sorento offers significantly more advanced tools. For example, you’ll find enhanced versions of standard technologies, such as Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist – Parallel Exit and Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Lane Change Oncoming, Lane Change Side, and Evasive Steering Assist Detection. You can also enjoy a seamless cruising experience with navigation-based Smart Cruise Control, Highway Driving Assist, and Highway Driving Assist 2.

#6 – Warranty Coverage

Jacksboro drivers are guaranteed to see the value in their investment before they drive off the lot in a 2025 Sorento. Why? Kia rewards drivers with its industry-leading warranty coverage that covers every new Sorento for 10 years or 100,000 miles. With Honda’s standard three-year or 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, the 2025 Pilot falls even further behind in a race to give drivers more value, more confidence, and more peace of mind.

^[a]MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.