2024 Kia Sorento Road Test and Review

2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

With three-row SUVs, size matters. For many buyers, that means a big interior with as much space for passengers and cargo as possible. That’s the point of the wildly successful Kia Telluride. But for other folks, size matters in a different way. They want three rows of seats with as little bulk as possible. 

That’s where the 2024 Kia Sorento comes in. Newly updated for 2024 with fresh styling and an overhauled dashboard, the Sorento measures just 189.6 inches long, 74.8 inches wide, and 66.7 inches tall. A Telluride is 7 inches longer, 3.5 inches wider, and 2 inches taller. It also costs about $4,000 more than the Sorento, and it uses more gas. If a smaller, less expensive, more economical three-row crossover sounds appealing, keep reading to learn whether the updated Sorento sounds like the right SUV for you. 

Priced From $31,990

While many three-row SUVs now start for more than $40,000, the 2024 Kia Sorento remains relatively affordable at a starting price of $31,990. That’s less than $2,000 above a compact Honda CR-V and $8,000 below Honda’s three-row Pilot. 

Even the base Sorento LX includes push-button starting, adaptive cruise control, a big 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and alloy wheels. The next-up S ($34,390) adds GPS navigation, automatic climate control, and a few other upgrades. The rest of the lineup, starting with the EX ($37,990), has not only more amenities but also different engines – either a turbocharged four-cylinder or, on select trims, one of two gas-electric hybrid options. In all, the Sorento has eight different trim levels plus four different powertrain options, along with the choice between front-wheel and all-wheel drive. Our test vehicle was the top gas model – the X-Pro SX Prestige AWD ($46,390), which combines the most off-road capability with the most luxury features. These include a 14-way power driver’s seat with memory, genuine leather upholstery, and a Bose 12-speaker stereo. However, you can’t get those features on any cheaper trim levels.

2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Squared-Off New Front

The most obvious change to the 2024 Kia Sorento is its all-new front end. Kia replaced a mild-looking fascia with an upright nose and vertical headlamps. This look brings more of a family resemblance to the larger Telluride, while the tops of the Sorento’s headlights shoot off to spread across the top of the rectangular grille. The result is a more purposeful-looking SUV than before. 

The rest of the Sorento hasn’t changed much since its full redesign back in 2021. The pinched windowline toward the vehicle’s rear gives it a vibe of on-road sportiness rather than the Telluride’s blocky purposefulness. And the taillights continue to split into two vertical sections astride a narrow gap. You’ll also notice that the Sorento doesn’t look like a massive, imposing vehicle like many three-row crossovers. That’s no illusion; again, it’s smaller than most others. 

2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Chunky Meets Digital on the Dash

The Sorento also got a redesigned dashboard this year, focusing on bigger screens and Kia’s next-generation infotainment interface. The digital gauge cluster and center touchscreen are now integrated into a single panel; on base models, they’re angled to meet at a single point, while upper trim levels like our test vehicle have a smoother curved panel. Whichever you choose, you get a 12.3-inch touchscreen that now includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. And as before, the Sorento’s interior materials and assembly are excellent for the price. 

Last year’s Sorento had a chunky-looking dashboard with blocky vertical dashboard vents for a rugged vibe. This year, Kia retains that style on the sides, but the center of the dash got smoother and sleeker with slim, horizontal vents. It also switches to Kia’s cool-looking but inconvenient trend of using the same buttons and knobs for climate and audio functions; you must tap a touch-sensitive button to swap whether the left knob adjusts the radio volume or the driver’s-side cabin temperature. It’s also fussy to see information about the song playing on the radio. You need to take several steps and fill the whole big screen with the radio info. Even then, the song name is squeezed into a corner. 

2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Three Usable Rows of Seats

Some SUVs make everyone uncomfortable by trying to jam in that third row. Until the 2021 redesign, the Sorento was one of those. But these days, folks can stretch out in the front and second-row seats better than in some larger rivals. We found the seats spacious, well-shaped, and quite comfortable. 

Even the third row is surprisingly usable, especially given that the second-row passengers have the flexibility to compromise a bit on their own legroom. Slide those seats forward a bit, and everyone will do OK. One complaint is that only the entry-level LX and S trims let you get a three-passenger second-row bench, which supports seven total passengers. All other Sorentos have second-row captain’s chairs. That’s comfortable, and it eases third-row access. But it limits seating capacity to six – just one more person than a two-row SUV or sedan. 

2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Just Don’t Expect a Cargo Miracle

While we marvel at the Sorento’s ability to carry passengers despite its modest size, it shows its limits as a cargo hauler. It has just 12.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row, barely enough for a few bags of groceries. That’s 8 cubic feet behind the Kia Telluride and less than a third of what you’d get in a Kia Carnival minivan (which, incidentally, now wears the same front-end styling as the Sorento). At least Kia solved a problem where Sorento's the carpet bunched so much, it left even less flat floor behind the third row. 

When you have the third row folded down (remember, this limits the Sorento to four passengers on most trim levels), cargo space gets more reasonable. This Kia has 38.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 75.5 cubic feet behind the front seats. These specs still trail most three-row SUVs, but less dramatically. It means most folks won’t be too pinched when you need to fill your car up with stuff. Towing capacity is a modest 3,500 pounds with the turbo engine and just 2,000 pounds with the base four-cylinder or the hybrids. That’s more like a compact crossover than a typical mid-size model. 

2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Choice of Two Economical Gas Engines

The base Sorento engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. That’s nothing special even for a compact crossover, much less a mid-size model. Don’t expect great speed or luxury. But gas mileage is excellent for a three-row crossover at 23 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 23 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined with all-wheel drive. 

Most trim levels, including our test vehicle, have the turbocharged gas engine. It’s much more powerful yet also economical, thanks in part to swapping a simple eight-speed automatic transmission for a sophisticated eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. This engine makes a lively 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, and its power delivery is smooth and strong. The EPA pegs it at 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined with AWD. In addition to excellent fuel economy, the Sorento’s compact size also makes it more agile than most three-row competitors without sacrificing a smooth ride. 

2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Plus Two Fuel-Sipping Hybrid Options

The Sorento has another trick up its sleeve: two more engines with even better gas mileage. These are gas-electric hybrids that elevate this SUV’s fuel-saving game. 

The first is the Sorento Hybrid, sold in two trim levels: the $38,690 EX and $46,890 SX Prestige. That’s roughly the same price as a gas-only turbo model, though output dips to 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The EPA pegs the Sorento Hybrid at 36 mpg city and 36 mpg highway with front-wheel drive and 2 mpg less with AWD. We averaged 38 mpg in a front-drive model a few years ago, but we saw only around 30 mpg at steady highway speeds; this is a fuel-sipper in rush-hour congestion, but not necessarily on a long road trip. Lastly, there’s a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The Sorento PHEV travels an estimated 30 miles on a fully electric charge before averaging 33 mpg, making it perfect for someone who has a short drive on normal days but also needs the flexibility to take longer trips. It’s expensive, though, costing about $7,000 more than the standard hybrid. The 2025 Sorento Hybrid and PHEV are already on sale with the same styling as the 2024 gas Sorento. But if you find a leftover 2024 gas-electric model, it’ll still have the 2021-2023 styling and interior. 

2022 Kia Sorento PHEV ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Competitors to Consider

The Sorento’s closest competitor is the newly redesigned 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe – a mechanical cousin to the Sorento with a boxier body. The Santa Fe’s more space-efficient shape gives it more room and a potentially appealing Range Rover-esque vibe. But it costs more than the Sorento and lacks the Kia’s available base engine and plug-in hybrid. 

Otherwise, we’d shop the Sorento against a mix of slightly bigger and slightly smaller crossovers. The Volkswagen Tiguan and Mitsubishi Outlander are compact three-row models with even more pinched third-row seating, if you prioritize price over spaciousness. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is an efficiency winner that’s not too bulky, but it’s much more expensive than the Sorento. We also love the Mazda CX-90’s luxury for the money, and although it’s big, it drives like a great performance car. It’s not actually petite or inexpensive, though, and its own PHEV version costs thousands more than the Sorento’s. And if you’re not dedicated to three rows of seats, we’d shop the Sorento against some roomy, refined compact crossovers that cost even less – the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Kia’s own Sportage. 

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Three-Row Utility Without All the Bulk

The 2024 Kia Sorento delivers on its promise of a less expensive, more economical, less bulky three-row crossover. Its excellent space efficiency – at least for passengers – keeps it viable for many folks who’d otherwise have needed a bigger SUV. 

Given the Sorento’s limited cargo room behind the third row, its six-passenger seating on most  trim levels, and its limited towing capacity, it won’t be quite useful enough for everyone. And if you’re attached to certain features, they’re limited to expensive high-end trim levels that blunt this Kia’s value advantage. But overall, if you’re interested in a more modestly sized SUV that can still squeeze in extra passengers, the updated Sorento remains a great option. 

2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige ・ Photo by Brady Holt