About Sorento
The Sorento is Kia's midsize SUV, a versatile family vehicle that sits between the Sportage and the Telluride in Kia's lineup. It offers three rows of seating in a package that is smaller and easier to maneuver than full-size three-row SUVs, making it a popular choice for families who need occasional extra seats without a large vehicle. Its broad range of powertrains, including gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, gives buyers more choice than many rivals.
The Sorento debuted in 2002 as a rugged, body-on-frame SUV and later switched to a unibody car-based platform, becoming more refined with each generation. The fourth generation, introduced in 2020, brought sharper styling, a premium interior and the hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains that helped it stand out. A facelift added a bolder front end and a rugged X-Pro trim. In recent model years, Kia has narrowed the plug-in hybrid's availability to a single, well-equipped trim, and renderings of a fifth generation have begun to circulate.
The Sorento competes with the Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota Highlander, Honda Passport, Mazda CX-70 and CX-90, and Subaru Outback. Its strengths include versatility, a long warranty and a strong hybrid lineup, while critics point out that its third row is tight for adults. Reviewers tend to recommend the hybrid as the sweet spot of the range, combining strong fuel economy with brisk acceleration, while the plug-in suits owners who can charge at home and drive short daily distances on electricity alone.
Coverage includes reviews of the gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, pricing and trim changes, recall notices and sales results, along with owner stories and spy shots of the next generation. As hybrids become a larger share of Kia's sales, the Sorento's role in the lineup is evolving, and the next generation will reveal how Kia plans to balance traditional gasoline power with electrification in its midsize family SUV, and whether the plug-in hybrid survives the redesign.