The 2022 Kia Sorento has emerged as a popular choice in the SUV market, lauded for its versatility, style, and features. For safety-conscious families and individuals in англоязычный regions, understanding its safety performance is paramount. This in-depth review analyzes the 2022 Kia Sorento’s safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), providing a comprehensive overview of its crashworthiness and accident prevention capabilities. As experts in automotive repair and safety, we break down the detailed reports to offer you a clear and англоязычный-focused understanding of how the Kia Sorento 2022 protects its occupants.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Performance
The small overlap front crash test is designed to simulate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or a stationary object like a tree or pole. This is a particularly challenging test because it bypasses the main energy-absorbing structures of the vehicle. The 2022 Kia Sorento underwent this rigorous test on the driver’s side, and the results are highly encouraging.
The 2022 Kia Sorento earned a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front test, the highest rating possible. This “Good” rating extends across all critical evaluation criteria:
- Overall Evaluation: Good
- Structure and Safety Cage: Good. This indicates that the structural integrity of the Sorento held up well, maintaining the occupant compartment space.
- Driver Injury Measures: All “Good” ratings, signifying low risk of injury to the head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot regions.
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Good. This assessment confirms that the seatbelts and airbags worked effectively to control the driver dummy’s movement during the crash, minimizing potential injuries.
Technical Measurements: Driver-Side Small Overlap Front Test
Detailed measurements from the test provide further insights into the Sorento’s performance:
Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side):
| Evaluation Criteria | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower Hinge Pillar Max | 11 |
| Footrest | 7 |
| Left Toepan | 6 |
| Brake Pedal | 2 |
| Parking Brake | 9 |
| Rocker Panel Lateral Average | 5 |
| Steering Column | 1 |
| Upper Hinge Pillar Max | 4 |
| Upper Dash | 6 |
| Lower Instrument Panel | 8 |
These measurements indicate the extent of intrusion into the occupant compartment. Lower numbers are better, signifying less intrusion and a safer space for the driver. While some intrusion occurred, the “Good” structural rating suggests it was within acceptable limits, preventing significant injury.
Driver Injury Measures (Driver Side):
| Evaluation Criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 83 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | No Contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 10 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.18 |
| Chest | |
| Maximum Compression (mm) | 24 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 1.0 |
| Right | 0.8 |
| Knee Displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 3 |
| Right | 2 |
| Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum Tibia Index | |
| Left | 0.56 |
| Right | 0.53 |
| Tibia Axial Force (kN) | |
| Left | 2.2 |
| Right | 0.7 |
| Foot Acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 35 |
| Right | 38 |
These measurements reflect the forces and accelerations experienced by the driver dummy during the crash. Lower values generally indicate a lower risk of injury. The data shows low injury measures across all critical body regions, further supporting the “Good” rating and highlighting the 2022 Kia Sorento’s robust driver protection in a small overlap front crash.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side Performance
Modern vehicles are expected to protect occupants in all seating positions. The passenger-side small overlap front test assesses how well the vehicle protects the front passenger in a similar frontal collision scenario. The 2022 Kia Sorento also underwent this test, and the results mirror the excellent driver-side performance.
The 2022 Kia Sorento achieved a “Good” rating for passenger-side small overlap frontal crash protection, matching its driver-side result. The “Good” rating is consistent across all evaluation areas:
- Overall Evaluation: Good
- Structure and Safety Cage: Good, indicating robust structural integrity on the passenger side as well.
- Passenger Injury Measures: All “Good” ratings for head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot for the front passenger.
- Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Good, confirming effective passenger-side airbag and seatbelt performance.
- Driver Injury Measures: Interestingly, the test also assesses driver injury measures in the passenger-side test, and these were also rated “Good,” indicating no adverse effects on the driver in this scenario.
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Good for driver as well in passenger side test, confirming overall system consistency.
Technical Measurements: Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front Test
The technical data for the passenger-side test further validates the “Good” rating.
Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Passenger Side):
| Evaluation Criteria | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower Hinge Pillar Max | 12 |
| Footrest | 7 |
| Right Toepan | 4 |
| Center Toepan | 3 |
| Rocker Panel Lateral Average | 5 |
| Center Dash | 5 |
| Upper Hinge Pillar Max | 6 |
| Upper Dash | 7 |
| Right Lower Dash | 6 |
Similar to the driver-side test, these measurements show occupant compartment intrusion, but within levels deemed safe, contributing to the “Good” structural rating.
Passenger Injury Measures (Passenger Side):
| Evaluation Criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 79 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | No Contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 13 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.17 |
| Chest | |
| Maximum Compression (mm) | 25 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.1 |
| Right | 0.5 |
| Knee Displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum Tibia Index | |
| Left | 0.39 |
| Right | 0.65 |
| Tibia Axial Force (kN) | |
| Left | 0.8 |
| Right | 1.2 |
| Foot Acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 29 |
| Right | 54 |
Driver Injury Measures (Passenger Side Test):
| Evaluation Criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 84 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | No Contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 13 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.20 |
| Chest | |
| Maximum Compression (mm) | 24 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.8 |
| Right | 0.9 |
| Knee Displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 2 |
| Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum Tibia Index | |
| Left | 0.32 |
| Right | 0.43 |
| Tibia Axial Force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.5 |
| Right | 1.0 |
| Foot Acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 38 |
| Right | 56 |
The passenger-side injury measurements are also low, reinforcing the “Good” rating and confirming that the 2022 Kia Sorento provides excellent protection for front-seat occupants on both sides in a small overlap frontal crash.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
The moderate overlap front crash test, a more traditional frontal crash test, involves 40% of the vehicle’s front width impacting a deformable barrier at 40 mph. This test assesses the vehicle’s overall frontal crashworthiness. The 2022 Kia Sorento performed exceptionally well in this evaluation.
The 2022 Kia Sorento earned the highest possible rating of “Good” in the moderate overlap front crash test. This “Good” rating covers all aspects of the test:
- Overall Evaluation: Good
- Structure and Safety Cage: Good, indicating excellent structural integrity during a moderate frontal impact.
- Driver Injury Measures: All “Good” ratings for head/neck, chest, and leg/foot (both left and right), demonstrating minimal risk of injury in these areas.
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Good, confirming the effectiveness of the restraint systems in a moderate frontal crash.
Technical Measurements: Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test
Detailed measurements from the moderate overlap test provide further confirmation of the Sorento’s robust frontal crash performance.
Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side):
| Evaluation Criteria | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Footwell Intrusion: Footrest | 4 |
| Footwell Intrusion: Left | 7 |
| Footwell Intrusion: Center | 5 |
| Footwell Intrusion: Right | 7 |
| Footwell Intrusion: Brake Pedal | 5 |
| Instrument Panel Rearward Movement: Left | 0 |
| Instrument Panel Rearward Movement: Right | 1 |
| Steering Column Movement: Upward | -1 |
| Steering Column Movement: Rearward | -2 |
| A-pillar Rearward Movement | 0 |
These measurements show minimal intrusion into the driver’s footwell and occupant compartment, contributing to the “Good” structural rating and indicating a well-protected space for the driver.
Driver Injury Measures (Moderate Overlap Front Test):
| Evaluation Criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 237 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | No Contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 8 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.26 |
| Chest | |
| Maximum Compression (mm) | 31 |
| Legs | |
| Femur Force – Left (kN) | 1.3 |
| Femur Force – Right (kN) | 1.8 |
| Knee Displacement – Left (mm) | 2 |
| Knee Displacement – Right (mm) | 2 |
| Maximum Tibia Index – Left | 0.44 |
| Maximum Tibia Index – Right | 0.41 |
| Tibia Axial Force – Left (kN) | 2.3 |
| Tibia Axial Force – Right (kN) | 2.2 |
| Foot Acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 46 |
| Right | 42 |
The injury measurements are low across the board, confirming a low risk of significant injuries in a moderate overlap frontal crash. The 2022 Kia Sorento demonstrates excellent frontal crash protection in this standard test.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original Test
Side impacts are a major concern in vehicle accidents, and the side crash test simulates a typical intersection collision. The test involves a moving deformable barrier striking the side of a stationary vehicle. The 2022 Kia Sorento excelled in the side impact test.
The 2022 Kia Sorento earned a “Good” overall rating in the side crash test, demonstrating robust side impact protection for both driver and rear passengers. The “Good” rating extends to all evaluation categories:
- Overall Evaluation: Good
- Structure and Safety Cage: Good, indicating a strong structure to withstand side impacts.
- Driver Injury Measures: “Good” ratings across head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg, showing low injury risk for the driver.
- Driver Head Protection: Good, confirming effective side airbag deployment and head protection.
- Rear Passenger Injury Measures: “Good” ratings across head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg for rear passengers, indicating good protection in the back seat as well.
- Rear Passenger Head Protection: Good, signifying effective head protection for rear occupants.
Technical Measurements: Side Impact Crash Test
The technical measurements from the side impact test provide detailed data supporting the “Good” rating.
Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side):
| Test ID | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to Longitudinal Centerline of Driver’s Seat | -20.0 |
The negative value indicates that the intrusion stopped short of the driver’s seat centerline, signifying good structural performance in limiting occupant compartment intrusion.
Driver Injury Measures (Side Impact Test):
| Evaluation Criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 116 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Compression (kN) | -0.6 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral Deflection (mm) | 40 |
| Lateral Force (kN) | 1.2 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum Deflection (mm) | 35 |
| Average Deflection (mm) | 31 |
| Maximum Deflection Rate (m/s) | 4.42 |
| Maximum Viscous Criterion (m/s) | 0.48 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac Force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Acetabulum Force (kN) | 1.2 |
| Combined Force (kN) | 2.7 |
| Left Femur | |
| L-M Force (kN) | 0.3 |
| L-M Moment (Nm) | 53 |
| A-P Moment (Nm) | 35 |
Passenger Injury Measures (Side Impact Test):
| Evaluation Criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 113 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.1 |
| Compression (kN) | -0.4 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral Deflection (mm) | 33 |
| Lateral Force (kN) | 1.9 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum Deflection (mm) | 43 |
| Average Deflection (mm) | 26 |
| Maximum Deflection Rate (m/s) | 3.23 |
| Maximum Viscous Criterion (m/s) | 0.57 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac Force (kN) | 0.5 |
| Acetabulum Force (kN) | 1.0 |
| Combined Force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Left Femur | |
| L-M Force (kN) | 0.4 |
| L-M Moment (Nm) | 75 |
| A-P Moment (Nm) | -20 |
The injury measurements for both driver and rear passenger are low, further supporting the “Good” rating and demonstrating the 2022 Kia Sorento’s effective side impact protection for all occupants.
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is crucial in rollover accidents. The roof strength test measures how much force a vehicle’s roof can withstand before collapsing, protecting occupants in a rollover. The 2022 Kia Sorento demonstrated excellent roof strength.
The 2022 Kia Sorento achieved a “Good” rating in roof strength. Key metrics include:
- Overall Evaluation: Good
- Curb Weight: 3,829 lbs
- Peak Force: 19,106 lbs
- Strength-to-Weight Ratio: 4.99
A strength-to-weight ratio of 4.99 significantly exceeds the IIHS requirement for a “Good” rating, indicating that the 2022 Kia Sorento’s roof is more than capable of withstanding forces in a rollover scenario, providing excellent occupant protection.
Head Restraints & Seats
Head restraints and seats play a vital role in preventing whiplash and other neck injuries in rear-end collisions. The IIHS evaluates these features for their dynamic performance and geometry. The 2022 Kia Sorento’s head restraints and seats received a top rating.
The 2022 Kia Sorento with manual cloth seats earned a “Good” rating for head restraints & seats:
- Overall Evaluation: Good
- Dynamic Rating: Good
- Seat/Head Restraint Geometry: Good
Technical Measurements: Head Restraints & Seats
| Seat Type | Manual Cloth Seat |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 8 |
| Distance Below Top of Head (mm) | -2 |
| Seat Design Parameters | |
| Pass/Fail | Pass |
| Max T1 Acceleration (g) | 12.6 |
| Head Contact Time (ms) | 51 |
| Force Rating | 1 |
| Neck Forces | |
| Max Neck Shear Force (N) | 0 |
| Max Neck Tension (N) | 277 |
These measurements indicate that the head restraints are well-positioned and perform effectively in simulated rear-end collisions, reducing the risk of neck injuries.
Headlight Performance
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime driving safety. The IIHS evaluates headlight systems based on visibility and glare. The 2022 Kia Sorento is offered with two different headlight variations, and their ratings differ significantly.
SX and SX-Prestige Trim Headlights (LED Projector):
- Low-beam headlight type: LED projector
- High-beam headlight type: LED projector
- Curve-adaptive?: No
- High-beam assist?: Yes
- Overall Rating: Good
These LED projector headlights on the SX and SX-Prestige trims earned a “Good” rating. They provide good visibility on straightaways and curves with both low and high beams, and glare is well-controlled. High-beam assist further enhances visibility by automatically switching between high and low beams.
LX, S, and EX Trim Headlights (LED Reflector):
- Low-beam headlight type: LED reflector
- High-beam headlight type: LED reflector
- Curve-adaptive?: No
- High-beam assist?: Yes
- Overall Rating: Poor
In contrast, the LED reflector headlights on the LX, S, and EX trims received a “Poor” rating. These headlights provide inadequate visibility on straightaways and curves with both low and high beams. While they also feature high-beam assist, it is not enough to compensate for the poor baseline performance. For англоязычный buyers prioritizing safety, especially nighttime driving, opting for the SX or SX-Prestige trims with the “Good”-rated headlights is advisable.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems are designed to mitigate or prevent collisions with other vehicles. The IIHS tests vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention in two scenarios: 12 mph and 25 mph. The 2022 Kia Sorento offers two different front crash prevention systems.
Standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection:
- Overall Evaluation: Superior
This standard system earned a “Superior” rating. It meets forward collision warning requirements and successfully avoided collisions in both the 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
Optional Forward Collision Avoidance-Assist (FCA) with Cyclist Detection and Junction Turning:
- Package Name: Optional by trim (available on EX, SX, and SX-Prestige trims)
- Overall Evaluation: Superior with optional equipment
The optional system, available on higher trims, also achieved a “Superior” rating. It includes cyclist detection and junction turning assist in addition to the standard features and also avoided collisions in both vehicle-to-vehicle tests. Both systems provide excellent front crash prevention capabilities.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian (Day)
Pedestrian detection systems are increasingly important for urban safety. The IIHS tests pedestrian front crash prevention in daytime scenarios involving child and adult pedestrians crossing and walking parallel to the vehicle’s path. The 2022 Kia Sorento offers two pedestrian front crash prevention systems.
Optional Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist-Junction Turning (FCA-JT):
- Overall Evaluation: Superior with optional equipment (SX, SX-Prestige, EX trims)
The optional FCA-JT system earned a “Superior” rating. It performed exceptionally well in pedestrian tests:
- Crossing Child: Collision avoided at 12 mph and impact speed reduced by 23 mph at 25 mph.
- Crossing Adult: Collision avoided at both 12 mph and 25 mph.
- Parallel Adult: Collision avoided at both 25 mph and 37 mph.
Standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist-Ped (FCA-Ped):
- Overall Evaluation: Advanced (All trims)
The standard FCA-Ped system received an “Advanced” rating. While not as high as “Superior,” it still provides significant pedestrian crash prevention:
- Crossing Child: Impact speed reduced by 5 mph at 12 mph and 9 mph at 25 mph.
- Crossing Adult: Collision avoided at 12 mph and impact speed reduced by 18 mph at 25 mph.
- Parallel Adult: Collision avoided at 25 mph and impact speed reduced by 36 mph at 37 mph.
Both systems offer valuable pedestrian protection, with the optional system providing superior performance, especially in higher-speed scenarios and with child pedestrians.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchors (LATCH – Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) make it easier to properly install child safety seats. The IIHS evaluates the ease of use of LATCH systems. The 2022 Kia Sorento received an “Acceptable” rating for its LATCH system.
- Overall Evaluation: Acceptable
- Vehicle Trim: SX
- Seat Type: Leatherette
The 2022 Kia Sorento has 4 rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware. While rated “Acceptable” overall, the details reveal some areas for improvement.
Details by Seating Position:
For all four designated LATCH positions (positions 1, 3, 4, and 6), the tether anchors are rated as easy to find and not easily confused with other hardware. However, the lower anchors are consistently rated as being too deep in the seat, although they do not require excessive force to attach to and are easy to maneuver around.
Technical Measurements: Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Detailed measurements for each seating position (21, 23, 31, 33) provide specific data on anchor depth, force required, and clearance angles. While the system is functional, the “Acceptable” rating indicates that some aspects of ease of use could be improved to achieve a “Good” rating.
Conclusion: 2022 Kia Sorento – A Safe Choice for англоязычный Drivers
The 2022 Kia Sorento demonstrates strong safety performance across a wide range of IIHS crash tests and evaluations. It earned “Good” ratings in all crashworthiness tests (small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, and roof strength), as well as for head restraints & seats. Its front crash prevention systems are rated “Superior” (standard and optional), and pedestrian front crash prevention is “Advanced” (standard) or “Superior” (optional). The headlight rating is trim-dependent, with “Good” rated LED projectors on SX and SX-Prestige trims and “Poor” rated LED reflectors on lower trims. The LATCH system is rated “Acceptable.”
Overall, the 2022 Kia Sorento is a safe vehicle choice, particularly when equipped with the SX or SX-Prestige trim’s headlights and optional advanced safety features. For англоязычный consumers prioritizing safety in a family SUV, the Kia Sorento 2022 is a highly recommendable option, offering robust protection in various crash scenarios and advanced accident prevention technologies. However, potential buyers should be aware of the headlight rating variation across trims and consider this when making their selection to maximize nighttime driving safety.
