Execs: Out there hybrids; dimensions could also be ‘Goldilocks’ just-right dimension for a lot of; wonderful tech
Cons: Gradual base engine; hybrids don’t get up to date for 2024; cramped third row for a three-row SUV
The Kia Sorento has been up to date extensively for 2024. It additionally carries over principally unchanged. Huh?
You see, the variations powered solely by gasoline get a litany of updates and upgrades, together with bolder styling, a brand new tech interface encased inside a slick curved housing, extra options and a brand new X-Professional rugged trim degree. The 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid don’t get any of that, and are the identical midsize, three-row SUV you would get final mannequin 12 months. They’ll be getting the identical updates, minus the X-Professional, for 2025.
So, the query have to be requested: Do you have to look forward to them? We now have not absolutely examined an up to date 2024 Sorento apart from the brand new X-Professional trim, however we have now seen it in particular person, together with the inside, and whereas the cabin actually has extra of a “wow” issue with that large, wrap-around panel, it’s not a considerable leap over what was already fairly nice. The Sorento had (and the hybrids proceed to have) the most effective in-car know-how suites round – and the up to date infotainment system feels fairly acquainted, although it now advantages from over-the-air updates. There additionally aren’t any noteworthy mechanical updates, other than the off-road-oriented X-Professional, so the remainder of the 2024 Sorento lineup ought to theoretically drive the identical. The hybrids will drive precisely the identical, which is simply superb.
Finally, we really feel protected in saying that the 2024 Kia Sorento stays one in all our top-recommended three-row SUVs. We’re optimistic in regards to the hybrids, particularly as electrified household autos are so uncommon. We recognize each Sorento’s in-betweener dimension for many who want more room and seating than two-row compacts supply however don’t wish to go all the best way as much as Telluride-sized household haulers. Normally, the Sorento could be very well-rounded, which the updates shouldn’t change … no matter once they happen.
Inside & Expertise | Passenger & Cargo Area | Efficiency & Gasoline Financial system
What it is prefer to drive | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Scores & Security Options
2025 Kia Sorento PHEV and 2024 Kia Sorento PHEV
What’s new for 2024?
The gas-only Sorento trims get new entrance styling and mildly refreshed rear styling. Inside, there’s a brand new infotainment system with a next-generation person interface, larger screens encased in a single curved housing and wi-fi Apple/Android connectivity throughout the board. A brand new X-Professional trim degree debuts, constructing upon the prevailing X-Line with BF Goodrich all-terrain tires wrapping 17-inch wheels. You’ll be able to learn extra about these adjustments in our 2024 Kia Sorento preview, and browse our first drive of the 2024 Sorento X-Professional.
The Sorento Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid successfully carry over unchanged for 2024, however will get the above model and infotainment updates for 2025. You’ll be able to see the visible adjustments above.
What are the Sorento inside and in-car know-how like?
As famous above, the inside differs primarily based on powertrain. The up to date design (above in tan) is sleeker, with slim door-to-door air vents, touch-sensitive menu buttons and a wow-moment curved infotainment panel. The hybrids’ carry-over design (above in white and blue) options eight air vents, bodily buttons, a conventional instrument binnacle and dash-top display. It undoubtedly doesn’t look as good, however we additionally thought it appeared fairly good earlier than and nonetheless do. These touch-sensitive menu buttons are additionally a love-‘em-or-hate-‘em characteristic in different Kias (the hate-‘em group appears to be individuals who incessantly alter the local weather management system), so relying in your standpoint, performance may really be worse. The Sorento’s high-quality supplies and stable construct high quality are the identical with each, although.
Expertise is completely completely different. The Hybrid will get conventional gauges normal on the EX and an all-digital instrument panel on the SX. Each get the identical 10.25-inch infotainment display that runs a user-friendly, feature-packed interface that’s extra trendy than a number of different carmakers’ infotainment techniques. The brand new interface discovered within the up to date gas-only variations is clearly a departure when it comes to design, however our restricted testing indicated it isn’t a lot of a departure in performance. The up to date system is supported by a 12.3-inch infotainment display. A second 12.3-inch display is used for the instrument panel within the SX and SX Status. It looks as if there are nonetheless analog gauges for the LX, S and EX trim ranges, however we have now but to see pictures about how that’ll work with the brand new curved display housing.
How large is the Sorento?
The Sorento has three rows of seats and is taken into account a midsize crossover, however it’s significantly smaller than different autos described as such. It is 8 inches shorter in size than the Telluride and 4 inches narrower, which is critical. It additionally has practically 2 fewer inches of third-row legroom (plus a seat that is a lot nearer to the ground and subsequently much less snug) and three.1 fewer inches of middle-row shoulder room. These are two dimensions most certainly to make a distinction when loading up with folks. All that stated, the Telluride is among the largest autos within the section, and the Sorento is not that far off the tempo. It even has extra third-row house than the Toyota Highlander. It is also vital to notice the Sorento has mainly the identical exterior dimensions as two-row midsize crossovers – in that means, the third row can mainly be regarded as a bonus characteristic for infrequent use.
One factor to bear in mind: A second-row bench seat is optionally available on most trims, which means there may be incessantly solely six seats aboard with the second-row captain’s chairs and two-person third row. Most three-row crossovers as of late have seatbelts for seven or eight relying on the center seating row. Entry to that third row may be higher because the second row simply would not depart a lot of a niche when slid ahead.
Cargo house with the third row lowered (38.4 cubic toes) and all seats lowered (75.5) is best than what you will get in most two-row midsize SUVs (and a bit higher than what you get in a Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4). The place it actually suffers relative different three-row crossovers is cargo house behind the raised third row. Its mere 12.6 cubic toes trails all these larger three-rows significantly, and when it comes to precise baggage, may barely match two carry-on curler suitcases in our testing. As such, utilizing all three rows is one thing that is unlikely to be performed for prolonged journeys, except your loved ones packs actually mild or invests in a roof-top service. If that funding appears seemingly, know that the X-Line has raised roof rails (pictured under) that usually make doing so quite a bit simpler.
What are the Sorento gas financial system and efficiency specs?
The 2024 Sorento LX and S trim ranges come normal with a 2.5-liter inline-four that produces 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. A conventional eight-speed computerized and front-wheel drive are normal, with all-wheel drive an possibility. Though engine output is just like what you’d discover in a CR-V or RAV4, the Sorento’s better weight ends in slower acceleration – Kia says this engine will get the Sorento from 0-62 mph (100 kph) in 9.5 seconds. Kia estimates gas financial system of 23 mpg metropolis, 31 mpg freeway and 26 mpg mixed with FWD and 23/28/25 with AWD.
All different trims get a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four that produces 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque – an output that exceeds that of larger three-row SUVs. Its 0-62 time is 7.4 seconds, which is extra aggressive, however hardly eye-popping given the obtainable energy and the way fast it instantly feels off the road. Quite a lot of credit score goes to all that torque. This engine is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automated guide transmission that for all intents and functions behaves like several outdated computerized. Kia estimates gas ecinomy figures of 20 mpg metropolis, 29 mpg freeway and 23 mpg mixed with FWD and 20/27/23 with AWD.
The usual Sorento Hybrid incorporates a mixture of a 1.6-liter inline-four and a single electrical motor for a mixed output of 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. In contrast to most different hybrids, it depends on a conventional six-speed computerized transmission leading to it feeling a bit extra regular behind the wheel. Its 0-62 time falls in between the 2 above engines at 8.6 seconds. EPA gas financial system estimates for 2024 are 39 mpg metropolis, 35 mpg freeway and 37 mpg mixed with FWD and 36/33/34 with AWD.
The 2024 Sorento PHEV is a plug-in hybrid (under in white) that makes use of the identical fuel engine however will get a extra highly effective electrical motor and a much bigger battery that, because the title suggests, may be replenished by plugging in. Output is 261 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It could possibly journey an EPA-estimated 32 miles on electrical energy alone, which is sweet for such a big PHEV. It will get a score of 79 miles-per-gallon equal from the EPA. Its acceleration must be the identical because the common hybrid.
What is the Sorento prefer to drive?
Though we have now but to drive the gas-only 2024 Sorento fashions in something however the brand new X-Professional trim, nothing besides that new off-road-ish trim would point out it’ll drive basically completely different than it did final 12 months. As such, count on the experience and dealing with to vary from common to mediocre relying on the model you get. The X-Strains have better floor clearance and subsequently a taller suspension you undoubtedly discover, because it feels somewhat ponderous and extra liable to physique roll. The X-Professional, driving on all-terrain tires, would not endure a lot for the knobbier rubber and taller sidewall (in contrast to the diminished experience high quality within the larger Telluride X-Professional). Choosing one other trim degree cleans these physique motions up a bit. You additionally completely discover that the Sorento is a smaller automobile when behind the wheel than a Telluride or different three-row crossovers. On the identical time, it feels somewhat extra substantial and premium, so to talk, than compact SUVs just like the Hyundai Tucson or Toyota RAV4 would.
Finally, the most important distinction will stay your alternative of powertrain. Anticipate the bottom engine to be awfully sluggish (we are saying “count on” as a result of we’ve by no means examined one), whereas the turbo showcases critical guts. Its 281 hp and 311 lb-ft is an terrible lot to feed by way of the entrance wheels alone, and never surprisingly, the front-wheel-drive Sorento EX we examined demonstrated loads of torque steer when accelerating laborious from a cease or powering out of a nook. You may additionally find yourself interacting with the soundness management system extra usually, particularly on slippery surfaces. The obtainable all-wheel-drive system ends in the turbo Sorento feeling much less frenetic off the road and considerably extra assured in slippery situations. The Sorento’s dual-clutch automated guide transmission is an atypical alternative for a household SUV and customarily behaves like a standard computerized, although chances are you’ll discover it rolls again barely on inclines earlier than shortly partaking as an adept driver of a guide transmission may. Till that occurred to us, we had spent every week completely forgetting the Sorento had a DCT.
The hybrid is arguably a better option – even in case you’ll should dwell with final 12 months’s design and tech. It doesn’t have the outright grunt of the non-hybrid turbo engine, however its 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet aren’t any slouch. And having each an electrical motor and turbocharger, it affords a lot of that torque low within the rev band, making for simple acceleration. It additionally incorporates a six-speed computerized as an alternative of a DCT. The result’s a lot smoother shifts and fewer of them, although it’s sluggish to make adjustments. And naturally, the hybrid will get significantly higher gas financial system than the gas-only Sorentos.
The Plug-In Hybrid successfully affords the very same expertise as soon as its 32 miles of electrical vary are exhausted. Whereas that is round, although, it may well present the quiet and punchy acceleration of an electrical automotive. Should you can hold it plugged in at evening and have a round-trip commute inside its vary, this must be the way you’ll expertise the PHEV more often than not. There are two issues to bear in mind. First, it nonetheless has a six-speed computerized, which means you’ll expertise gear adjustments when in electric-only mode. That’ll really feel completely regular for these coming from a gas-powered automotive, and completely weird ought to you will have expertise with a full EV. Second, the fuel engine will kick on mechanically must you want stronger acceleration.
What different Kia Sorento opinions can I learn?
2024 Kia Sorento X-Professional First Drive Overview: Up to date midsizer will get more durable and techier
This family-friendly three-row SUV will get off-road updates that do not punish the experience.
2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Street Check Overview
We had been very a lot impressed by the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid however lamented that it was nearly unattainable to get again in September 2022. These availability issues have since been alleviated to some extent.
Kia Sorento Baggage Check
Because it’s one of many smallest three-row SUVs, it should not be stunning that the Sorento has one of many smallest cargo areas behind its raised third row. We take a look at how a lot you’ll be able to match with all seats raised, plus how a lot is feasible in case you simply put one facet of the 50/50-split third-row down.
2021 Kia Sorento SX Status X-Line Street Check
We overview the X-Line model of the range-topping SX Status. Although we favored it, we lamented that X-Line was unique to the priciest trim ranges. That is not the case.
2021 Kia Sorento First Drive Overview
Our first overview of the Sorento, together with driving impressions of the EX and SX Status, each with the turbo engine.
What’s the 2024 Sorento worth and the place is it constructed?
The Sorento hybrids are in-built Hwasung, South Korea, whereas the gas-only Sorento fashions are in-built West Level, Georgia. This has all the time been the case; it has nothing to do with the mannequin 12 months changeover.
Full pricing for the 2024 Sorento lineup follows. Costs under embrace the $1,375 vacation spot cost.
LX FWD: $33,365
S FWD: $35,765
S AWD: $37,765
EX FWD: $39,365
EX X-Line AWD: $43,065
SX FWD: $43,065
SX X-Line AWD: $44,865
SX Status X-Line AWD: $47,765
SX Status X-Professional AWD: $48,765
Hybrid EX FWD: $38,015
Hybrid EX AWD: $40,315
Hybrid SX Status AWD: $43,815
PHEV SX Status AWD: $51,315
In addition to the powertrain choices and the same old ladder-like escalation of apparatus with every trim degree, there are some basic variations to concentrate on. As the worth and title would suggest, the SX Status can be the luxury-oriented trim. The X-Line is the outdoorsy journey alternative, boasting an additional inch of floor clearance, extra versatile raised roof rails and extra rugged styling cues. The brand new X-Professional goes additional by including BFGoodrich all-terrain tires wrapping 17-inch wheels.
What are the Sorento security rankings and driver help options?
The Sorento not solely comes with a number of driver help techniques, however they’re among the many best-executed within the business. These embrace ahead collision warning with computerized emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping help, a driver inattention warning system and a rear occupant alert system. All however the LX additionally get blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, rear parking sensors and Protected Exit Help (warns rear seat occupants of site visitors approaching from behind). The ahead collision warning system within the EX and SX trims can detect cyclists and ahead cross site visitors. Adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go functionality and lane-centering steering help is included within the S, EX, all hybrids and the PHEVs. The gas-only SX and SX Status get a more moderen, upgraded adaptive cruise management system that adjusts its acceleration tendencies primarily based on observing the driving force.
The Sorento was named a 2022 Prime Security Choose by the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security primarily based on its best-possible efficiency in all crash checks and sufficiently excessive scores for its crash-avoidance tech. This crash take a look at scores carry over for 2024. A front-end redesign may change the headlight scores, although. Beforehand, the SX and SX Status received the best-possible “Good” whereas all the things else received a “Poor.” In NHTSA crash testing, final 12 months’s Sorento acquired a four-star general score out of 5 with a four-star frontal and five-star facet score.
