The Kia Sorento fills a niche in the world of midsize SUVs as one of its class’s smaller and more affordable vehicles. The Sorento is a 3-row SUV for families who don’t plan on using the third row very often.
Even though the Kia Sorento is an older nameplate than the Kia Telluride, with its latest update, the Sorento has become something of a shrunken-down Telluride. It’s the Whopper Jr to the Telluride’s flame-broiled Whopper. The Game Boy Pocket. The iPad Mini. Whatever small consumer product analogy you prefer.
That’s the facelifted 2024 Kia Sorento’s new role. Everyone likes the Kia Telluride, so if you like the idea of a smaller, more affordable version that still offers 3-row seating, the Kia Sorento is perfect. Luckily, in this case, smaller doesn’t come with much compromise – other than space.
2024 Updates
The 2024 Kia Sorento’s refreshed interior is in line with more expensive Kia SUVs, which is good. The loaded X-Pro SX Prestige AWD model I drove had a lovely interior with comfortable leather seats, tasteful wood trim, and the user-friendly tech we’ve come to love in Kia vehicles.
I only got to drive the top trim, which starts at $48,765 (including a $1,375 destination fee, as do all Kia prices quoted here), but most of the fundamentals that make the Kia Sorento a good SUV trickle down to the more affordable trims. The base price is $33,365, and even in that LX trim, you get flexible 3-row seating, a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, and five USB ports. We’re grateful that wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay now come standard on every trim, which wasn’t the case before the Sorento’s 2024 update.
Driving the 2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro
The 2024 updates improve the aesthetics, technology, and capabilities of the Kia Sorento, but the engines carry over. The standard engine is a 191-horsepower 4-cylinder, which we found adequate for daily driving in our testing of earlier Sorento models. The rugged X-Pro model I drove used the turbo engine with 281 horsepower (standard in the EX trim and up). This turbo engine is an excellent match to the Sorento. It’s a significant upgrade over the base engine, and it’s nice to have that extra power for getting on the highway and, when necessary, making a quick maneuver through an intersection. Despite the slight fuel-economy penalty compared to the base engine, the turbo engine is easy to recommend if it’s within your budget.
Kia’s excellent Highway Driving Assist 2 system lived up to its reputation as one of our favorite systems of its kind.
I drove the 2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro on snowy roads and muddy trails near the Rocky Mountains. I tested this SUV on a snowy Colorado day, and I’m glad I got to drive it in crummy weather. I got a taste of the Sorento experience in a climate with ugly winters, and it performed admirably. I got to engage snow mode in real snow! Like any good snow mode, it helped me to drive the car normally without making too many adjustments.
When the snow cleared up, I drove on a clean highway. Kia’s excellent Highway Driving Assist 2 system lived up to its reputation as one of our favorite systems of its kind. Keep a light hand on the wheel, and the car will do most of the work on the highway without any fuss.
The extent of my off-road driving with the Kia Sorento X-Pro was a muddy trail, which, frankly, any AWD-equipped SUV could’ve handled. I never felt compelled to engage the locking center differential, but I’m glad it’s in an SUV with off-road ambitions. Like with snow mode in the snow, the extra capability afforded by the X-Pro enabled me to drive pretty normally in the mud without mentally switching into off-road driving mode.
Conclusion
The Kia Sorento SUV is easy to drive in any condition. The inviting interior, strong (yet unintimidating) available turbo engine, modern technology, and, in the case of the X-Pro, off-road improvements collaborate to create a relaxed and carefree driving experience, even when the road conditions aren’t so relaxed.
Is the X-Pro trim worth the cost? Only if you have the desire and the budget for the top trim. Settling for the X-Line package on an AWD-equipped version of a lower trim brings many of the same benefits and aesthetic flair. The Kia Sorento is accomplished at its prime duty of ordinary, everyday driving. If you occasionally encounter unpaved roads, the X-Line and X-Pro models are up for mild off-road adventures.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see Sorento models near you.
