2024 Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento is one of the smaller and more affordable options in the wide world of 3-row SUVs. It fits in the midsize SUV class but is the size of many midsize 2-row SUVs while providing standard 3-row seating. We love its many practical benefits, like good fuel economy, tons of standard safety features, and the best warranty in its class. Moreover, the popular turbocharged engine option makes the Sorento more exciting to drive than many true midsize SUVs. The small-ish third row is best for occasional use, which is all some shoppers need.

For even better fuel economy, consider the Kia Sorento Hybrid or Sorento Plug-in Hybrid, each reviewed separately.

Having been completely redesigned for 2021 with some added features in 2023, Sorento surprised us for 2024 with an all-new grille, headlights, taillights, and a reworked instrument panel.

Before buying a Sorento, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Kia Sorento resale value is about average for the segment.

The Kia Sorento’s standard 191-horsepower 4-cylinder engine gets the job done, but a majority of buyers go with the more satisfying 281-horsepower turbocharged unit. The enthusiast in us loves the quicker acceleration of the more powerful engine, and it has the practical perk of more towing capacity while returning almost the same fuel economy as the base engine. And while a full load of people and/or cargo can render the base engine a bit underpowered, the turbo remains relatively unphased. We’ve found the efficient and quick-shifting dual-clutch automatic transmission paired with the turbo engine isn’t as smooth and seamless as others, but not to a deal-breaking degree.

The smaller Sorento is more nimble around town and in parking lots than most 3-row SUVs, which we count among its key advantages. It’s also about as comfortable on the highway as anything in the segment. For buyers who only occasionally load up more than five people and spend a lot of time navigating parking lots, the Sorento can be an easier way to move about the world.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating the current collection of 3-row SUVs, including this Kia Sorento.

Fuel Economy

Front-wheel-drive Kia Sorento models are rated to return 26 mpg with the base engine. But the turbocharged engine is rated for 25 mpg, delivering almost 50 percent more horsepower for what works out to be just two extra gallons of gas per month. The larger Kia Telluride is rated for 23 mpg, which figures at an extra 4 or 5 gallons per month compared to the turbo. For max efficiency, check out the Sorento Hybrid, which can save about 17 gallons of gas per month. Even at $3 per gallon, that’s $50 per month.

We think the Sorento’s cabin design looks excellent, and the materials get nicer as you work your way up the trim levels. For example, you can get quilted leather seats, open-pore wood trim, and bright satin finishes.

Kia gussied up the dashboard design to accommodate a new set of display screens: one for the digital gauge cluster and one for the infotainment system.

Seating for seven is standard in the Sorento. Turbocharged models get second-row captain’s chairs, which drops the total seating capacity to six. We consider it a worthwhile trade-off for most, since captain’s chairs make the second row more comfortable and the third row easier to access.

Interior space is generous in the first two rows, with plenty of legroom and headroom. However, we didn’t have much room when we climbed into the third row; these seats are best reserved for children. The Sorento has 29.6 inches of third-row legroom, while the bigger Kia Telluride has 31.4 inches. That extra 1.8 inches goes a long way.

Cargo space is tight when all three rows are in place. As in all SUVs, folding down seats yields more cargo space. With the third row folded down, you get a generous cargo hold with 38.5 cubic feet of space. Behind the third row is 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space (versus 21 cubic feet in the Telluride).

We think the exterior styling of the Kia Sorento strikes a nice balance of rugged and modern. It’s boxy enough to look like an adventurous SUV but sleek enough to look refined and high-tech. Its ruggedness increases with the X-Line models, which add an extra inch of ride height, roof rails, and an off-road appearance package with skid plates.

For 2024, Kia refreshed Sorento’s face. Deeper and wider, the grille is decidedly beefier, giving the Sorento a more rugged look. To accommodate that greater width, Kia reoriented the headlights from horizontal to vertical. The thin LED signature lights begin at the top of each side of the grille and wrap around the front fenders.

In the rear, Kia narrowed the vertical taillights, connecting the two lamps on each side with a thin light bar running across the top of each pair.

Kia Drive Wise
The standard Kia Drive Wise safety tech suite on every Sorento includes automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, driver attention warning, and more.

Second-row captain’s chairs
Every Sorento with a turbocharged engine comes with second-row captain’s chairs. These not only make the second row more comfortable, but they make the third row easier to access.

Exciting turbo engine
The available turbocharged engine is the more popular choice for good reasons. It dramatically improves the performance of the Sorento with only a minor fuel economy penalty.

X-Line package
The X-Line models in the Sorento lineup add a rugged appearance package with an extra inch of ground clearance, high-utility roof rails, and unique wheels and bumpers. They all come standard with torque-vectoring all-wheel drive for added capability.

User-friendly infotainment system
All but the base trim of the Sorento come with a user-friendly and feature-rich infotainment system. Its large touchscreen features Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, navigation, and SiriusXM, and it’s available with a Bose audio system.

Smart Power Tailgate
The EX trim and up have a handy Smart Power Tailgate, allowing hands-free opening and closing. This adds a lot of convenience to loading and unloading the cargo area.

The Sorento is available with a choice of two 4-cylinder engines, the more popular of which is turbocharged. With both engines, front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional. The Sorento is also available with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, reviewed separately.

2.5-liter 4-cylinder (LX, S)
191 horsepower @ 6,100 rpm
181 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA combined fuel economy (2023): 26 mpg with front-wheel drive (24 city, 29 highway), 24 mpg with all-wheel drive (23 city, 25 highway)

2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder (EX, SX, SX Prestige)
281 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
311 lb-ft @ 1,700-rpm – 4,000 rpm
EPA combined fuel economy (2023): 25 mpg with front-wheel drive (22 city, 29 highway), 24 mpg with all-wheel drive (22 city, 27 highway)

Class-Leading Warranty

Kia’s warranty coverage is about as good as it gets. The Sorento is backed by a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.