Let’s face it: the automotive world has become so specialized that you could probably find a car for your pet iguana if you looked hard enough. The Kia Sorento, however, manages to carve out a nice little niche for itself in the crowded three-row SUV segment. It’s up against an array of direct competitors like the Mitsubishi Outlander, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Hyundai Santa Fe. But what sets the Sorento apart is that it’s not just competing within its own segment—it’s also clashing with contenders from different segments.
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In fact, in Kia’s record-breaking US sales year in 2024, the Sorento alone accounted for almost 12% of their total sales. Just to put that into perspective, Kia sold 6,529 more Sorentos in 2024 than in 2023. That’s no small feat, especially when you’re trying to stand out in an already crowded field. So, what’s the magic sauce that makes the Sorento such a crowd favorite?
After all, despite all the buzz, the Sorento doesn’t exactly scream excitement on paper. The base naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine makes just 191 horsepower (142 kW) and 181 lb-ft (245 Nm) of torque.In its most basic form, this is a front-wheel-drive SUV that starts at around $33,000.
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It turns out that it simply offers everything that the average buyer will need and then some. That is our conclusion after driving one around for a week as though it were our own. We tested the compact SUV in cities, on the highway, off-road, and with several passengers along for the ride. At the end of the day, this is a whole lot of SUV stuffed into a relatively small package.
Under The Hood
Kia offers the Sorento with four powertrains including the base version we’ve already discussed. Buyers can also go for a traditional hybrid that incorporates a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and makes a total of 227 horsepower (169 kW). Like the base Sorento, FWD is standard and AWD is an option. It gets up to 34 mpg combined.
Then, there is a plug-in hybrid with 32 miles of electric range, a fuel economy of 34 mpg combined, and again, a 1.6-liter four-cylinder. Notably, it makes more power in this guise peaking out at 261 horsepower (194 kW) and 258 lb-ft (349 Nm) of torque. In Europe, we tested a hybrid Sorento and generally liked it.
Our test car was not a base-level trim. Instead, we had access to the X-Pro SX-Prestige, the most expensive Sorento on offer. Even with every bell and whistle added to the options list, this car has an MSRP of just $49,400. For those thinking that such a price is wild, just consider that the average transaction price for a new car in January of 2025 was $49,740 – and this is no average car.
Under the hood is a turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter engine found in the base model. It makes 281 horsepower (209 kW) and 311 lb-ft (421 Nm) of torque. It sends that power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. X-Pro in Kia’s nomenclature indicates that this is an off-road-focused variant.
As such, it gets a locking center differential so it can apply equal amounts of power and torque to both axles. It also features 17-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and an increased towing capacity (4,000 pounds). Unsurprisingly, this combination earns the worst fuel economy of any model in the range. According to the EPA, it’ll achieve up to 20 mpg in the city, 27 on the highway, and 23 combined. We managed a respectable 24.2 over the week we had it.
Interior Quality
Handsome is a single word that almost perfectly describes the cabin of the Sorento. Our test car featured a cabin with a mix of black, tan, and wood accents. The seats and door cards have Kia’s genuine olive-brown leather upholstery flanked by black faux leather. The combination looks and feels great but is somewhat undercut by cheap black plastic bookending it.
The dash is a balance of high-end and pragmatic design. Kia uses the super-wide infotainment/gauge cluster screens that is also fitted to many other cars in its lineup. They look good, offer high-quality graphics, quick responses, and simple menus.
We also love a feature that brings up a live view of the left or right blind spot when one activates a turn signal. It’s one of the things that stood out when we first tested this SUV some five years ago. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay work well with the system and connect quickly and reliably.
If there is anything to complain about tech, it’s the continued use of a panel that switches between media and climate control under the infotainment system. We’ve griped about this dating back to 2022 when Kia put it into the EV6. Essentially, one can only use the HVAC controls or the media controls at any one time.
To change the volume and then turn down the climate, users have to turn a knob, hit a switch, and then turn that same knob. It’s clunky, and easy to get wrong, and Kia has enough space to just have one panel with all of those functions together rather than separated. On the plus side, the heating and ventilation functions for the front seats get their own dedicated rocker switches.
Just behind those switches, you’ll find the gear shift and then the drive mode selector in the Sorento. Other useful functions are there too such, as the steering wheel heat, auto hold, and parking sensors.
Cabin Comfort
In terms of comfort, the Sorento is very good for the first two rows of passengers. As a taller guy (six-foot-six) I had no problem sitting in the second row comfortably behind where I would also put the front seat. That’s rare in the mid-sized SUV segment and even more so when considering three-row SUVs of this size. The third row isn’t anywhere near as accommodating, but it’ll do just fine for shorter folks or kids.
Throughout the cabin, Kia offers a bevy of useful features that will enrich the trip. For example, there are USB-C power ports into the side of each front seat so that second-row occupants have easy access to them. A household-style 115-volt outlet and a 12-volt outlet sit between the seats for second-row occupants. Those same folks have two cup holders in each door and three storage pockets each. Two sit in the back of the front seat and the other rests on the side of their seat in the form of a small net.
Third-row occupants get cup holders, storage pockets, and USB-C power ports on each side of the cabin too. With the rear seats up, the Sorento offers 13 cubic feet of storage space. With them down, that space expands to 39 cubic feet. Kia includes buttons in the rear to automatically lower the second row, which then provides up to 76 cubic feet of storage space.
Drive Impressions
Those familiar with the Kia (and Hyundai) family tree might be wondering what the brand was thinking with the Sorento. After all, the Telluride is a smash hit and also offers three rows but with even more space to benefit from. Drive the two back to back and things become more clear.
The Sorento wasn’t always a three-row SUV. For many years it was smaller and only had two rows. Now, even with the third row, it benefits from a smaller footprint than models like the Telluride. It’s also more engaging from behind the wheel, with the steering feel being accurate and communicative.
The throttle and brake pedal both provide predictable responses too. From a dead stop, there is a very slight delay in acceleration, but we doubt most drivers will notice. Once moving, the 2.5-liter engine is more than powerful enough to manage the daily commute and then some.
The eight-speed gearbox is smooth and never seems to hunt for gears. Interestingly, the normal trims of the Sorento sometimes get flack for having a rougher ride. Maybe it’s our test car’s 17-inch all-terrain tires, but it felt great over imperfect road conditions. Even badly broken pavement didn’t upset it.
Off-road, the Sorento X-Pro is best suited as a soft-roader rather than a hardcore trail crusher. Kia includes a locking center differential in this trim and the 311 lb-ft of torque helps the Sorento overcome most moderate obstacles. Notably, we didn’t take it on the same challenging trails that our test Land Rover Defender dispatched with ease, but then again we don’t think any Sorento buyers is really interested in that.
Where Kia’s SUV felt best was in everyday suburban traffic. Sure, it’s a comfortable highway cruiser. The semi-autonomous driving system is excellent but the Sorento is most impressive in town. Thanks to its size, it zips in and out of traffic, around tight bends, and into slim parking spots with ease. As three-row SUVs go, this is one of the easiest to place on a trail, on the road, or in a parking lot.
Competition
Consider for a moment that we’re reviewing this SUV after just having the chance to drive the all-new Toyota 4Runner. No doubt, Toyota has a much more rugged and capable SUV (at least off-road) on its hands, but the reality is that the Sorento offers more for the money for the vast majority of buyers.
At the same time, it’s easy to see why the Sorento doesn’t get more attention. Its big brother, the Telluride, has even more interior space, much of the same content, and seems to attract more buyers based on its styling. Outside of the Kia and Hyundai family, rivals offer some features that the Sorento doesn’t keep up with.
For example, the Mazda CX-90, CX-70, and CX-50 all drive more sharply. The Toyota Grand Highlander is an all-arounder with so much brand recognition that many buyers overlook Kia’s offerings, even if they are a better value overall. Then, there are automakers like Ford or Jeep who come with more off-road ruggedness.
What none of them save for Hyundai and other Kias offer is a warranty package anywhere near as compelling. Every Sorento comes with a five-year or 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage. Notably, Kia has a somewhat questionable history of being very strict about what it will and won’t cover, but for the diligent, that warranty could be a really important value add.
In the small, four-car segment that the Sorento directly occupies, it seems like a no-brainer. The Hyundai Santa Fe is a good deal too but the Kia drives a bit better. It’s hard to argue that the Mitsubishi Outlander has enough to really compete here and the new Tiguan seems like an improvement over the previous generation, but it’s slower and doesn’t have as many features.
The Verdict
The reality is that the Sorento is aimed squarely at buyers who prioritize value and practicality over just about everything else. It’s for the person who sees through the marketing gimmicks and focuses on realized long-term value. This Kia isn’t flashy. It’s not going to win any races, any beauty contests, or any rock crawling competitions.
That doesn’t really matter though because the vast majority of us don’t need a family car that excels to all of that. We need practical, safe, and comfortable transportation without paying a small fortune. The Sorento offers exactly that and so much more. It’s full of excellent technology, tons of thoughtful features, and enough driving engagement to be above average. In the case of the X-Pro SX-Prestige, it even offers some capability when the road runs out.
If you’re in the market for a spacious, three-row SUV that can tackle some light off-roading, the Sorento in this trim should definitely make your list.
