One of the least expensive midsize SUVs, the 2022 Kia Sorento starts at $29,490 (most competitors in its class start at more than $30,000). Starting at $43,090 is the top-of-the-line Sorento X-Line SX Prestige AWD.
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Reliable used Kia Sorentos are they?
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.
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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.
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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
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Is the Kia Sorento a good investment?
Over the past few years, a ton of excellent SUVs that are suitable for families have been produced. As a result, the area feels fairly confined, and many customers are unsure of which vehicle to select.
The 2020 Kia Sorento is one of the most notable current models since it provides many advantages over rivals. Much of this can be observed in the fact that the car is one of the most cheap models in its class while yet offering a high-quality cabin.
Many people would presume that the 2020 Kia Sorento lacks a considerable number of amenities because of its affordable price, but this isn’t the case. Instead, a wide range of them are offered as standard features, and the ones that are optional are similarly reasonably priced.
However, a lot of prospective customers might not be persuaded by price alone. Instead, they will want to make sure the car is suitable for them. There are a lot of reasons why you ought to think about purchasing it.
Over the past few years, the Kia Sorento lineup has seen quite a few noticeable alterations. The majority of problems, however, happened with the 2019 model of the car. The removal of the turbocharged engine option is among the more noticeable changes that were made.
Despite this, purchasers of the 2020 Kia Sorento can still choose a V6, which means they will still have access to a lot of power. In 2019, there were a few further changes in addition to the engine upgrade, such as a redesigned interior and appearance.
The 2018 Kia Sedona has undergone some minor changes and enhancements, but anyone hoping for brand-new features may be let down. The main reason for this is that there haven’t been many, if any, recent additions.
Despite this, thanks to these changes, the 2020 Sedona does provide a sizable amount of high-quality driving. As a result, those who have acquired earlier iterations may be able to benefit from the upgrades, particularly if their model is a few years old.
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2020 Kia SorentoThe Pros
There are a lot of noteworthy advantages to the 2020 Kia Sorento. There are a few important reasons why the car might stand out to many potential purchasers as a result. Although a lot of this may depend greatly on personal preferences, there are a few situations in which the SUV is strongly advised.
The Base Model Offers Excellent Value for the Price.
One of the most noticeable features of the 2020 Kia Sorento is that, contrary to popular belief, the base model is substantially more cheap. Although this could give some people the impression that there aren’t many features included as standard, this isn’t the case.
Instead, there are a significant amount of features that come with the base model, making it far more affordable than many alternatives. Even though the higher-end trims bring this down a little, it is still noticeable when compared to the majority of its rivals.
2. Numerous Powertrain Choices
Although the 2017 Kia Sorento no longer has a turbocharged engine, there are still a lot of different powertrain options. There is a V6 variant available, giving the SUV a sizable boost in power.
Additionally, an optional AWD is offered, which makes the ride much smoother than that of rivals. Regardless of the engine choice consumers make, they should be able to see quite an excellent fuel efficiency.
Drive Pleasant 3.
Unlike what many people might anticipate, the 2020 Kia Sorento offers a far more enjoyable driving experience. This is most apparent in the vehicle’s elegant cabin, which adds to its comfort when driving.
Much of this is also evident in how quiet the engine is within the cabin and how smooth the drive is. Along with this, there is a significant degree of shock absorption, so drivers shouldn’t be concerned about road imperfections.
4. Options for Smart Braking
Since most SUVs need to have a lot of power behind them to brake effectively, this is a problem for them. Despite the fact that this is generally true, some braking systems may feel considerably safer than others for a variety of reasons.
Most folks will wish to use the braking system that the new Kia Sorento has to offer. This is based on weight distribution rather than evenly applying the brakes, which frequently results in far better stopping force.
5. UVO App & Feature
The 2017 Kia Sorento’s availability of a UVO function is one of its standout features. Drivers can pair their smartphone or other connected device with the SUV in this way to control a number of features.
The most notable of them, among many more, include locking and unlocking the car and managing the music system. Even though not everyone might use this, it might end up being pretty helpful.
6. Superior Features
The 2020 Kia Sorento is offered in five trim levels, each of which offers a sizable amount of features. Each trim may offer quite a substantial variety of possibilities, depending on the specific preferences of a consumer.
Despite the fact that the higher-end options are inevitably more expensive than the base model, the features that are included with each trim level may offer a significant amount of value.
7. Safety Improvements
Although the Kia Sorento comes with a lot of safety features as standard equipment, there are quite a few enhancements that are available that many people could find appealing. Even if several of the SUV’s rivals provide comparable features, the Sorento’s improvements appear to be less expensive.
The 2020 Sorento excels over the bulk of its rivals when it comes to safety features that come standard.
8. Outstanding Warranty
Although this is something that most SUVs may lack in a number of aspects, particularly when it comes to distance, the majority of them will still give a guarantee that is lengthy enough. The 2020 Kia Sorento, however, offers a far longer warranty than many customers might have anticipated.
This applies to the entire car as well as the powertrain, both of which last a lot longer than many of its rivals.
9. Several Exterior Elements
The outside of many SUVs may not be as well-designed or upgradeable as some people may desire, which is one of its main disadvantages. However, compared to most of its rivals, the 2017 Kia Sorento delivers a significant number more enhancements.
The majority of individuals will want to take advantage of the fact that there are quite a few of them provided as standard, which goes hand in hand with this. The cost of the optional external enhancements shouldn’t be prohibitive for customers.
10. Large Towing Capability V6
The 2020 Kia Sorento’s base engine has a lot of towing capacity, but when compared to other vehicles in its class, it can be clearly missing. The SUV’s optional V6 engine upgrade, though, delivers a lot more than you might anticipate.
Buyers ought to perceive a lot of value in the update when combined with the increased overall engine power that comes with it.
buying advice
Compare prices online before buying a new car to avoid paying too much. Find out the price in advance before entering a dealership. The following free services are suggested by us: Car Clearance Deals, NADAguides, CarsDirect, and Motortrend.
These free sites will provide you the best deals and provide you with numerous price quotations from rival businesses. Before visiting the dealer, you will be aware of the best pricing.
Reasons Not to Buy a 2020 Kia SorentoThe Cons
While there are many good reasons to think about purchasing the 2020 Kia Sorento, there are also a few big negatives. This is especially true if you want a vehicle with a considerable amount of cargo space and a roomy interior. There are several drawbacks to the SUV, though some people may not find these as bothersome as others.
1. Isn’t very athletic
The majority of consumers might prefer to go for a sporty SUV, but the Kia Sorento doesn’t excel in this category. Although the car has a lot of power, one noticeable flaw is that it doesn’t turn or handle as well as one might anticipate for a car in its class.
2. Limited Cargo Room
The bulk of individuals will desire an SUV with cargo room. The third row of seats in the 2020 Kia Sorento significantly detracts from this, which is a noticeable shortcoming. With these seats folded down, the cargo capacity doesn’t really expand much.
3. A Squeezed Third Row
Despite taking up most of the cargo capacity, the third row of seats don’t have much room on their own. The upshot is that the portion may feel considerably smaller than many people would prefer. This isn’t one of the ways the car is family-friendly, despite the fact that there are many other ways.
Many prospective buyers will be curious to see how the 2020 Kia Sorento compares to the bulk of its rivals. Although the SUV falls short in some areas, it excels in many others. When compared to the Toyota Highlander, a model with which it has been in competition for many years, much of this can be seen.
While the Kia Sorento has a number of features that the Highlander does not, the Highlander does have much more cargo room. In addition to this, the Toyota Highlander’s base model is more expensive than the new Kia Sorento’s. Although it slightly evens out at higher-end trims, this is still pretty significant.
Many folks might also contrast the car with the Honda Pilot, which offers a few further advantages. Naturally, cargo capacity will be one of these, but it also has a better engine and can comfortably seat more people.
However, the new Kia Sorento is significantly more expensive than the Honda Pilot line. This is something that is smaller with higher-end trims, similar to the Highlander.
The 2020 Kia Sorento has a fair amount of amenities available for a reasonable asking price. Its low price makes it one of the market’s more economical SUVs. Families, who will benefit most from the car, should take note of this in particular.
Along with this, it provides some of the best safety measures on the market, the bulk of which are included as standard. The 2020 Kia Sorento is a viable option if you’re seeking for a dependable and safe vehicle for your family.