The fourth-generation Kia Sorento is the company’s answer to a large family SUV that can handle seven passengers in a safe and comfortable fashion packed with the latest technology and features.

The current Sorento arrived in Australian showrooms late last year launching with diesel across the range, with petrol V6 variants following earlier in 2021.

This large SUV is a key performer for Kia. More than three million have been sold worldwide since the model launched in 2002, while 44,000 have been sold in Australia since January 2003.

Kia Sorento Pricing

Sorento S: $46,990/$49,990 drive-away (petrol/diesel)
Sorento Sport: $49,990/$52,990 drive-away (petrol/diesel)
Sorento Sport+: $54,390/$57,390 drive-away (petrol/diesel)
Sorento GT-Line: $61,990/$64,990 drive-away (petrol/diesel)

Kia Sorento availability and wait times

The current global shortage of microchips and huge demand for new cars has seen a rather lengthy delay for customers looking for a new Kia Sorento with expectations ranging from 6-12 months depending on variant.

While some other competitors may be more readily available, those keen to stick with the seven-seater Kia would be best to reach out to their closest dealer and see if stock becomes available sooner as there is always a chance of a cancelled or unwanted order.

Kia Sorento Lifecycle

The current Kia Sorento went on sale and was released to the Australian market in August 2020 and has proven to be a success for the Korean brand.

The current model is at least two years away from any major updates and will continue in its current form and format largely unchanged until around 2025 or 2026 before an all-new Sorento will be unveiled.

Minor model year changes are expected along the way though, including the most imminent which will see the Sorento wear the new updated Kia logo from the 2022 model year.

The new logo will launch with the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) in 2021, with the self-charging Sorento Hybrid (HEV) due in the first quarter of 2022.

Kia Sorento Engines & Fuel Economy

The Kia Sorento is available currently with two engine options: diesel and petrol.

Petrol versions of the Kia Sorento use an updated 3.5-litre V6 petrol driving the front wheels only via an eight-speed torque converter automatic. Outputs for the petrol engine are rated at 200kW/332Nm.

Meanwhile, the more expensive 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel sends drive to all four wheels via a new eight-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission. Outputs for the revised oiler are rated at 148kW/440Nm.

The updated 2.2-litre turbo-diesel claims to use just 6.1L/100km on the combined cycle, an improvement of 1.1L/100km over the previous model. The 3.5-litre V6 uses 9.7L/100km.

Kia Sorento Safety

The Kia Sorento has received a five-star ANCAP safety rating for both petrol and diesel models.

The new Kia Sorento earned a safety assist score of 89 per cent, the highest result in the category since ANCAP introduced its tougher 2020 assessment criteria.

It also scored 82 per cent for adult occupant protection, 85 per cent for child occupant protection, and 63 per cent for vulnerable road user protection.

Standard on all Sorento models is autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection and junction assist, lane-keep assist with lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear-cross traffic alert.

Although the Sorento scored highly, protection of the driver’s chest and upper legs in the frontal offset test was weak, while protection of a pedestrian’s pelvis and head if they hit the A-pillars was rated poor.

Kia Sorento Colours

The Kia Sorento is available in seven colours. The only standard no-cost colour is Clear White. The remaining six attract a $695 colour option and include Silky Silver, Steel Grey, Mineral Blue, Aurora Black, Gravity Blue and Snow White Pearl.

On the inside the Sorento comes with a Black one-tone quilted Nappa leather appointed option for the higher grade models or a Black one-tone embossed cloth trim for the base and a mixture of leather and cloth for the mid-spec variants.

Kia Sorento Dimensions

The new Sorento measures 4810mm long (+10mm over previous model) with a 2815mm wheelbase (+35mm). It’s also 10mm wider at 1900mm.

It’s also now 10mm taller than before, and the A-pillar is 30mm further back from the front axle.

In standard seven-seat guise, the new Sorento claims to offer up to 821L of cargo space in five-seat layout depending on variant, with 187L available with the third row in place.

Kia says the second row slides up to 45mm further forward than before, opening up more legroom and toe room for third-row occupants.

Kia Sorento Standard Equipment

Sorento S features:

8.0-inch touchscreen
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with Junction Assist
Blind-spot assist
Rear cross-traffic assist
Multi Collision Brake
LED headlights and fog lights
17-inch alloys with full-size spare
Front centre side airbag

Sorento Sport adds:

10.25-inch touchscreen
Satellite navigation with up to 10 years of map updates
Dual-zone climate control
Auto defogger
Tyre pressure monitoring
Eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat with two-way lumbar

Sorento Sport+ adds:

Smart key with push-button start
19-inch alloys with full-size spare
Electric tailgate with height adjustment
2 x USB rear seat charge ports
Remote engine start
Leather-appointed seats
Heated steering wheel
Heated front seats

Sorento GT-Line adds:

Blind Spot View Monitor
Remote Smart Parking Assist
Parking Collision Avoidance Assist
20-inch dark chrome alloys with full-size spare
Panoramic sunroof
8.0-inch head-up display
Quilted nappa leather-appointed seats
Bose premium sound system
Rear occupant alert
Heated/ventilated front seats
Heated rear seats

Kia Sorento Interior

As a popular seven-seater, the Sorento has made a name for itself to provide two rows of very usable seats for adults and a third row for kids in the back. Even with all seven seats occupied, the Sorento remains a comfortable place to be.

In general, there’s a ton of space inside the new Sorento, especially in the first two rows, but even third-row passengers are afforded comfortable leather seats with cup holders, controllable vents, and charging ports.

The second row can be moved forward or back, and the seat backs can be reclined.

In terms of numbers, there’s 994mm of headroom and 1034mm of legroom for middle-row passengers.

Third-row occupants get slightly less head- and legroom, 935mm and 752mm respectively.

Kia Sorento Boot Space and Luggage Capacity

With all seven seats in use, cargo space is 187L. You’ll be lucky to fit one suitcase there. Suffice it to say, if you want to regularly haul seven people around and their luggage, you’d be better off with a Carnival. Thanks to its boxier shape, the Carnival has 627L back there.

You can fold the third row flat into the floor, increasing cargo space to 616L, while with the touch of a button you can fold the second row and expand cargo volume to 2011L.

Lift up the boot floor and you’ll find a spot for the cargo cover but no spare wheel. That’s because the spare – a full-size one, no less – is mounted under the car.

Kia Sorento Warranty:

Like the wider range, the Sorento will be covered by the Korean brand’s seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with capped-price servicing and roadside assistance.

Kia Sorento Servicing Costs:

2.2L Diesel Service Costs

1 Year or 15,000 km – $335.00
2 Years or 30,000 km – $544.00
3 Years or 45,000 km – $408.00
4 Years or 60,000 km – $729.00
5 Years or 75,000 km – $377.00
6 Years or 90,000 km – $670.00
7 Years or 105,000 km – $400.00

3.5L Petrol Service Costs

1 Year or 15,000 km – $338.00
2 Years or 30,000 km – $533.00
3 Years or 45,000 km – $411.00
4 Years or 60,000 km – $725.00
5 Years or 75,000 km – $381.00
6 Years or 90,000 km – $657.00
7 Years or 105,000 km – $404.00

Kia Sorento Competitors:

The Sorento’s twin under the skin, the Hyundai Santa Fe, is closest in terms of direct rival. Using the same powertrain combination as well as being built on the same platform.

Other similar rivals include the Toyota Kluger, Nissan Pathfinder and Mazda CX-9. Other similarly-priced seven-seaters include the slightly smaller but all-wheel drive Skoda Kodiaq.

Read our Kia Sorento vs Mazda CX-9 comparison.

Kia Sorento Sales Data:

From January 2021 up until the end of August 2021, Kia sold 3875 Sorentos in Australia, up from 1860 for the same period if 2020.

The brand is averaging around 480 sales of the Sorento per month in our market. We anticipate that figure would be noticeably higher if supply wasn’t an issue.

Kia Sorento Reviews:

Kia Sorento Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid

Sorento Plug-in Hybrid’s drivetrain pairs a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine (132kW/265Nm) with a 67kW/304Nm e-motor for system outputs of 195kW and 350Nm.

The petrol engine and electric motor are hooked up with a 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery, with the combustion engine driving through a six-speed automatic.

All-wheel drive is standard on the PHEV.

Kia’s flagship plug-in hybrid SUV will offer up to 70 kilometres of all-electric range when it lands in Australia later this year.

2022 Kia Sorento Buyer's Guide