Name: Kia Sorento (2020 – present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Kia Sorento
Rating: 68.0

Table of contents – Kia Sorento (2020 onwards)

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Summary

The Kia Sorento is currently the Korean brand’s flagship model though shortly to be replaced in that role by the electric EV 6. The large SUV has been on sale since 2002 and is now in its fourth generation – the all-new latest model launched in 2021 and was facelifted in 2024.

Reviewers praise the Sorento’s combination of bold design and practicality – the car has great road presence, while also offering excellent interior space and the ability to perform well off-road.

The latest version has managed to incorporate the hybrid powertrain while still retaining mechanical all-wheel-drive, which puts it ahead of several rivals. The Sun says the “classy Sorento” is just like a Volvo but much cheaper.

Engine choices include a 1.6-litre petrol/electric basic hybrid, a 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid and a 2.2-litre diesel.

Kia claims that the latest Sorento interior “represents a step-change in quality and design for Kia cabins” and reviewers tend to agree, many highlighting a definite step up in quality and a clear bid to challenge premium rivals in this area. The 2024 facelift takes this a step further, with a sweeping pair of 12-inch screens atop the dashboard. Cabin space also comes in for praise, except for the third row of seats, which are only suitable for children.

Reviewers generally like the Sorento’s ride, although some consider it slightly too stiff and say it can be unsettled by poor road surfaces. The 2024 facelift has seen improved media reviews, with journalists praising the tech and styling updates that Kia made.

As of December 2024, the Kia Sorento holds a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 68%. It scores highly for its low CO₂ emissions (thanks largely to the plug-in hybrid model) and media review scores are generally very good, but running costs are high and the Sorento has historically poor reliability.

More Kia Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

Sorento highlights

Plenty of ability on and off road
Plenty of interior space
Quality fit and finish
Mostly comfortable, refined ride on the road

Sorento lowlights

Very limited electric-only range
Some surfaces unsettle the ride
Hybrid petrol engine thrashy at high revs
Third row of seats strictly for youngsters

Key specifications

Body style: Large SUV/crossover
Engines: diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £49,495 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2020
Last updated: N/A
Update due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert+

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid ‘2’
“The new Kia Sorento continues the brand’s drive upmarket. It’s big and practical, and feels like it’s made of top quality stuff.”
Read review

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: Facelift range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Kia Sorento is a top-class family SUV with plenty of kit and space, although it’s expensive to buy.”
Author: Alastair Crooks
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid ‘2’
Score: 9 / 10
“Well-equipped, spacious and comfortable, the Kia Sorento remains a top contender in the seven-seat SUV segment. A wider choice of engines and trim levels make it more appealing than ever – as does the lower list price. A slightly dull drive is the only real negative here.”
Author: Alastair Crooks
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Model reviewed: Edition (2023)
Score: 7 / 10
“The Kia Sorento Edition in hybrid form is a pricey machine, and it’s this that limits its appeal when compared with more affordable and similarly talented rivals. It’s an economical, spacious and desirable seven-seat SUV.” (Tom Jervis)
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Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid automatic
Score: 8 / 10
“When it comes to image, technology and space, the Kia Sorento has really upped its game. The new hybrid powertrain is punchy and efficient and will certainly appeal to those who don’t want a diesel, while few customers will be left wanting for an SUV with a greater degree of practicality.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Kia seems to do very little wrong these days. The latest Sorento remains the practical, comfortable and safe family SUV that it has always been, but it’s now packed with tech. It also looks better than ever and, although its price is creeping into genuine premium territory, it’s a difficult package to fault.”
Read review

Auto Trader+

Model reviewed: Plug-in hybrid
Score: 9 / 10
“We were already impressed with the Kia Sorento’s combination of style, keen pricing, seven-seater practicality and technology, this new plug-in hybrid version offering tax-friendly running costs with improved efficiency from its ability to run for longer periods on electric power.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“Now on its fourth version, and with the option of a hybrid powertrain, the Kia Sorento offers handsome looks, good value for money, excellent towing capability and Kia’s famous seven-year warranty. The 2020 model introduces a new design, new cabin and all-new platform.”
Read review

Business Car+

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric hybrid ‘2’
Score: 8 / 10
“The latest Kia Sorento is classier and more refined than ever and is now available as a petrol-electric hybrid.”
Read review

Car+

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol-electric hybrid automatic
Score: 6 / 10
“The Kia Sorento certainly ticks a lot of boxes and seems ideal for those who simply need a practical vehicle to accommodate their active lifestyle, rather than be a highly fashionable one that merely suggests what they could be doing.”
Read review

Carbuyer+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.6 / 10
“The latest Kia Sorento is a versatile SUV that’s dropped in price and shot up in quality.”
Author: Charlie Harvey, Alastair Crooks
Read review

Company Car Today+

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid ‘2’
“A sensible, tax-efficient seven-seat SUV that retains the space and practicality that has already netted the Kia Sorento a CCT100 Award, but with added efficiency.”
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Daily Mirror+

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol automatic ‘2’
Score: 6 / 10
“The 2020 Kia Sorento is a no-nonsense, large practical vehicle that’s comfortable and will do the job just as well as its more flash and posher rivals.”
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Fleetworld+

Score: 8 / 10
“Comfortable, spacious, stylish and fitted with the latest tech, the new Sorento impresses. The hybrid, with its savings on running costs, should prove attractive to fleets.”
Read review

The Sun+

Model reviewed: Hybrid
“Classy Kia Sorento hybrid is just like a Volvo – only much cheaper.”
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The Telegraph+

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid ‘4’
Score: 6 / 10
“If you’re buying privately, the Kia Sorento PHEV is hard to recommend. It’s just a bit too lumpen to drive, and it’s difficult to see why you’d bother paying the extra for it. Which is a shame, because this really is a fantastically practical and, for the most part, comfortable car.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre petrol-electric hybrid ‘2’
Score: 8 / 10
“The new Kia Sorento isn’t the most dynamic SUV out there. But that’s OK because it doesn’t really need to be. What it does need to get right, however, it gets very right indeed. It isn’t just big; it’s also rather clever – and if you’re after a seven-seat SUV, it should probably be on your shortlist.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: December 2020
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 82%
Child protection: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 63%
Safety assist: 87%

The Kia Sorento gained a five-star rating when tested by Euro NCAP in 2020. Testers highlighted its active safety systems, not only the standard-fit autonomous emergency braking that performed well in several different scenarios, but a driver-alert monitor, lane-support system and camera-based traffic sign recognition.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of December 2024, the Kia Sorento has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 94
Average repair cost: £638.30
Last updated: October 2024

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

As of October 2024, the Kia Sportage has a poor reliability score of 46% based on warranty and workshop data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partner, MotorEasy. This score covers both the current and previous (pre-2020) models.

To date, the average repair cost for the Sorento is pretty much par for the course in the large SUV market at just over £600. That’s obviously more than a used car warranty, which is worth keeping in mind if you own a Sorento or are considering a used car.

The good news is that Kia provides a seven-year new car warranty on all its UK models, so you shouldn’t need to purchase a used car warranty for a while yet.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Diesel models	43 mpg	C	38 – 44 mpg	C – D
Hybrid models	41 mpg	D	38 – 42 mpg	D – D
Plug-in hybrid models	177 mpg	A	177 – 177 mpg	A – A

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Diesel models	172 g/km	C	170 – 196 g/km	C – D
Hybrid models	157 g/km	C	153 – 169 g/km	B – C
Plug-in hybrid models	37 g/km	A	37 – 38 g/km	A – A

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Plug-in hybrid models	34 miles	E	34 – 35 miles	E – E

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	31	C	24 – 50	B – F

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£241	B
Year 2	£581	B
Year 3	£937	B
Year 4	£1,105	B
Year 5	£1,455	B
Overall	£4,319	B

The Kia Sorento has a mixed bag of scores when it comes to running costs. The fuel economy for the regular hybrid engine is poor, while the diesel is better but still only average. The plug-in hybrid looks good on paper, but this is because the EU/UK government lab testing protocol is rubbish. There’s no way a large seven-seat SUV is going to travel 177 miles on one litre of petrol and some electricity…

Insurance is also pretty much average, while servicing costs provide some good news – especially for potential used car buyers, as the Sorento’s servicing gets more competitive as it gets older.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Kia Sorento

Sep 2023

Apr 2023

Jan 2023

May 2022

Feb 2021

Date: September 2023
Recall number: R/2023/269
Model types: All
Build dates: 04/2022 to 08/2022
Number of vehicles affected: 1,013
Defect: Turn signals may not activate intermittently due to improper switch contact in the multifunction switch.
Remedy: Software update for the multifunction switch which increases the acceptable range for the control system.

Date: April 2023
Recall number: R/2023/077
Model types: All
Build dates: 04/2022 to 05/2022
Number of vehicles affected: 14
Defect: Poor moulding of the plastic fuel tank by a temporary supplier can lead to a potential fuel leak.
Remedy: Replace the fuel tank.

Date: January 2023
Recall number: R/2022/363
Model types: All
Build dates: 01/2020 to 08/2022
Number of vehicles affected: 916
Defect: The high-pressure electric oil pump within the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) may experience an internal fault.
Remedy: Upgrade the software of the transmission control unit (TCU). In rare cases, it may be necessary to also replace the transmission.

Date: May 2022
Recall number: R/2022/147
Model types: All
Build dates: 07/2021 to 08/2021
Number of vehicles affected: 49
Defect: A fault has been identified in the manufacture of the front L/H seatbelt pre-tensioner.
Remedy: Replace the front L/H seatbelt pre-tensioner.

Date: May 2022
Recall number: R/2022/143
Model types: All
Build dates: 03/2020 to 11/2020
Number of vehicles affected: 326
Defect: A fuel leak can develop on the diesel low-pressure fuel line which is mounted to the engine.
Remedy: Replace the low-pressure fuel line module with improved parts.

Date: February 2021
Recall number: R/2021/002
Model types: Sorento hybrid models
Build dates: 09/2020 to 12/2020
Number of vehicles affected: 965
Defect: If the eCall system is activated, the VIN number may not be transmitted.
Remedy: Reset the eCall system so that the VIN number is transmitted accurately when appropriate.

As of December 2024, there have been six DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the Kia Sorento. These cover various different issues.

Not all vehicles are affected by recalls. You can check to see if your car is included in any of the above recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Kia dealer.

If your car is affected by a recall, the vehicle must be repaired and you should not be charged for any work required. If you are buying a used Sorento, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.