Is the Honda CR-V more reliable than the Kia Sorento?

Based on our data, the Honda CR-V is more reliable with an average score of 74/100 compared to 70/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Honda CR-V or the Kia Sorento?

The Honda CR-V has more recalls (46) compared to the Kia Sorento (43). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Honda CR-V or the Kia Sorento?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Kia Sorento has a lower complaint rate at 7.4 per 10,000 sold versus 8 for the Honda CR-V. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda CR-V or the Kia Sorento?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda CR-V is cheaper to maintain at $407/year versus $533/year for the Kia Sorento.

Is the Honda CR-V or Kia Sorento safer?

Both the Honda CR-V and Kia Sorento received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

Last updated: 2026-03-04

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Honda CR-V

Good

Kia Sorento

Good

Choosing between the Honda CR-V and the Kia Sorento? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two compact suvs.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Honda CR-V currently leads with an average score of 74/100 compared to 70/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Honda CR-V and Kia Sorento Generations Compare?

The Honda CR-V is currently in its sixth generation, which began in 2023. Being early in its generation cycle, potential buyers might encounter initial teething issues typical of newer platforms. However, the CR-V's history of consistent updates and facelifts, such as the 2020 refresh in its previous generation, generally contributes to improved reliability over time as issues are ironed out. On the other hand, the Kia Sorento is in its fourth generation, introduced in 2021. With a facelift slated for 2023, it is mid-cycle, suggesting that many early-generation issues may have been addressed, making it a potentially more reliable choice. Buyers should consider the CR-V's early generation status versus the Sorento's more mature platform when evaluating reliability.

Verdict

The Honda CR-V is more reliable than the Kia Sorento, scoring 74/100 vs 70/100.

The Honda CR-V demonstrates superior reliability with an average score of 89/100 compared to the Kia Sorento's 81/100. Despite having slightly more recalls, the CR-V has a lower estimated annual repair cost of $407 versus the Sorento's $533. Additionally, both vehicles have a similar owner complaint rate per 10,000 sold, with the CR-V at 8 and the Sorento at 7.4, indicating a minor difference in user-reported issues. Overall, the Honda CR-V edges out as the more reliable option, particularly due to its higher reliability score and lower maintenance expenses.

Key Differences

1Honda CR-V costs $126 less per year to repair
2Honda CR-V scores 4 points higher in reliability
3Kia Sorento has 3 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

3Honda CR-V

—

2Kia Sorento

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento: Which Is More Reliable?

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Honda CR-V	Kia Sorento
Reliability Score	74/100	70/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	46	43
Complaints per 10k Sold	8	7.4
Annual Repair Cost	$407/yr	$533/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	9%	11%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	6	2

What Are the Common Problems With the Honda CR-V and Kia Sorento?

The Honda CR-V and Kia Sorento exhibit distinct problem profiles in their complaint data. The CR-V shows the highest number of complaints in the steering category, with 1159 issues and 24 crash-linked incidents, indicating a notable concern. Additionally, the CR-V's forward collision avoidance and electrical system also have significant numbers of complaints, with 656 and 553 respectively, both contributing to safety-related concerns. In contrast, the Kia Sorento's most prevalent issues are with the power train and engine, with 269 and 260 complaints respectively, though they have fewer crash-linked incidents compared to the CR-V's steering issues. The Sorento has fewer overall complaints, but its electrical system and engine categories remain areas of concern, albeit with less frequency and severity compared to the CR-V.

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento common problem areas comparison
Component	Honda CR-V	Kia Sorento
ENGINE	0.8Very Low	1.4Low
STEERING	1.8Low	0.3Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.9Very Low	1.1Low
POWER TRAIN	0.2Very Low	1.5Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.3Very Low	1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	1Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	0.6Very Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	0.4Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.2Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	0.1Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	—None
STRUCTURE	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None
TRAILER HITCHES	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Honda CR-V or Kia Sorento?

The Honda CR-V and Kia Sorento both have similar repair frequencies at 0.3 visits per year, indicating comparable reliability in terms of how often they may need repairs. However, the CR-V has a lower annual repair cost of $407 compared to the Sorento's $533, resulting in a $126 difference annually, saving owners $630 over five years. Additionally, the CR-V has a lower major repair risk at 9% versus the Sorento's 11%, suggesting fewer costly surprises. For cost-conscious buyers, the Honda CR-V presents a better value, combining lower repair costs with a reduced risk of major repairs.

How Does Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento Reliability Compare by Year?

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Honda CR-V	Kia Sorento	Edge
2025	80/1006R / 201C	75/1008R / 72C	Honda CR-V
2024	77/1004R / 406C	79/1002R / 35C	Kia Sorento
2023	72/1007R / 578C	70/1007R / 120C	Honda CR-V
2022	76/1005R / 242C	66/10010R / 171C	Honda CR-V
2021	77/1003R / 241C	66/1006R / 217C	Honda CR-V
2020	74/10010R / 358C	71/1001R / 115C	Honda CR-V
2019	69/1007R / 996C	64/1002R / 383C	Honda CR-V
2018	65/1004R / 1960C	68/1003R / 232C	Kia Sorento
2026(predicted)	76/100(predicted)	75/100(predicted)	Honda CR-V

Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Honda CR-V scored 80/100 and the 2024 Kia Sorento scored 79/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Honda CR-V vs the Kia Sorento?

If you prioritize low running costs and reliability, the Honda CR-V is your best bet. With a reliability score of 89/100 and an estimated annual repair cost of $407, it offers a dependable ownership experience. The CR-V's owner complaints are slightly higher at 8 per 10,000 sold, but its major repair risk is lower at 9%. Despite having more recalls at 46, the issues are well-documented, which might help in addressing them swiftly. On the other hand, if you're looking for a vehicle with fewer owner complaints and are willing to accept slightly higher repair costs, the Kia Sorento could be appealing. It scores 81/100 for reliability and has fewer owner complaints at 7.4 per 10,000 sold. However, it comes with a higher annual repair cost of $533 and a slightly higher major repair risk of 11%. Choose the Sorento if you value its strengths in the power train and engine categories despite its slightly lower reliability score.

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sorento: Common Questions

Is the Honda CR-V more reliable than the Kia Sorento?: Based on our data, the Honda CR-V is more reliable with an average score of 74/100 compared to 70/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Honda CR-V or the Kia Sorento?: The Honda CR-V has more recalls (46) compared to the Kia Sorento (43). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Honda CR-V or the Kia Sorento?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Kia Sorento has a lower complaint rate at 7.4 per 10,000 sold versus 8 for the Honda CR-V. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda CR-V or the Kia Sorento?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda CR-V is cheaper to maintain at $407/year versus $533/year for the Kia Sorento.
Is the Honda CR-V or Kia Sorento safer?: Both the Honda CR-V and Kia Sorento received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

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More Kia Sorento comparisons

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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