The Kia Sorento: A Reliable SUV The Kia Sorento is a solid midsize SUV, that much is true. The interior of this crossover has undergone a complete makeover for the 2021 model year, and it now features plush seats and a simple-to-use infotainment system.
In This Article...
What should I expect to pay for a Kia Sorento?
While a Sorento EX starts at $35,490, an AWD S model with the X-Line equipment starts at $34,390. Starting slightly above the Sorento SX, which starts at $38,290, is the 2022 Kia Sorento X-Line EX AWD variant at $39,190. The X-Line SX Prestige AWD, the top 2022 Kia Sorento, starts at $43,190.
What issues are there with Kia Sorentos?
Customers have experienced a number of issues with the Kia Sorento since it has been advertised and sold by Kia. These models share costly issues with one another. The following model years should be avoided: 2004, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016.
Common difficulties include those with the engine, the electrical system, the airbags, the seat belts, the lights, and the body or paint.
Engine failure is the most serious problem that these Kia Sorento models have. When most consumers have traveled an average of 62,000 miles, something happens. They could end up costing you more money in repairs, so we advise avoiding them.
Which Year Models of Kia Sorento Are Safe to Buy Used?
Production of the Kia Sorento has been going on for approximately 20 years. Not all of the models that are released, like many other cars in its market class, are flawless right out of the factory. Some people have flaws. Despite this, you have a selection of others. This is particularly true if you want to stay away from those already listed.
The following list of reliable Kia Sorento model years includes:
- Kia Sorento 2003
- Kia Sorento from 2005
- 2007 Sorento Kia
- Kia Sorento 2008
- Kia Sorento from 2009
- Kia Sorento 2010
- Kia Sorento 2015
- Kia Sorento 2017
- Kia Sorento from 2018
- Kia Sorento for 2019
- Kia Sorento 2020
- Kia Sorento 2021
The years 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 are among the safest Kia Sorento model years to purchase. Compared to the earlier mentioned model years, these have minimal complaints.
The worst issues with many of them were engine issues, a broken air conditioner compressor, electrical issues, light issues, and AC/heater issues. Most of them are also inexpensive to fix minor problems. However, they are among the minority of car owners.
The worst car troubles in early generations include crankshaft problems, frequent lighting system failures, and broken parts. It’s important to remember that these issues only occur in cars with more than 90,000 miles on the odometer.
A few owners are also affected by the problems. They are less likely to happen in a Sorento with little mileage and good maintenance. The models from 2007 to 2010 and 2015 to 2021 are the least problematic. The year 2016 is an outlier; it is less dependable than the other years in the following years.
You want to find the best bargain on the car you want, not actually purchase it. If a comparable vehicle is offered locally for less money, the CoPilot app will let you know, so you can be sure you received the best bargain.
Which Kia Sorento Years to Avoid
The aforementioned Kia Sorento model years should easily accommodate your family’s needs and daily driving requirements. You need a dependable automobile in addition to one with excellent handling, a luxurious interior, and lots of attractive amenities. Here, we go into greater detail regarding the model years that weren’t chosen.
Steer clear of the following Kia Sorento model years:
- Kia Sorento from 2004
- Kia Sorento from 2006
- Kia Sorento from 2011
- Kia Sorento 2012
- Kia Sorento 2013
- Kia Sorento 2014
- Kia Sorento 2016
These model years frequently experience issues with their engines, electrical systems, lighting, seat belts and airbags, and body and paint. These affect everyone, and numerous users have noted concerns that are essentially the same.
You should steer clear of the 2011 Kia Sorento the most. It tops the list for having the most owner complaints. It is most likely to experience brakes issues, drivetrain issues, airbag and seat belt issues, and engine issues.
An engine failure at 77,000 miles cost the most money of all issues reported for the 2011 model year. Fixing this issue will cost $4,600. Other serious issues include an airbag problem that cost $2,000 to fix at 92,000 miles and a door issue that cost $400 to fix at 94,000 miles.
You might not be particularly knowledgeable about your car’s brakes unless you’re a mechanic or a super-committed auto enthusiast. How much time do they usually last? How frequently should brakes be replaced? We have solutions.
The 2016 Kia Sorento is another vehicle you should completely avoid. In comparison to other models with lower mileage, it has more issues and costs more to repair. The most common issues are with the engine, then the steering, body/paint, and lights.
The engine has experienced the worst reported failure at 62,000 kilometers. Repairing this cost $6,100. Other owners reported having to pay up to $600 to fix wiring that rodents had gnawed. At 22,000 miles, one user’s car stalled while accelerating.
Common Kia Sorento Problems
One of the greatest warranties for cars is offered by Kia. But that doesn’t mean you should be any less critical, especially when it comes to reliability concerns. The most typical Kia Sorento issues, spanning all model years, are listed below:
- Engine issues – The Sorento’s engine frequently fails, which is a common dependability problem. The engine failure, which was primarily reported in 2011, 2016, and 2017 models, was caused by a leaky head gasket, which mixed engine oil and coolant. These liquids when combined can seriously harm engines.
- Frustrated owners reported that the Sorento’s doors won’t open when reached from the outside, which is more unpleasant than dangerous. Additionally, defective door handles made users of the child-lock feature even more irate. Owners of 2011 Sorentos make up the majority of the complaints.
- Burning out of headlight bulbs: Numerous customers noted that the headlight bulbs on Sorento models from 2002 to 2009 were particularly prone to premature failure. Additionally, several stories claimed that additional headlamp component parts were also melted. There should have been a recall for this dependability problem, but there wasn’t one. Owners were required to purchase replacement bulbs for between $100 and $600.
Kia Sorento Problem Counts by Year
Young and experienced drivers equally are impacted by winter driving. To help you get from A to B as securely as possible, we’ve put together a list of the best automobiles for snow.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The simplest way to purchase a car is using the CoPilot auto shopping app. You may create a customized list of the top car listings in your area by telling us what you’re looking for, and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area.
Just seeking for more recent models? The search engine for virtually new vehicles is CoPilot Compare. only observe recentfive years or lessautos with little mileage. The greatest place to look for off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO vehicles is CoPilot Compare.
What’s best? We have more information on each vehicle than our rivals since CoPilot was developed using the same technologies that dealerships use to acquire and sell their inventories. Since CoPilot doesn’t partner with automakers, there aren’t any sponsored posts or other dubious tacticsjust the most information about the best vehicles. To learn more about CoPilot’s operation, see our About Us page.
How much does a brand-new Kia Sorento cost?
The conclusion: The new 2021 Kia Sorento, the middle kid in a family of SUVoverachievers, is ready for the spotlight owing to a smartly designed cabin, agreeable driving dynamics, and a long list of standard safety systems.
Comparing the Sorento to the competition: The Sorento distinguishes out thanks to a sleek new multimedia system and luxurious inside materials, however many other three-row SUVs of its size have more cargo space.
For 2021, Kia updated the Sorento three-row SUV, which now sits next to the Telluride model in the lineup. This year’s Sorento is larger, comes with a more luxurious interior, an optional hybrid powertrain, more standard safety equipment, and a tough off-road variant. Compared to the previous model.
See how the new Sorento stacks up against vehicles like the Volkswagen Atlas, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Pilot.
Best Dressed Award
The Telluride’s inside was expertly done by Kia, but it appears that the automaker was only honing its skills in preparation for the Sorento, whose interior belongs in a higher class.
I drove the SX-Prestige X-Line trim level, the highest available. It was beautiful, with an elegant design, upscale materials, and careful attention to every detail. Yes to soft-touch plastic padding in all the right places, elegant low-gloss wood trim, and plush quilted leather seats. Less expensive trims probably won’t have as much of all that, but this trim gets it perfectly.
Additionally, the cabin has been deliberately packaged, with an emphasis on little things that add up in terms of comfort and convenience. The large open area under the controls, the small mesh pockets on the side of the second-row seats, the abundance of USB ports in all three rows, and the rubber cargo mat that can be pulled out from behind the back seats to help contain messy items in the back are just a few of the features that we like best.
For 2021, the new Sorento has grown slightly and is now supported by a wheelbase that is 1.4 inches longer. Although it still has three rows, there is a little more space for passengers and goods than the previous model thanks to the longer wheelbase. I had second-row captain’s seats, but a bench seat that accommodates three people is also an option. Two people sit in the third row.
In terms of rear legroom, the Sorento is on the roomier side of the class, but it lags behind rivals a little in terms of headroom. I had plenty of both at 5’6″ and we had no trouble fitting two child safety seats in the second row because the Latch anchors were conveniently accessible and there was enough space. To learn more, visit our Car Seat Check. A button on the captain’s chairs instantly opens a wide passageway to the third row, making access there hassle-free as well, however this feature is inoperable when car seats are in place. If that is the case, people will have to use the relatively small aisle that is in between the chairs.
The third row in the outgoing Sorento was only comfortable for little children (or for grownups you don’t get along with), and even if this year’s model is a little bit roomier, it will still be uncomfortable for adults. However, Kia has accomplished a lot with little: On each side of my test model, there were storage spaces large enough to store a device, cupholders, and USB connections. Additionally, there are two sets of top tether anchors for car seats there, as well as two sets of lower anchorsa feature not all three-row SUVs have. (The third row of the Highlander, for instance, lacks lower anchors.)
Tech Revamp
The multimedia system in the Sorento can also be added to the thoughtful-items column. This year, a huge 10.25-inch touchscreen is available (borrowed from the Telluride). The 2018 Sorento’s highest trims place it front and center, while the lower trims use a conventional 8-inch unit. The system satisfies all requirements: It has good responsiveness, is simple to use, and is easy to see and read. Though perhaps I’m just not cool enough to get the allure of encasing radio station frequencies in vintage lightbulbs, I found some of the graphics to be a little off-putting. Or old enough to recognize a vacuum tube. [Editor’s note:
The multimedia system employs the most recent Kia Uvo software, and it has improved voice-control capabilities that enable management of the audio system, seats, steering-wheel heating, and climate settings. Uvo has two new features as well. Find My Car first takes pictures of its surroundings with the car’s cameras before sharing them on the Kia Access Uvo app. The other is the Last Mile feature, which, if it detects that the automobile is parked between 0.1 and 1.2 kilometers from your final destination, will provide you walking directions.
A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, up to eight USB charging outlets, a rotary gear selector (which wasn’t at all annoying to use, unlike some others), and accessible wireless smartphone charging are further new features in the cabin. Smartphone integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard, just like in the 2020 model. Although it costs $1,500, a rear-seat entertainment system is an optional amenity.
Unruffled Road Manners
The comfy and upscale interior of the 2021 Kia Sorento matches the car’s on-road demeanor. The updated SUV has a new platform, some new powertrains, including a hybrid, and does away with its old ones. There is a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and an upgraded 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 281 horsepower via a turbocharger. There is no longer a V-6 available.
After a small amount of turbo lag, the power was quick, smooth, and quiet when I tried the turbo 2.5-liter with the eight-speed automatic. The automated engine stop-start technology was well-behaved and provided transitions that were almost seamless. Eco, Sport, Comfort, and Snow settings are available on a drive mode selection; I preferred Sport due to its accelerated acceleration response.
The model I tested was the new, off-road-oriented X-Line SX-Prestige grade; in addition to a more durable all-wheel-drive system, it also features a roof rack, 20-inch alloy wheels, an additional inch of ride height, and a bumper designed specifically for the trim. Although I didn’t get to test the Sorento’s AWD system, I did find it to be steady and assured at all times, keeping composure over bumps and steadiness in bends. Some editors, however, thought the ride was a bit rough. Smaller wheels will probably result in a smoother ride.
The Sorento will also be offered with a front-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain that combines an electric motor and 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine to provide 227 horsepower overall. For a car of this size, the EPA estimates solid numbers of 39/35/37 mpg city/highway/combined. In this class, Toyota provides a hybrid Highlander that gets 36/35/36 mpg with front-wheel drive and slightly less with all-wheel drive, which the standard Sorento Hybrid doesn’t. Later in 2021, a plug-in hybrid Sorento will offer it.
With regard to fuel efficiency, the standard Sorento is likewise no slouch. It achieves an EPA-estimated 23/25/24 mpg with the basic engine and AWD, which is better than the Pilot (19/26/22 mpg), Atlas (20/24/22 mpg), and Highlander (20/27/23 mpg) base AWD variants.
Safety
For 2021, Kia increased the number of mandatory safety features and introduced several new options. Automated emergency braking with pedestrian recognition, a driver attention alert system, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane maintain assist, and automatic lane centering are all included as standard across the lineup.
The forward collision warning system has a cyclist component that assists in detecting cyclists in front of the vehicle and automatically braking to avoid an accident. Other features include blind spot collision avoidance assist, a blind view monitor, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, navigation-based adaptive cruise control, and cyclist component. Safe departure assistance for the back seats is additionally offered; it makes use of the SUV’s rear-facing radar to identify approaching vehicles and bicycles and prevents the opening of the back door.
In terms of safety features, the Sorento is competitive, even outperforming some rival three-row SUVs in some categories. When a child or pet moves in the second or third row after the doors have been locked, the standard rear-seat warning system employs ultrasonic sensors to detect the movement and sounds the horn and turns on the danger lamps. Many other automakers have a less sophisticated door sequence logic system, which only recalls drivers who had opened a rear door before driving, in the event that they do not reopen it later.
My preferred safety feature, the available blind view monitor, is another another outstanding product. The turn signal activates the monitor, which displays a live video feed of the lanes next to it in the instrument cluster. When I’m traveling in a crowded city and have to share the road with other vehicles, bikes, and people, I find this to be extremely helpful.
But What About the Telluride?
We were so impressed with Kia’s 2020 Telluride SUV that we questioned why the company was still making the smaller Sorento. The Telluride and a revamped Sorento from 2021 are both good cars, which puts them in direct competition with one another because of their similar starting costs.
Just below the Telluride’s $33,415 basic price, the base LX variant of the 2021 Kia Sorento costs $30,565. (all prices include destination). While the Telluride has more space, a thirstier V-6 engine is also required. View the models side by side.
The Sorento costs thousands less than the Volkswagen Atlas, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Pilot combined. Only the S and EX trims are offered in the Sorento Hybrid, which has a starting price of $34,765. Although the hybrid model’s price premium appears to be considerable, it is less expensive than the Highlander Hybrid, which has a base LE trim price of $39,685.
With its 2021 facelift, the Sorento, one of a number of three-row SUVs in the class and perhaps even from the range of the automaker itself, has earned some time in the spotlight. Kia boasts a solid roster of SUVs. Customers seeking for a three-row SUV in this situation stand to gain from a little sibling competition.