Model research hub
Kia Sorento
GreenCars titled its review of the 2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid 'Small Footprint, Three Rows,' highlighting how the SUV packs three rows of seating into a comparatively compact body. MotorTrend says buyers can decide between the 2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid and the 2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid, and separately says attractive styling, solid driving range, plenty of tech, and three rows of seating are standard with every 2026 Sorento Hybrid, which provides six- or seven-seat versatility with the benefits of a hybrid engine; Kia also sells the Sorento with non-hybrid gas engines and as a plug-in hybrid, but all versions share stylish design, high feature content, and the three-row seating layout.
Three rows in a small footprint
GreenCars (opens in a new tab) titled its review of the 2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid 'Small Footprint, Three Rows,' highlighting how the SUV packs three rows of seating into a comparatively compact body.
Gas, hybrid or plug-in hybrid
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says buyers can decide between the 2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid and the 2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid.
Six or seven seats across every version
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says attractive styling, solid driving range, plenty of tech, and three rows of seating are standard with every 2026 Sorento Hybrid, which provides six- or seven-seat versatility with the benefits of a hybrid engine, and that Kia also sells the Sorento with non-hybrid gas engines and as a plug-in hybrid, but all versions share stylish design, high feature content, and the three-row seating layout.
Questions buyers ask
Does the Kia Sorento come as a hybrid?
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says yes, both a standard Hybrid and a Plug-In Hybrid version.
How many seats does the Kia Sorento Hybrid offer?
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says six or seven, depending on configuration.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2025 Kia Sorento is built around 2.5L four-cylinder or turbo four-cylinder, rated at 191 / 281 horsepower across its three-row SUV body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2025 U.S. lineup has 8 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe most the 2025 Kia Sorento is published to tow is up to 4,500 lb.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 73 owner complaints for the 2025 Sorento.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2025 Kia Sorento
LX and S use the base 191-horsepower engine; EX and above step up to a 281-horsepower turbo with 3,500 lb towing, rising to 4,500 lb on the X-Pro SX Prestige.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
5 indexed Kia Sorento model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Kia Sorento | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Kia Sorento | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Kia Sorento | 1 | 2025 record → |
| 2018 Kia Sorento | 2018 record → | |
| 2017 Kia Sorento | 2017 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Kia Sorento.
The Kia Sorento is a series of two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive family SUVs manufactured by the South Korean manufacturer Kia since 2002 through four generations. Initially a compact SUV built on a body-on-frame chassis, the second-generation Sorento transitioned to a larger car-based platform which placed it into the mid-size crossover SUV class, and has been developed alongside the Hyundai Santa Fe. It is presumed to be named after the Italian city of Sorrento, though Kia did not confirm this.
- Awards
- In January 2021, the Sorento 1.6 T-GDi Hybrid 2 was named Large SUV of the Year by What Car magazine. What Car awarded the Sorento four stars out of five in its review of the car. In June 2022, the Sorento won Auto Trader UK's New Car Award for Best 7 Seater.
- Marketing
- As part of 2014 Sorento market launch in the US, a campaign titled "It has an answer for everything" was unveiled during Super Bowl XLVII. "Space Babies" (directed by Jake Scott) commercial was premiered in the fourth quarter, featuring the existence of a faraway planet known as "Babylandia" and follows infant boys, girls, dogs, pandas and more on their journey to Earth to join their new families.
Source: Kia Sorento (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Kia Sorento at a glance
- Production
- 2002–present
- Model years
- 2002–present
- Class
- Compact SUV (2002–2009), Mid-size crossover SUV (2009–present)
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive (2002–2009), Front-engine, front-wheel-drive (2009–present), Front-engine, all-wheel-drive (2002–present)
- Chassis
- Body-on-frame (2002–2010), Unibody (2009–present)
NHTSA rated the 2025 Kia Sorento overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 4 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (7 campaigns across the latest model years)
- January 2026, Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may… Consequence: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
- September 2025, Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Sorento vehicles. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor wiring harness may be inadequate, which can result in a fire. Consequence: A fire increases the risk of injury.
- August 2025, Engine And Engine Cooling:Critical Fasteners. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 K4 and Sorento vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power. Consequence: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Owners filed 74 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Kia Sorento, most often about electrical system (21), unknown or other (20), engine (19).
Year by year
The Kia Sorento across 13 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Kia Sorento | 23–37 | $1,750–$2,800 | 6 | |||
| 2026 Kia Sorento | 23–37 | $1,700–$2,700 | 7 | 2 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Kia Sorento | 23–36 | $1,750–$2,700 | 7 | 3 | 73 | 5 stars |
| 2024 Kia Sorento | 23–37 | $1,700–$2,700 | 7 | 2 | 38 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Kia Sorento | 24–37 | $1,700–$2,600 | 7 | 3 | 118 | 4 stars |
| 2022 Kia Sorento | 24–37 | $1,700–$2,600 | 7 | 6 | 186 | 4 stars |
| 2021 Kia Sorento | 24–37 | $1,700–$2,600 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 4 stars |
| 2020 Kia Sorento | 20–25 | $2,500–$3,100 | 4 | 1 | 134 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Kia Sorento | 21–25 | $2,500–$2,950 | 4 | 2 | 423 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Kia Sorento | 19–24 | $2,600–$3,300 | 7 | 3 | 252 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Kia Sorento | 19–24 | $2,600–$3,300 | 7 | 4 | 800 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Kia Sorento | 19–24 | $2,600–$3,300 | 7 | 8 | 1,246 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Kia Sorento | 20–23 | $2,700–$3,100 | 4 | 3 | 747 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Kia Sorento, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Electric range, miles | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 7 to 6 | Labels: Sorento Plug-in Hybrid; Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; PHEV; Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity | |||
| 2025 to 2026 | 29.5 to 30.0 | ||||
| 2024 to 2025 | 30.0 to 29.5 | 32 to 30 | |||
| 2023 to 2024 | 30.5 to 30.0 | ||||
| 2021 to 2022 | 5 to 7 | first listed: 32 | Labels: Sorento Hybrid AWD, Sorento Hybrid FWD, Sorento Plug-in Hybrid; Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; PHEV; Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity | Labels: Sorento Hybrid | |
| 2020 to 2021 | 4 to 5 | 22.5 to 30.5 | Labels: Sorento Hybrid; Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI; Hybrid, 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S6), Automatic (AM-S8) | Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI, 3.3L 6-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (S6) | |
| 2019 to 2020 | 23.0 to 22.5 | ||||
| 2018 to 2019 | 7 to 4 | 21.5 to 23.0 | Transmissions: Automatic (S8) | Labels: Sorento FE AWD; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI | |
| 2015 to 2016 | 4 to 7 | Labels: Sorento FE AWD; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (S6) | Transmissions: Automatic 6-spd |
Buying used
What the Kia Sorento recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | tires (temporary/emergency spare tire); electrical system (instrument cluster/panel) | None |
| 2025 | 3 | electrical system (body control module); engine and engine cooling (critical fasteners); electrical system (instrument cluster/panel) | None |
| 2024 | 2 | electrical system (wiring); electrical system (body control module) | None |
| 2023 | 3 | equipment (other); back over prevention (sensing system); electrical system (wiring) | None |
| 2022 | 6 | engine and engine cooling; tires (temporary/emergency spare tire); trailer hitches; 3 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2021 | 4 | fuel system, gasoline (delivery); trailer hitches; power train (automatic transmission); 1 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2020 | 1 | trailer hitches | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2019 | 2 | trailer hitches; back over prevention (sensing system) | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2018 | 3 | air bags (side/window); steering (electric power assist system); trailer hitches | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2017 | 4 | trailer hitches; engine and engine cooling; fuel system, gasoline (delivery) | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2016 | 8 | vehicle speed control (accelerator pedal); seat belts (front); suspension (rear); 4 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2015 | 3 | fuel system, gasoline (delivery); service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip) | 2 stop-driving or park-outside |
Recalls that told owners to stop driving or park outside
- 2015, campaign 20V-519 (Aug 2020): service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
- 2015, campaign 21V-331 (May 2021): service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
- 2016, campaign 22V-703 (Sep 2022): trailer hitches. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- 2017, campaign 22V-703 (Sep 2022): trailer hitches. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- 2018, campaign 22V-703 (Sep 2022): trailer hitches. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- 2019, campaign 22V-703 (Sep 2022): trailer hitches. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
3 more campaigns carry the same warning; each is on its model year's page.
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 1,871 | 46% | 2016 (693) |
| unknown or other | 652 | 16% | 2016 (165) |
| electrical system | 478 | 12% | 2016 (107) |
| power train | 388 | 10% | 2016 (123) |
| exterior lighting | 351 | 9% | 2017 (125) |
| structure | 280 | 7% | 2016 (110) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Kia Sorento trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LX | FWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) | 191 | 181 | 3,814 | 2,000 | 26 | $33,885 |
| S | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) | 191 | 181 | 4,045 | 2,000 | 25 | $36,785 |
| EX | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 281 | 311 | 4,211 | 3,500 | 23 | $39,985 |
| SX | FWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 281 | 311 | 3,979 | 2,000 | 23 | $43,785 |
| X-Line EX | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 281 | 311 | 4,211 | 3,500 | 23 | $44,285 |
| X-Line SX | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 281 | 311 | 4,211 | 3,500 | 23 | $45,585 |
| X-Line SX Prestige | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 281 | 311 | 4,211 | 3,500 | 23 | $48,285 |
| X-Pro SX Prestige | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 281 | 311 | 4,213 | 4,500 | 23 | $49,285 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Kia Sorento model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 191–281 | 3,814–4,213 | 2,000–4,500 | 17.7 |
| 2025 | 8 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 191–281 | 3,814–4,213 | 2,000–4,500 | 17.7 |
| 2024 | 8 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 191–281 | 3,814–4,213 | 2,000–4,500 | 17.7 |
| 2023 | 8 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 191–281 | 3,715–3,931 | 2,000–3,500 | 17.7 |
| 2022 | 8 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI, Turbo) | 191–281 | 3,794–4,120 | 2,000–3,500 | 17.7 |
| 2021 | 6 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) | 191–281 | 3,794–4,120 | 2,000–3,500 | 17.7 |
| 2020 | 5 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 3.3-liter V6 (GDI) | 185–290 | 3,854–4,343 | 2,000–5,000 | 18.8 |
| 2019 | 7 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 3.3-liter V6 (GDI) | 185–290 | 3,854–4,343 | 2,000–5,000 | 18.8 |
| 2018 | 5 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) / 3.3-liter V6 (GDI) | 185–290 | 3,832–4,343 | 2,000–5,000 | 18.8 |
| 2017 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 3.3-liter V6 (GDI) | 185–290 | 3,832–4,343 | 2,000–5,000 | 18.8 |
| 2016 | 5 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo, GDI) / 3.3-liter V6 (GDI) | 185–290 | 3,832–4,343 | 2,000–5,000 | 18.8 |
| 2015 | 4 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (GDI) / 3.3-liter V6 (GDI) | 191–290 | 3,594–3,894 | 1,650–3,500 | 17.4 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Kia Sorento.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0W-20 (6.13 qt) Smartstream G2.5 GDi; 0W-30 (6.13 qt) Smartstream G2.5 T-GDi | DOT 4 | 79–94 lb-ft | R-1234yf | – |
| 2025 | – | DOT 4 | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2024 | – | DOT 4 | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2023 | – | DOT 4 | – | R-1234yf | CR2032 |
| 2022 | – | DOT 4 | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2021 | – | DOT 4 | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2020 | – | – | – | R-1234yf | – |
| 2016 | – | – | – | R-134a | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Kia Sorento: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
Fewer recalls than this model’s own average
- 2020 Kia Sorento : 1 recall on file (average across published years is 3.4).
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2022 Kia Sorento : 6 recalls on file, most commonly affecting engine cooling and tires.
- 2016 Kia Sorento : 8 recalls on file, most commonly affecting trailer hitch and fuel system.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | not available | tires, electrical system |
| 2025 | 3 | 73 | electrical system, engine cooling |
| 2024 | 2 | 38 | electrical system |
| 2023 | 3 | 118 | equipment, backup camera, electrical system |
| 2022 | 6 | 186 | engine cooling, tires, trailer hitch, powertrain |
| 2021 | 4 | 8 | fuel system, trailer hitch, powertrain, electrical system |
| 2020 | 1 | 134 | trailer hitch |
| 2019 | 2 | 423 | trailer hitch, backup camera |
| 2018 | 3 | 252 | steering, airbags, trailer hitch |
| 2017 | 4 | 800 | trailer hitch, fuel system, engine cooling |
| 2016 | 8 | 1246 | trailer hitch, fuel system, seat belts, seats |
| 2015 | 3 | 747 | brakes, fuel system |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Kia Sorento model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Kia Sorento?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2020 carried fewer recalls than this model's own average, while 2022, 2016 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Kia Sorento model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2022 Kia Sorento has 6 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting engine cooling, tires, trailer hitch; The 2016 Kia Sorento has 8 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting trailer hitch, fuel system, seat belts. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03Which Kia Sorento model years have the cleanest federal recall record?
The 2020 Kia Sorento has 1 recall on file: below this model's own average of 3.4. A shorter list on file as of this page's data pull is not a guarantee against a future recall.
Q04What are common recall-related problems on the Kia Sorento by model year?
2026: tires, electrical system. 2025: electrical system, engine cooling. 2024: electrical system. 2023: equipment, backup camera, electrical system. 2022: engine cooling, tires, trailer hitch, powertrain. 2021: fuel system, trailer hitch, powertrain, electrical system.
Q05Why do some Kia Sorento model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Kia Sorento model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Brakes, tires and steering, Engine and cooling, Buying, records and recalls, Climate and electrical, Transmission and drivetrain.
2022 Kia Sorento owners specifically: see Engine and cooling and Brakes, tires and steering and Buying, records and recalls and Transmission and drivetrain.
2016 Kia Sorento owners specifically: see Buying, records and recalls and Engine and cooling.
Trim ladder
1 Kia Sorento trim, each with its own page.
Compared with
Models this Kia Sorento is most often compared with.
Nearest Kia models
Other Kia models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2025 Sorento come in?
The 2025 Kia Sorento (three-row SUV) comes in 8 trims: LX, S, EX, SX, X-Line EX, X-Line SX, X-Line SX Prestige, X-Pro SX Prestige.
Q02What are the 2025 Sorento trims?
The 2025 Kia Sorento trims are LX, S, EX, SX, X-Line EX, X-Line SX, X-Line SX Prestige, X-Pro SX Prestige, listed from the entry LX up to the top X-Pro SX Prestige.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 Sorento use?
The 2025 Kia Sorento is built around 2.5L four-cylinder or turbo four-cylinder, rated at 191 / 281 horsepower across its three-row SUV body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2025 Sorento have?
The 2025 Kia Sorento is rated at 191 / 281 horsepower (2.5L four-cylinder or turbo four-cylinder).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 Sorento?
The 2025 Kia Sorento is offered with FWD / AWD.