2024 Kia Sorento X-Line SX Prestige: The Brand’s Midsize Crossover/SUV

 

Highlight: The Sorento is available with three rows.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $48,285 (Base: $31,990)

Seating Capacity: 5 -7 (depending upon trim)

Standard Safety Features: air bags; ABS; hill start assist; stability control system; a tire pressure monitoring system; a spare tire; a rearview camera; an electronic blind spot system; lane keep assist system; a lane departure warning system; a lane following assist system; and a highway beam assist system

Standard Equipment (Base LX): 17-inch wheels; 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder; 191-hp; an 8-speed automatic transmission; a variety of driving modes; front wheel drive; a 4-inch driver cluster; cloth seat; manual front seats; and a manual ventilation system

Standard Equipment (SX Prestige): 20-inch wheels; all-wheel drive;  an 8-speed dual clutch transmission; adds a snow driving mode; power folding side mirrors; a 12-inch driver cluster; power front seats; heated front seats; ventilated front seats; a memory operated driver’s seat; second row bucket seats; heated steering wheel; a leather wrapped steering wheel; a dual zone automatic control system; a 12-speaker Bose audio system; a navigation system; a wireless phone charger; a handsfree tailgate; a radar activated cruise control system; blind spot collision avoidance system with parallel exit; parking distance warning; parking distance collision avoidance rear; surround view; digital rearview mirror; retractable rear sunshade; blind view monitor; and SiriusXM

Options: Sage leather package; and carpeted floor mats

Other Trim Levels:

S

EX

SX

Standard Audio On Test Vehicle: a 6-speaker AM/FM/HD

Bluetooth Connectivity: Standard

USB Connectivity: Standard

Apple/Android Connectivity: Standard

Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty: 10 years or 100,000 miles

Horsepower (Base Model): 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder turbo/ 281-hp (test model)

Standard Fuel Mileage: 20-city/27-hwy (test model)

What’s New: The 2024 Kia Sorento wears a new fascia and a redesigned curvy infotainment center and instrument cluster.

Pros:

New fascia

An overall stylish design

A variety of trims

AWD available

Second row bucket seats available

An updated high-tech information center

An oversized panoramic roof

A third-row seat

A high level of safety driving aid features

A car-like ride

A high-level of safety driving aids

Heated and ventilated front seats available

Best new warranty in the segment

But: 

Both powertrains seem noisy and underpowered

Difficulty toggling between using the audio system and ventilation system with the new screen design

It’s a tight fit to access and exit the third-row

Limited cargo area when third row is in use

Verdict:  Since we last reviewed Kia’s fourth best-selling vehicle in the states in 2024, the price of the higher line Sorento trim increased approximately 9 percent. In fact, the Sorento SX Prestige X-Line AWD in 2021 we reviewed listed for $44,285. Almost three model years later, with the newly designed infotainment cluster/screen and front fascia, the Sorento has edged up a whopping $4,400.

While the higher line trim has increased substantially, the base Sorento model pricing has been more modest over a three-year model run. The price over a year period has averaged out to a $500 increase per model years, which equated to $1,500.

Despite the price increase, the Sorento, with its car-lie ride, is a value-oriented package for those seeking a midsize vehicle capable of seating between 5 to 7 occupants. Depending upon the trim and package, one can accessorize the midsize crossover/SUV with such features as leather, bucket second row seats, heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof and a standard co-pilot assist driving system.

The Sorento, which is available in a front wheel drive or AWD configuration, also has one of the best new-vehicle warranties in the industry.

Competition: Chevy Blazer; Hyundai Santa Fe; Nissan Murano; and VW Tiguan