2025 Kia Sorento review

2025 Kia Sorento Review:

The Kia Sorento is a great option if you need an SUV that's bigger than a compact but not quite as large as the midsize Telluride. It's Kia's second-largest SUV, offering three rows, making it perfect for carpooling or when you occasionally need that extra seating. Plus, it's more compact and fuel-efficient than some of the bigger SUVs out there.

Under the hood, you've got some good choices. The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine will likely do the trick for most drivers. But if you're looking for faster acceleration, there's a powerful turbo engine on the higher trims. And for those who want to save on gas, there's also a hybrid model, plus a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) for those who charge at home and tackle shorter trips purely on electric power.

• Technology

• Comfort

• Cargo and storage

• Ease of use

• Driving

What tech does the

Connectivity

The Sorento's infotainment system features a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and an optional digital instrument cluster. Wireless Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay® come standard across all trims. Edmunds testers found the infotainment system to be responsive and user-friendly. USB-C ports are conveniently located in all three rows, and a wireless charger is also available. 

Infotainment

The Sorento's infotainment system was updated in 2024, and features a standard 12.3-inch screen across all trims, a significant upgrade from the previous base model's eight-inch screen and less advanced system. This system, also found in other recent Kia models, offers over-the-air (OTA) updates and decent, easy-to-read maps. While the Bose® audio system Edmunds tested was adequate, it wasn't particularly outstanding.

Driver-Assist Tech

The Kia Sorento offers some of the most advanced driver aids in its class, including a surround-view camera system and automatic lane changing. During testing, all systems performed flawlessly, with no false alerts or issues. The adaptive cruise control and highway assist systems are particularly effective.

One notable feature is the hands-free lane-changing capability while using cruise control. Simply tap the signal, and the Sorento will move over if the lane is clear. It's an interesting innovation, but not necessarily a make-or-break feature.

How comfortable is the 2025 Kia Sorento? 

Front Seating

The front seats in Edmunds top-trim test vehicle appeared cushier than they really were, but they still provided excellent support for both short and long drives, with extensive adjustability for various drivers. Additionally, the SX Premiere's seats feature both heating and ventilation, ensuring comfort in a variety of conditions.

Rear Seating

Higher Sorento trim levels come standard with second-row captain's chairs, which are notably firm but provide better comfort and support than the bench seats found in other SUVs. (A bench is standard on lower trim levels.) Even though the third-row seats are small and low to the floor, they still offer adequate support for adults, at least for short trips.

Ride Quality and Interior Noise

The ride quality of this SUV can be a mixed bag. While larger bumps at higher speeds are handled adequately, with only a slight float over freeway dips, smaller imperfections such as seams and potholes feel sharp. This may be due to the larger wheels that negatively impact the ride, making it feel somewhat jittery and busy.

At speed, wind and road noise is present but not intrusive. Road and tire noise is more prominent, with wind noise from the side windows noticeable only at highway speeds. The engine sound is agreeable, avoiding the coarseness of the RAV4 or the whine of the CR-V, and there are no shakes or rattles.

Does the 2025 Kia Sorento have good storage?

Cargo 

With all three rows in use, the Sorento provides 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space, enough for approximately five grocery bags. This is a respectable number for a compact SUV, considering the third row, but less than what bigger midsize SUVs like the Kia Telluride offer. Folding down the third row expands the cargo capacity to between 38.5 cubic feet and 45 cubic feet, depending on the second-row seating position. This is more generous than the cargo space offered by smaller two-row SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The third row drops with a strap, and you get a significantly bigger area, but there's a gap between the captain's chairs. Finally, the underfloor storage is roughly the size of two shoeboxes, alongside the jack. 

Storage

Small-item storage solutions in the Sorento are well organized and practical. The center console features a covered bin, ideal for a wireless charger and large enough for phones, sunglasses, and other small items. There's also a small shelf perfect for a key or access cards. Another small shelf can hold a phone horizontally. The deep center bin includes a smaller upper compartment, which works well to keep small items handy. The front doors offer decent storage. In the rear, the doors cleverly incorporate can holders near the window switches and bottle storage in the door pockets. Finally, each third-row seat provides molded plastic cupholders and a small bin.

How easy is the 2025 Kia Sorento to use?

Entry, Exit, and Car Seats

The step-in height is fairly standard to get into the Sorento, and the front seats are positioned to allow easy entry. The second row offers similar ease of access, though taller passengers may need to duck slightly. To access the third row with captain's chairs, use the quick-release button to slide and fold the seat. Adults were able to fit in the back with some degree of comfort, and exiting, though a bit snug, was manageable.

Wide door openings and captain's chairs make it easy to install car seats. The second row offers exposed lower anchors and easy-to-find top tether anchors. Infant and rear-facing convertible seats are simple to install with ample legroom. Forward-facing convertibles fit well, but the head restraint might need to be raised for taller children. Boosters can also fit after raising the head restraint. In the third row, LATCH anchors are exposed and clearly marked. Fixed head restraints can hinder a flush fit for taller children in forward-facing convertibles, which are designed to sit against the seatback.

Interior Layout and Visibility

Thanks to a smaller shifter and redesigned center console, the Sorento's interior buttons are easy to reach, and the controls are more accessible than earlier versions. The infotainment system, while not groundbreaking, is an improvement. It features clear, easy-to-read displays, though the color palette is less vibrant than that of the previous system.

The driving gauges sit a bit lower, so you wind up looking down into the instrument panel, but the rest of the dash, screen, and controls all feel within easy reach.

The Sorento offers excellent visibility thanks to its large, unobstructed windows and minimal blind spots, especially with the rear three-quarter windows. The rear view is also clear, and the high-definition surround-view camera system provides a very helpful and clear display on the screen.

What’s the 2025 Kia Sorento like to drive?

Driving

The available turbocharged engine in the Sorento will leave a strong impression. In Edmunds' testing, it proved remarkably quick for a small SUV, not only hitting 60 mph in a mere 6.7 seconds but also maintaining its power at higher speeds. For context, this Sorento is nearly 3 seconds faster than the similarly sized Volkswagen Tiguan and even slightly quicker than the V6-powered Honda Passport, making highway merging and passing effortless.

Braking in the Sorento is confident and well-balanced thanks to the intuitive brake pedal. From 60 mph, the Sorento stopped in just 121 feet with minimal nosedive, which is better than average for its class. However, this braking distance is slightly increased on the top trim due to its standard all-terrain tires. Handling is also confidence-inspiring, though improved steering accuracy would be a welcome enhancement.

Towing

The Kia Sorento has a towing rating of about 3,500 pounds for the 2.5-liter turbo

. This figure is down from 5,000 pounds with the previous generation Sorento. The Sorento X-Pro gets a slightly higher tow rating of 4,500 pounds, which is impressive for a small SUV, but that's still not as much as what the last generation could do. For those who really want to tow more, there's always the Kia Telluride to consider. You'll find that the Telluride's and other midsizers' tow ratings are in the 5,000-pound range. 

Fuel Economy/Electric Efficiency

In mixed city and highway driving, the Kia Sorento's fuel economy will vary anywhere from 23 mpg to 36 mpg,

depending on the powertrain you've chosen. The all-wheel-drive Sorento with the turbocharged engine, the 2024 model Edmunds editors tested, achieved an average of 25.2 mpg in their mixed-driving evaluation route, slightly exceeding the EPA's estimate of 23 mpg combined. One notable advantage is that this turbocharged Sorento does not require premium gasoline. While not as fuel-efficient as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, it outperformed the Honda Passport and Subaru Ascent, which have similar power outputs, on the same evaluation route.

EPA Fuel Economy Estimates