When you need a three row vehicle, but only sometimes, and mostly just need a two-row sport utility, you’re looking for a Sorento. Part of a small group of non-committal three-row crossovers, the Sorento is right-sized for a whole lot of people.
The Sorento was redesigned into its fourth generation in 2021 and for 2024, it gets some updates to its dashboard and a new (also non-committal) off-road version.
Kia has the Telluride, its largest model, followed by the Sorento. The Telluride is a dedicated three-row SUV for those who know they’ll need that extra seating most of the time. But who don’t want to get a minivan because they aren’t willing to admit that it’d be more comfortable. I say that because our family vehicle is a Kia minivan.
As a sidebar, I am often asked “What vehicle should I buy?” It’s a loaded question, since it assumes that I know the person’s biases and their expectations. So my answer is usually “whatever vehicle matches what you need and has a big warranty.” Out of the hundreds of vehicles I’ve driven, we bought a Kia Sedona. Because we wanted a minivan, it has a 10 year warranty, and the V6 has a timing chain. Because those are what I prioritize. Your expectations might be different.
At any rate, the 2024 Kia Sorento is a small-to-midsize crossover utility with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The base models have it as-is with 191 horsepower while upper-end models have it turbocharged to 281 hp. I drove the top-end X-Pro package. Which is pretty great, though all it does is swap the wheels for smaller ones with all-terrain tires on them. It looks more rugged, but it’s not really an “off-road” package. The tire and wheel swap is $1,000 or so, so not a huge cost for the visual change it gives the ride. It also drops fuel economy by about a point. To be honest, though, most people opting for that kind of thing probably don’t care about that.
The Sorento has a good setup. New this year is a dashboard redesign with better virtual instrumentation and a more relatable infotainment setup. The big center screen has faster response times and a nicer interface. But buttons and knobs for most daily use things are still there. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard for those who use them. I personally prefer not to, since I find Auto to be more annoying than useful. Especially when I’m just trying to change the damn radio station. Google needs to get with SiriusXM and figure out how to cooperate.
The base engine, which I drove not long ago, is just barely enough for this vehicle. It’s not sluggish, but there’s no hurry either. If possible, go with the turbocharged model. It’s much zippier and never feels lacking.
Drive quality in the 2024 Sorento is good. This is a family SUV, not a Formula car, so expectations of tight cornering and rubber-burning acceleration should be left at the door. It is competent and well-mannered, though. Easy to get around in.
Overall, the Sorento is a great entry into a competitive, but wholly non-committed vehicle segment.
The 2024 Sorento has a starting price of about $33,500 plus delivery. Most buyers will probably be in the $37,000 price range after options and fees.
