The new Kia Sorento is a mid-size SUV that comes with a sophisticated yet rugged design. With gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options packed with handy features, this SUV is worth considering for both city drivers and adventure enthusiasts. Irrespective of the chosen powertrain and trim, the Kia Sorento is designed to offer a smooth and comfortable ride. That said, learning about the SUV’s key features can help one make an informed purchase decision. 

Trusted brand
Kia, a Korean automaker, is one of the fastest-growing brands in the world. It offers a range of vehicles, from subcompact cars to mid-size and full-size models.

Spacious SUV
The new Kia Sorento can seat seven people in its three rows of comfortable seats that are ideal for a long drive with family members. Although the third row is standard, the second-row bench can be swapped for dual captain’s chairs for more convenience when getting into the rearmost seats. One of the trims, the Sorento SX Prestige, comes with leather upholstery and excellent under-thigh and lower back support.

Elegant exterior design
This SUV comes with a few notable upgrades. For instance, it has design improvements in headlights, grilles, and taillights. Another exterior upgrade is updated wheel designs and two new colors—Midnight Lake Blue and Dawning Red. The rest of the design pretty much stays the same for nonhybrid models.  The base Kia Sorento trim has 17-inch alloy wheels. As one goes up the trim levels, they can get 18- to 20-inch wheels, roof rails, and a panoramic sunroof in the SUV. A couple of trims can be paired with the X-line package, which adds rugged front and rear bumpers, dark-finished 20-inch alloy wheels, a large panoramic sunroof, and a gorgeous glossy black finish to the exterior. The X-Pro package offers 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. On the other hand, the plug-in Hybrid features roof rack rails, signature LED headlamps, and 19-inch wheels, adding to the sportiness of this mid-size SUV. 

Premium interiors
The new Kia Sorento does not compromise on interior comfort and tech. The dashboard of the top trims consists of a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Additionally, certain trims of the SUV come with leather upholstery, heated front seats, storage spaces, and cupholders to add to the convenience of the driver and passengers. The Kia Sorento is also equipped with a 12-speaker premium audio system (six-speaker variant in lower trims), Bluetooth, voice recognition, and steering-mounted audio controls.

Fuel efficiency
The base model gets a 2.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that can get up to 26 miles per gallon (mpg) on the highway. The Sorento Hybrid offers the highest fuel efficiency and is estimated to get up to 36 mpg. The plug-in hybrid can get a combined fuel economy of get 32 miles of EV-only range and 34 mpg with just the gas engine.

Safety features
The SUV comes with all the necessary safety and driver assistance features. This helped the car earn the title of IIHS’s Top Safety Pick when it is configured with optional headlights. Some of the SUV’s safety and driver assistance features include forward collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blindspot monitoring, collision mitigation system, and a 360-degree camera.

Affordable mid-size SUV
The Kia Sorento’s base LX trim costs about  $33,365, which is much lower than its competitors, making it an affordable mid-size SUV. The highest trim can go up to $48,765. The Sorento Hybrid can cost $40,000 to $48,265, whereas the plug-in hybrid can cost anywhere between $49,065 and $51, 315.