Kia Sorento Review 2024

Kia Sorento At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Kia Sorento is an excellent all-round large family SUV that's very spacious, crammed full of useful tech and features and has a variety of powertrains to suit most needs. It's decent to drive, too, although not quite the best-in-class, while there are better value propositions out there.

+It's a proper seven seater with a big boot. Very well equipped with neat practical touches. Strong range of engines including full and plug-in hybrids.

-High-end models aren't exactly cheap. Not quite as plush inside as premium rivals. Ride could be a little better despite modest wheels.

New prices start from £40,060
Insurance Groups are between 30–32

It's big and it's clever, and it's everything that's great about Kia - welcome to the Sorento. This is a great value large SUV that can take all of its mainstream rivals such as the Skoda Kodiaq and Hyundai Santa Fe with ease, as well as giving the likes of the BMW X5 and Volvo XC90 something to think about. Read on for our full review of the Kia Sorento.

You've only got to look back two decades to find the original Sorento, an unsophisticated five-seat SUV with a crude (but rugged) ladder chassis and very little in the way of surprise and delight bar an appealing showroom price. 

Over the years the Sorento became less of a 4x4 workhorse and gained more style, greater refinement and a feeling of quality that took a noticeable leap with each generation. That culminated in the third-gen Sorento of 2015, which was the car most able to banish the "for a Kia" chatter and become a genuinely competitive family SUV in its own right. 

The latest model pushes the boundaries further, with arguably the most showroom appeal to date. With the added desirability comes more technology, comfort and luxury features than ever, but the key shift is the move away from the sole reliance on diesel.

Sure, you can still have the Mk4 Sorento with an oil-burning motor if you wish - large SUVs are likely to be the last bastion of the fuel – but the marketing focus is on the two new hybrid options. The 'self-charging' full hybrid aims to offer diesel-like economy with added smoothness, while the PHEV will allow many with easy charging capability to commute entirely on electric power.

Kia hasn't forgotten the basics with the latest Sorento, though. Unlike rivals such as the Skoda Kodiaq it's a seven-seater in which adults could easily tolerate the third row, while there's a wealth of neat touches and versatility to make family life less stressful than it otherwise might be. 

And yes, you still get Kia's industry-leading seven-year warranty for added peace of mind. What's not to like? 

Looking for a second opinion? Why not check out heycar's Kia Sorento review

Ask Honest John

Can I just replace the front tyres on my car?

"The front tyres on my Kia Sorento are MOT advisory, the back tyres are fine. All four are Michelin Cross Climate SUVs 235/60R/18 and are 3 years old. Can I just replace the front tyres (same make & size) or do I have to replace all four tyres? If I have to replace all 4 tyres, what would you currently recommend for comfortable, long lasting mid market tyres?"
If the amount of tread left on your rear tyres is more than 4mm, it would be safe to simply replace the front tyres, otherwise replacing all four would be the safer option. If you do decide to replace all four tyres, we would suggest looking at tyres such as the Kumho Crugen HP91 or Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 2 X, both of which have good ratings for efficiency and wet grip. Because the tyres required are relatively large even the cheapest options on blackcircles.com are around the £100 mark. As these are summer tyres rather than an all-season tyre they should last longer, but ultimately the size and weight of your vehicle will determine how long they last.
Answered by David Ross

What's the best 4x4 for towing a horse box?

"What would you suggest for an SUV 4x4 with towing capacity of 2000kg to tow a horse box. My ideal car, a Volvo XC60, is like looking for hen’s teeth. Budget is £20k."
Try a Kia Sorento. Its 2.2-litre diesel engine makes light work of towing a horse box, while its 2500kg towing limit will be more than enough for your needs. Also look at the Hyundai Santa Fe or Skoda Kodiaq.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What SUV is suitable for a five-foot tall driver?

"What is the easiest SUV to drive for someone 5ft 3in? Access and visibility?"
We would suggest looking at cars like the Skoda Karoq and Kodiaq, the Kia Sportage and Sorento, and the Honda HR-V and CR-V. All of these medium and large SUVs offer good visibility and a wide range of seat adjustment, but we would also recommend that anyone who struggles to find a suitable driving position takes any potential vehicle for a test drive to ensure they can get comfortable behind the wheel.
Answered by David Ross

I need plug-in hybrid for towing - what are my options?

"I currently have a Range Rover to tow my caravan while my wife has a Nissan Leaf as a run-about. I want to replace both with a PHEV 4WD towcar, my caravan is 1500 kg, what would you suggest? Budget is around £40k."
There are quite a few plug-in hybrids that can tow 1500kg and upwards, but the main issue is that many of them are relatively new and exceed your £40,000 budget. However, there are a couple of options. If you can live without four-wheel-drive then the Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid can tow 1500kg and creeps in under budget, but if you absolutely have to have AWD then we think your best option is the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid 4. New it costs over £50,000, but there are a few used versions on the market that would just come in around your top price. It too can tow 1500kg, but it is worth pointing out that it is available with two-wheel-drive also, so if you're on the look out for one make sure it has the AWD option.
Answered by David Ross
More Questions

What does a Kia Sorento cost?