In the Kia SUV lineup, there is an enticing model available for most family needs without breaking the bank — well, sort of. We spent a week with the 2024 Kia Sorento, a mid-sizer with seating for six. It stacks up just below the popular and pricey Telluride and can be outfitted to a near luxury interior for a price. With five trims to choose from, the Sorento can be in your driveway for a low $30s to high $40s price, depending on your penchant for toys.
All have all-wheel drive, three rows of seating, a larger grille and attractive, amber-accented LED headlights a la Telluride, only larger.
We’ve been impressed with Kia SUVs since the Sportage debuted in 1995, just ahead of the first Toyota RAV4 and followed by the Sorento in 2002 and Telluride in 2019.
Our top-of-the-line S-Line, SX Prestige was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder turbo engine generating 281 ponies with 311-pound feet of torque mated with a dual clutch eight-speed smooth-shifting automatic transmission. Lower trims are fitted with a standard 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder with 191 horsepower. The turbo engine propelled the Sorento to 60 miles per hour from a dead stop in 6.5 seconds at our independent test track, quicker than rivals Chevy Blazer, VW Tiguan, Subaru Ascent and Honda Passport.
Interior storage is a mixed bag. With all rows upright there is just under 13 cubic feet — enough for a grocery run. The third row is primarily for youngsters. Things change quickly, however, with the third-row folded. This opens up 45 cubes .
Inside there are a pair of new 12.3-inch digital screens — one for engine vitals and a second for navigation, climate, entertainment and phone. It also gains wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphones and a nifty phone doodad that allows smartphone to be used as a key. Second row captain’s chairs provide extra comfort in city and highway travel. Three USB ports are mounted in the second row along with a 12-volt accessory outlet and a 115-volt AC outlet — a rarity in this segment.
Our tester delivered a compliant ride with confidence while passing, traveling around corners and parking with the help of a 360 top-down view and real time front and rear views. Overall handling is a plus.
The cabin was whisper-quiet most of the time; however, when you stomp on the gas, there is turbo lag and engine growl until you let up on the pedal. Aside from those deficiencies, the Sorento provides a comfortable ride even with 20-inch black alloys and Continental paws.
While our loaded tester came with numerous standard and optional features — including a Bose premium sound system, suede headliner, navigation-based smart cruise control with stop and go, blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert — its near $50,000 price may give pause to potential buyers.