- The Kia Sorento offers flexibility and capability
- Pricing starts at $33,405 | Price it your way
- On sale now | See Kia Sorento models for sale near you
The Kia Sorento has been a staple in the brand’s SUV lineup since 2003, through four generations of production. After a midcycle refresh last year, the 2025 Sorento sees only minor changes: black badges for the X-Line and X-Pro trims and a new exterior color, Panthera Metal.
The X-Pro is an off-road-ready version of the Sorento with increased towing capacity, 17-inch wheels, and all-terrain tires. It mirrors the recent trend by automakers of adding toughened-up packaging to their smaller SUVs.
The Sorento comes with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine in the LX and S trims (191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque) with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Upper trim levels get a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque) with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available and standard on X-Line and X-Pro trims. Kia also produces a Sorento Hybrid and a Sorento Plug-in Hybrid model, which we will examine in separate articles.
Let’s take a look inside the Sorento.
Passenger Room and Comfort
The Sorento has three rows of seats and can accommodate up to seven people total. Some trim levels can be had with second-row captain’s chairs, which reduces total passenger count to six. The captain’s chairs are comfortable and allow for easy access to the third row. Having a third row in a vehicle of this size is a rarity. However, with just 29.6 inches of leg room, the rearmost seats are best suited for children and occasional use.
Kia’s done a fine job of ensuring that once you’re in a seat, you’ll be very comfortable. Heated and ventilated seats are available for the front seats, while available heated second-row seats keep passengers warm in cold weather. The acoustic glass makes for a quieter cabin, keeping outside noises out and allowing the use of inside voices while inside.
Features and Tech
The Sorento features the brand’s Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) operating system. Kia touts faster processing and swipe controls (similar to tablet or smartphone operation) for frequently used actions. The new Sorento can get updates over the air (OTA) for continuous iteration of its systems. All three rows have USB-C ports, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all trim levels.
The Sorento can be had with the next generation of Kia’s Digital Key, which lets drivers use an Apple or Samsung device or an NFC-enabled smart card as a virtual key to get into the vehicle, lock it, and be on their way. This technology is now hands-free — no need to hold the device.
Kia’s Drive Wise suite of safety technology is standard equipment on the Sorento. It includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, driver attention warning, among other technologies. A wireless phone charging pad is standard in all but the base trim, and a Bose premium audio system comes with the top two trims.
Materials and Design
Kia’s designers chose to emphasize the horizontal features on the new dashboard, using the air vents and controls to give a streamlined and modern look with a sense of openness. The optional panoramic curved display optimizes this look, connecting two 12.3-inch screens behind one bezel to create a landscape of graphic interest.
The X-Line and X-Pro trims get the option of Olive Brown and Sage interior color combinations, which Kia says are “in response to the growing popularity of earth-toned elements in SUVs.”
Cargo Room and Flexibility
The Sorento offers plenty of cargo space. With the second and third row seats folded, there is 75.5 cubic feet. With the third row down, there is as much as 45 cubic feet of space, which allows owners to carry four sets of golf clubs or just about anything one can think of for a couple on a weeklong vacation. With all the seats up, there is 12.6 cubic feet behind the third row, which is fine for a run to the grocery store.
Build and price your version of the 2025 Kia Sorento to see this week’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, or check out Kia Sorento models for sale near you.
