Kia Sorento (2015 – 2022) Review

Kia Sorento (2015 – 2022) At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Kia Sorento is a very capable family SUV with seven seats, but it only comes with a diesel engine, so there is no hybrid option.

+Easy to drive. All-wheel drive as standard. Well-equipped. Capable tow car. Seven seats. Excellent eight-speed auto from 2018.

-KX-1 models miss some of the best equipment. Old seven-speed automatic has higher emissions than manual.

Insurance Groups are between 24–28
On average it achieves 74% of the official MPG figure

If you’re after a big SUV to carry seven people, tow a trailer or travel in comfort, the Kia Sorento is a sound bet. It has four-wheel drive as standard and most models are very well equipped. It’s not the sharpest family SUV to drive – the SEAT Ateca and its VW Group stablemate, the Skoda Kodiaq, both have the edge here – but the South Korean contender is refined. Read on for our full Kia Sorento review.

The Kia Sorento has a very spacious, comfortable cabin with space for seven. The middle row of seats is more than capable of seating three adults and, while the two flip-up seats in the third row are best suited to children, they can accommodate adults at a push.

The same can’t be said for many seven-seat vehicles – so the Kia Sorento is a great used car choice for a large family.

With the rear row of seats folded down, there is a flat, wide load floor that offers plenty of room – but the load deck itself is quite high up, which means getting heavy items in and out might prove challenging.

There is an underfloor storage bin for small items and for stowing the load cover when the rearmost seats are in use, or when the middle row is folded flat.

Up front the Kia Sorento is plush, well-made and comfortable, with a good driving position. On the road it’s relaxed, quiet and refined, whether fitted with the manual or automatic transmission.

For long distance or countryside roads it’s ideal, but it does feel somewhat unwieldy in tight urban areas or multi-storey car parks in a way the Ford Edge doesn't.

All Kia Sorento models have all-wheel drive as standard, giving impressive off-road ability and poor weather capability.

This isn’t a fully-fledged, hardcore off-road machine with selectable low range and locking differentials, but for towing trailers up muddy tracks or coping with slippery, slushy roads, it’s perfectly fine.

Just one engine is available. It’s a 2.2-litre diesel with 200PS and 440Nm of torque, giving official economy of 49.5mpg and emissions of 149g/km in the manual version with 17-inch wheels under the previous testing regime.

Opting for larger wheels pushes emissions up, while choosing the smooth automatic transmissions increases them further, to 177g/km.

If you’re happy to have a Kia badge on your car – and these days there’s no reason not to be – then the previous-generation Kia Sorento is a great choice of large SUV.

It offers excellent value for money with no real compromise when it comes to quality, plus gives owners peace of mind thanks to a long warranty.

You can read our review of the latest Kia Sorento here.

Ask Honest John

Can I fit older wheels to my Kia Sorento?

"I have a 2018 Kia Sorento and have two very good spare tyres. I am wondering if wheels of an older Sorento 2012 would do. I don't really understand the offset on wheels nowadays."
Modern cars have very sensitive suspension geometry and fitting wheels and tyres that aren't the right size, offset or load index can noticeably affect the way a car drives at best and be actively dangerous at worst. Check these new wheels and tyres are the same width, tyre profile and speed/load rating. These are the numbers on the side of the tyre, as an example: 225 (width) / 50 (profile) R17 (17-inch wheels) 98 H (load index up to 750kg and speed rating up to 130mph).
Answered by Lawrence Allan

What is the best used automatic estate car?

"What is the best used automatic SUV/estate for family. I have around £15,000 to spend."
We'd recommend a Skoda Superb. It's a huge estate car with loads of space for the family, while it represents excellent value for money. If you'd prefer an SUV, take a look at a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento. The smaller Kia Sportage is a good choice, too, if you don't need quite so much space.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What are the best medium-sized SUVs with 1800kg towing capability?

"Could you please advise me which are the best three medium SUV tow cars with 1800kg capability? I currently tow with a Kia Sorento, which is marvellous but is now too high off the ground for easy access by my wife who has developed mobility difficulties. I should be looking to buy secondhand with a budget of around £22,000. Many thanks."
We'd recommend a Skoda Kodiaq. It's a very capable tow car with all models capable of lugging up to 1800kg. Also consider another Kia Sorento or a premium alternative like the BMW X3.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Can you recommend a large car to replace my Discovery 3?

"I currently drive a Land Rover Discovery 3 (2004), which I'm looking to replace. I need something with a big boot for 2 large dogs and capable of towing a caravan. I love my Discovery not only for its capability but how comfortable and easy it is on a long journey. I'm looking at up to three years old with a max budget of £22,500 and assume a diesel is still the best option. I doubt there is an electric vehicle that can fulfil my needs but would be pleased if you can suggest one! Any suggestions welcome."
If it's a small, lightweight caravan and you regularly cover short journeys, a petrol or hybrid might be a better option. Otherwise, stick with a diesel. We'd recommend a Skoda Kodiaq – your budget will get a 2017 model with a 2.0-litre diesel engine and four-wheel drive. It's got a big boot and will be cheap to run, while its 2000kg towing capacity is enough for a fairly hefty caravan. We'd also recommend a Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

What does a Kia Sorento (2015 – 2022) cost?