Kia
Sorento
Land Rover
Discovery Sport
Kia Sorento vs Land Rover Discovery Sport: 2024 Comparison
The short answer
Based on available data, the Land Rover Discovery Sport comes out ahead of the Kia Sorento on fuel economy and power. Check the specs table and owner sentiment below for the full comparison before deciding between the two. Both are covered by real owner reports on CarWizz.
Specs side by side
What owners say
Sorento
Overall
Sentiment is sharply divided and heavily dependent on model year, powertrain, and owner expectations. For newer models (2023-2026), feedback is often positive regarding value, interior comfort, ride quality, feature content, and hybrid fuel economy. Many owners praise the vehicle's spaciousness, comfortable seating for the first two rows, and the premium feel of higher trims for the price.
Best version to buy
The Hybrid (HEV) and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) versions, particularly in higher trims like SX Prestige, receive the most consistent praise. Owners note these models, often built in Korea, have "top notch build quality," a refined and smooth drivetrain, excellent real-world fuel economy (reported around 33 MPG), and a comfortable ride.
Known issues
- ⚠• **Transmission failures**: Multiple reports of complete transmission replacements, with one owner citing three new transmissions in a 2024 model within 14 months.
Discovery Sport
Overall
The overall sentiment is sharply divided, creating a high-risk, high-reward ownership profile. A significant portion of long-term owner reports express deep satisfaction with the vehicle's core attributes: its surprising off-road capability for a compact SUV, comfortable and spacious interior, generous boot space, and relaxed highway manners. Many owners who have experienced trouble-free operation praise it as a practical and enjoyable family vehicle.
Best version to buy
Insufficient owner data available to declare a consensus "best" version. However, strong, recurrent recommendations exist for specific configurations: the P300e plug-in hybrid is recommended for urban/short-trip drivers to avoid diesel DPF issues, while the diesel (TD4/SD4) is recommended for those who undertake longer journeys and require maximum towing capacity (2,500 kg / 5,512 lbs).
Known issues
- ⚠• **Ingenium Diesel Engine Failures (Pre-2019)**: Timing chain stretch/breakage due to weak guides, turbo failure, and catastrophic engine failure linked to oil dilution from interrupted DPF regenerations. Frequency: very frequent.
The verdict
The Land Rover Discovery Sport is the better choice for most buyers.
It has better fuel economy on its best-equipped version than the Kia Sorento, based on the data above. If power matters more to you than running costs, the Kia Sorento is worth a closer look instead.
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more reliable, the Kia Sorento or the Land Rover Discovery Sport?
Owner reports show similar reliability sentiment for the Kia Sorento and the Land Rover Discovery Sport. Check the known issues listed above for specific differences between the two.
Which is better for families, the Kia Sorento or the Land Rover Discovery Sport?
The Kia Sorento seats more passengers than the Land Rover Discovery Sport on its catalogued best-equipped version. Body type also differs: the Kia Sorento is classed as a SUV, the Land Rover Discovery Sport as a SUV.
Which has better fuel economy, the Kia Sorento or the Land Rover Discovery Sport?
The Land Rover Discovery Sport is more fuel-efficient on paper: 2 L/100km combined versus 11.2 L/100km for the Kia Sorento, based on the best-equipped catalogued version of each.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Kia Sorento or the Land Rover Discovery Sport?
Exact maintenance costs aren't in our data, but owner reports mention cost-related concerns more often for the Land Rover Discovery Sport than the Kia Sorento. See the known issues comparison above.