Kia's midsize crossover is freshened for 2024. The Sorento, offering seating for up to seven passengers, is a midsize 4-door wagon that slots in Kia's lineup between the larger Telluride and smaller Sportage. Changes for 2024 include updated styling front and rear, new instrument panel and telematics screen, additional technology features and a new X-Pro trim designed to up the Sorento's off-road cred. Offering similar mechanicals to the Hyundai Santa Fe, Sorento Competitors include the Honda Pilot, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander and Volkswagen Tiguan.
Like the smaller Kia Sportage, Sorento is offered with gas-only, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Gas-only Sorento's come in LS, S, EX, SX and X-Line trim. LX and S come with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. EX and above come with a turbocharged version of that engine that makes 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. Hybrid models come in EX, SX, and Prestige trim. They are powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder paired with electric motors delivering a combined 227 horsepower. Plug-in hybrid models get an extra electric motor and larger battery. Total combined output is 261 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. According to Kia, the plug-in can drive up to 32 miles in all electric mode when the battery is fully charged. Fron-t and all-wheel drive models are offered.
Prices start as low as $33,000 for the base gas model and climb to more than $50,000 on the plug-in hybrid. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, intersection collision mitigation, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert and rear automatic braking. The new X-Pro package comes standard with all-wheel drive and adds more aggressive styling and all-terrain tires. Don't even consider the base engine unless you plan to use the Sorento in light-duty urban driving conditions. Not only is it pokey, but it's noisy and somewhat unrefined. The optional turbocharged engine is a gem. It provides solid acceleration (0-60 MPH in about 7 seconds) and good passing response. It's also quieter in most operating conditions. The hybrid powertrains make sense if you are going to be doing a lot of driving, though it's a bit more expensive, the fuel economy bonus will quickly pay for itself. Plug-in models are the quickest and most efficient, but to extract the best economy, you need to plug in every night.
Transmission performance varies. The 8-speed automatic that is paired with the base engine constantly hunts between gears and is sluggish when called upon to downshift to provide more power. Conversely, the 6-speed automatics in the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models is a model of smoothness and always seems to be in the right gear at the right time. In addition, there's a seamless transition between gas and electric power in hybrid models.
The all-wheel-drive system in Sorento does not have EA low range and is not intended for extreme off-road use. The new X-Line trim does come with all-terrain tires, but it's not as capable as some off-road packages in competitor's crossovers.
Towing capacity for the Sorento with the turbocharged engine is a fairly standard 3,500 pounds, though X-Pro models can tow up to 4,500 pounds, more than any other small three-row SUV.
Sorento fuel economy ranges from disappointing to class leading depending on powertrain. The base engine is EPA rated at 23 MPG city and 31 MPG highway. About class average. The turbocharged optional engine is rated at 20 MPG city and 27 MPG highway. Those numbers are mediocre, at best, for the class. Hybrid models get an outstanding EPA rating of 36 MPG city and 33 MPG highway. Plug-in models have an MPGe rating of 79, which is at the top of the class -- but owners need to plug in every night to achieve those numbers. All engines run fine on regular grade gasoline.
On the road, Sorento offers an excellent blend of ride comfort and agility. It's a "big" midsize crossover, but, thanks to precise steering and flat cornering, feels nimble from behind the wheel. Especially in upper trim levels, Sorento imparts a driving confidence that's not often seen among midsize crossovers.
Thankfully, there isn't much of a ride penalty associated with the sporty moves. The suspension does an excellent job of filtering out the minor pavement imperfections and softening the large bumps. There's very little "head toss" -- a common large SUV malady -- and rebound control is excellent. Though it may not be the sportiest crossover in the class, it's certainly close.
Interior noise levels are modest in models with the hybrid powertrain and uplevel turbo 2.5. However, the base engine is gruff and makes a ruckus in hard acceleration. Regardless, wind and tire noise are low on the highway. The Sorento sports a modern and user-friendly interior that's sprinkled with enough flourish as to not come off as utilitarian or bland. Uplevel trims border on fancy, but all models sport solid fit and finish and a nice attention to detail.
Drivers face configurable gauge cluster that's easy to read, day or night. Though the options for configuration are somewhat limited and the graphics cartoonish, all of the important details are displayed. There's also a large 12.3-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system that is standard across the board. There's also support for wireless Android Auto and Apple Car Play.
From a control standpoint, most of the buttons and knobs are where you would expect to find them. The infotainment system is simple to operate, navigation easy to program and you won't be digging through the owner's manual to find the location of most settings. Still, Sorento suffers from the dubious combination of physical HVAC and Audio controls that require a second tap to operate. It's a Kia problem across the board and one that's hopefully going to be remedied soon.
The front seats are extremely comfortable and offer plenty of head and leg room. The same can be said for the second-row seats - which slide fore and aft to provide more room for the third-row passengers. That third row isn't quite as accommodating though as these seats are best suited for children. Getting in and out is easy thanks to wide door openings, a reasonably low ride height and tip and slide second-row seats. Outward visibility is fine forward, but difficult to the rear because of thick rear pillars. Kia does offer a digital rear-view mirror, however.
Sorento only offers 12.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the third-row seats -- decent for a midsize crossover. With the third row dropped, Sorento offers a maximum of 45 cubic feet provided the second-row seats are pushed forward. That's on the low side compared to some others in the class. Interior storage is quite good. There's ample storage options in all three rows and lots of additional power outlets.
Bottom Line -- Sorento is a 'tweener. It's larger than you would expect, but not quite big enough to be called a true three-row crossover. Yes, you can squeeze into that third row, but it's a bit of a penalty box. That said, it's perfect if you only occasionally need to carry more than five passengers. It's comfortable, efficient, fun to drive and reasonably affordable. It's also go all of the features buyers expect and comes in gas-only, hybrid and plug-in hybrid form.
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