The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Bold styling
- Efficient hybrid powertrains
- Standard wireless smartphone integration
- Spacious cabin
- Competitive value
Dislikes
- Plug-in Hybrid version is expensive
- Cluttered interior design
- Cabin could use more noise insulation
- Snug third row
- Middling safety ratings
Buying tip
features & specs
The refreshed 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid lineup offers good efficiency and tech in the three-row crossover segment, but may not be worth the price premiums over the standard version.
What kind of vehicle is the 2025 Kia Sorento? What does it compare to?
Available in hybrid and regular versions, the Kia Sorento is a midsize crossover SUV with three rows of seats. It faces off against the likes of the Mitsubishi Outlander, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Subaru Ascent.
Is the 2025 Kia Sorento a good SUV?
Yes. The Sorento is a practical pick in terms of efficiency and spaciousness, though there are some minor missteps. This Kia scores a TCC Rating of 6.7 on our 10-point scale. (Read more abouthow we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2025 Kia Sorento?
Kia refreshed the Sorento’s hybrid models for 2025 following last year’s refresh to the regular gas versions. Styling updates include sleeker front lighting, updated front and rear fascias, a broader grille, four new exterior colors and one new interior color, and hybrid-exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels. Regular Sorento models also get minor updates, including black emblems and new badges on X-Line and X-Pro models.
The Sorento Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid now feature a standard panoramic infotainment display that combines a 4.3-inch information display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. In SX-P trim, the Sorento gets a new curved display with a pair of 12.3-inch screens, new infotainment software, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Sorento Hybrid models are now available with an enhanced adaptive cruise control system with machine learning, and highway driving assist with automatic lane changes.
All powertrains carry over, though the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid gets a slight bump in torque. Both hybrid models feature a 1.6-liter turbo-4 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid comes standard with front-wheel drive and is available with all-wheel drive; the PHEV is AWD only. The hybrid uses a smaller electric motor for a total of 227 hp, while the plug-in gets a bigger motor, plus a 13.8-kwh battery pack. It’s good for 261 hp and approximately 32 miles of all-electric range (based on 2024 ratings). The standard Sorento LX and S are rated at 191 hp from a 2.5-liter inline-4, though the Sorento is available with a peppier 2.5-liter turbo-4 rated at 281 hp. These models team with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and are available with front- or all-wheel drive. Sorento X-Line and X-Pro models get an upgraded AWD system with a center locking differential and torque vectoring for enhanced traction.
Though the Sorento features three rows and six- or seven-passenger capacity, the rearmost row is best left for children. Most trims feature synthetic leather seating surfaces, though base trims have cloth and real leather is available.
Though Kia’s updated infotainment systems are fantastic, with over-the-air updates and standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, they’re overshadowed by the cluttered and distracting dashboard layout. Kia supplies plenty of USB ports throughout the cabin.
The 2024 Kia Sorento earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four stars in some individual tests, and an IIHS Top Safety Pick rating. However, the refreshed hybrid models have not yet been crash tested. Kia includes standard active lane control and automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection. Blind-spot monitors and adaptive cruise control are included in most trims, and top trims feature a surround-view camera system and limited hands-free highway driving assist with automatic lane changes.
How much does the 2025 Kia Sorento cost?
The Sorento LX starts at $33,365, which includes the $1,375 destination charge. This model features cloth upholstery, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 17-inch alloy wheels. The trim lineup includes S, EX, EX X-Line, SX, SX X-Line, and top SX-Prestige X-Line and SX-Prestige X-Pro trims. The SX-Prestige X-Pro costs $47,765.
The refreshed Sorento Hybrid starts at $40,065 for the EX FWD and $41,865 for the EX AWD. The SX-Prestige costs $48,265.
Things get expensive with the refreshed Sorento PHEV. The EX costs $49,365 and the SX-Prestige costs $54,465.
Where is the 2025 Kia Sorento made?
Kia builds the Sorento in Georgia, at the West Point Assembly Plant.
2025 Kia Sorento Styling
The Sorento’s updated styling borrows exterior cues from Kia’s classy Telluride and modern EV9.
Is the Kia Sorento a good-looking SUV?
Yes. The previous generation had some busy exterior details, but the 2024 and 2025 refreshes (for standard and hybrid models, respectively) take inspiration from Kia’s larger SUVs. Touches like a blockier front end, a broader grille, and vertically stacked headlights yield both simplicity and ruggedness. The exterior earns a point, for a 6, though we don’t award any points for the interior.
In X-Line and X-Pro versions, the Sorento gains a roof rack, a gloss-black grille treatment, and skid plates molded into lower bumpers, and the X-Line gets black-finished 20-inch wheels.
Hybrid and PHEV versions are updated for 2025 inside and out to match the base Sorento’s 2024 refresh. Those details include four new exterior colors (Cityscape Green, Mineral Blue, Interstellar Grey, and Volcanic Sand), new 19-inch wheels for the plug-in version, updated infotainment, and a new interior color (the unappealing-sounding Dust Blue).
Inside, the new digital displays add an upscale touch amongst a cluttered dashboard design. However, the Sorento lineup suffers from some cheap surfaces and falls short in highlighting its actual attributes, such as its numerous clever storage solutions.
2025 Kia Sorento Performance
The 2025 Kia Sorento’s four powertrain options range from functionality to frugality but fall short on fun.
Kia offers the Sorento with more powertrains than most competitors, including efficient but expensive hybrid and PHEV models. The smooth and comfortable ride earns a point, for a 6.
Is the Kia Sorento 4WD?
The base Sorento LX is available only with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available across most of the lineup and standard on SX Prestige trims, including the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid. The Sorento X-Line and Sorento X-Pro feature an upgraded all-wheel-drive system with a center locking differential. Brake-based torque vectoring allows these models to split torque across the rear axle to send traction where it’s needed most.
How fast is the Kia Sorento?
It’s fine, but it’s not at all fast. The base 2.5-liter inline-4 makes just 191 hp and a middling 181 lb-ft of torque. The 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission isn’t much help here, and overall, it’s quite a noisy combination. If you’re sticking with a regular Sorento instead of a hybrid, consider budgeting for the upgraded trims with the 2.5-liter turbo-4, which makes 281 hp and 311 lb-ft. We recommend this engine both for its refinement and its punchiness, though the transmission can hesitate to downshift when attempting to pass at higher speeds. The top-tier SX Prestige model adds paddle shifters that help remedy this plight, though they should come with every turbocharged Sorento.
Kia equips Sorento Hybrid models with a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder paired with a 44-kw electric motor and a 6-speed automatic transmission. Combined output rates at 227 hp and a hearty 258 lb-ft, good for quieter power delivery and smoother acceleration.
In plug-in hybrid form, the Sorento pairs the same 1.6-liter turbo-4 and 6-speed automatic with a bigger 66.9-kw motor and a 13.8-kwh battery pack. The Sorento Plug-in Hybrid makes 261 hp and 270 lb-ft, for the best acceleration and overall performance of the lineup, and is capable of 32 miles of all-electric range.
The 2025 Kia Sorento combines MacPherson front struts with a multi-link independent rear suspension, for a smooth and comfortable ride that can even out most rough pavement. However, plenty of noise still intrudes into the cabin, particularly when the hybrid models are running on battery power and there’s no engine noise to muffle the sounds of the road and wind. Steering is on the dull side, which is typical for the segment but disappointing nonetheless.
2025 Kia Sorento Comfort & Quality
The 2025 Kia Sorento is a good pick for family duty thanks to its midsize footprint and reasonably spacious cabin.
The 2025 Kia Sorento comes standard with three rows of seats for six- or seven-passenger configurations. That rearmost pair of seats has legroom of just 29.6 inches, however. Overall, the Sorento is the most comfortable in its six-seat layout with a pair of captain’s chairs in the second row. It’s far from fancy, with an abundance of plastic surfaces and trim, but it’s functional. All four doors get cupholders and there’s a pair of USB-C ports in each row, reflecting a thoughtful design despite its cheap finishes. The 2025 Sorento lineup racks up a point each for its comfortable front seats, spacious second row, and good cargo capacity when the third row is folded down, good for an 8.
In terms of length, the 2025 Kia Sorento slots between Honda’s Passport and Chevy’s Blazer, both of which stick to just two rows of seats. However, the Sorento comes up shorter than the Hyundai Santa Fe, which also has a third row, by an inch or so, and both offer more third-row space than the Mitsubishi Outlander or Volkswagen Tiguan. For occasional six- or seven-passenger capacity, without commitment to a bigger vehicle like the Kia Telluride, the Sorento makes a fine choice.
Though the base Sorento S comes up short on seating features, all versions have front seats with decent support, and nearly every trim comes with standard heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver seat. The standard second row bench technically seats three across but is a much better fit for two. Mid and upper trim levels do away with the bench in favor of a pair of captain's chairs that recline and offer legroom of about 41 inches. The Sorento has wide door openings, great not just for entry and egress but for strapping kids down into child safety seats.
The cargo area behind the third row measures just 12.6 cubic feet, but the rear seats feature a 50:50 split and pull straps that make it easy to collapse them into the floor. That opens up 40.5 cubes, and there’s a maximum of 75.5 cubic feet when the second row is folded down as well. Top trims have power-folding second-row seats just for this purpose.
2025 Kia Sorento Safety
The Kia Sorento has scored well in crash tests, and comes with a good set of safety features.
How safe is the Kia Sorento?
The refreshed 2025 hybrid lineup needs testing, but the 2024 base version scored five stars from the NHTSA (with four stars in some individual tests) and a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. It’s an 8, based on its current crash-test scores and its good menu of standard and available safety technology.
The refreshed Sorento lineup gets more standard safety features, including front and rear automatic emergency braking, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, and automatic high-beams. Options include a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, and blind-spot cameras, all of which are worth the extra cost to compensate for poor rearward and blind-spot outward vision.
The 2025 Sorento Hybrid lineup is available with a new enhanced adaptive cruise control system that learns your driving style, and a new highway driving assist system with automatic lane changes.
2025 Kia Sorento Features
The 2025 Kia Sorento boasts plenty of standard features and tons of compelling options, all backed by one of the best warranties in the class.
Kia offers the 2025 Sorento with four powertrains across three lineups (regular, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid), a bunch of trim levels and configurations, and the X-Line and the X-Pro packages for off-road styling and enhanced capability. Pricing spans more than $20,000, from $33,365 for the base Sorento to $54,465 for the top-tier Sorento Plug-in Hybrid. Despite the extravagant pricing at the top of the scale, the 2025 Kia Sorento rates a 9, with points awarded for its competitive list of standard features, wide array of options, big touchscreen and wireless smartphone integration, and fantastic warranty.
The base Sorento with its underpowered inline-4 engine comes only in LX and S trim levels. Standard features include cloth upholstery, 17-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Sorento S gets synthetic leather, a power-adjustable driver seat, heated front seats, and 18-inch wheels.
Kia backs the 2025 Sorento with a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
The Sorento Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid now feature a panoramic 12.3-inch touchscreen with a 4.3-inch information display; the top SX-Prestige pairs two 12.3-inch screens into a curved panoramic panel with an upgraded infotainment system.
Which Kia Sorento should I buy?
Pick a powertrain and then pick a trim. Though the base Sorento LX has a compelling entry price at $33,365 and the S is a great value at $35,965 (including a $1,375 destination charge), they’re a drag to drive. We’d consider the turbo-4 at a minimum and the Hybrid if the budget allowed. The turbo-4 powertrain is available in EX, SX, and SX-Prestige versions, all of which are available with the X-Line package, and the X-Pro is available only with the SX-Prestige. The EX builds on the S with second-row captain’s chairs, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, and a power tailgate. In SX trim, the surround-view camera system and blind-spot monitors come standard. For features such as leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, and 14-way power-adjustable front seats, you’re looking at the AWD-only SX-Prestige.
The refreshed 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid starts at $40,065 for the EX FWD and $48,265 for the top SX-Prestige.
How much is a fully loaded Kia Sorento?
The refreshed 2025 Sorento Plug-in Hybrid comes only with all-wheel drive. The EX starts at $49,365 and the SX-Prestige starts at $54,465.
2025 Kia Sorento Fuel Economy
The 2025 Kia Sorento is reasonably efficient, with the Sorento Hybrid rated for a combined 36 mpg.
Is the Kia Sorento good on gas?
That depends. The regular gas Sorento rates a 2 or 3, though Sorento Hybrids fall between 5 and 6. Rated alone, the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid would merit an 8 on our scale. Since the Sorento sells most in base form, it’s a 3, though the hybrid model may, and should, increase in popularity.
The 2025 Sorento with the base engine and front-wheel drive has EPA ratings of 23 mpg city, 31 highway, 26 combined. With AWD, those numbers come in at 23/28/25. The more powerful turbo engine rates 20/29/23 with FWD and 20/27/23 with AWD, arguably worth it for the significant increase in day-to-day drivability.
The Sorento Hybrid FWD comes in at 36 mpg across the board, and the Hybrid AWD sacrifices 2 mpg in every measure.
The EPA hasn’t yet certified the 2025 Sorento Plug-in Hybrid, though the 2024 model was rated for 79 MGPe on gas and electric power, 34 mpg combined on gas alone, and an all-electric range of 32 miles. The 2025 model should come close to these figures.
