Kia Sorento
Used Car Review

Overview

Looking for a spacious family SUV that doesn’t compromise on comfort or reliability? The Kia Sorento might be exactly what you need. This impressive seven-seat SUV has earned its reputation as one of the most practical and well-built vehicles in its class. It’s designed for families who want the space of a large SUV but with the refinement and technology you’d expect from a premium brand.

The Sorento stands out in the crowded large SUV market with its thoughtful design and exceptional build quality. Unlike some rivals like the Nissan Qashqai or Volkswagen Tiguan, the Sorento offers genuine seven-seat capability without feeling unwieldy. The interior is genuinely impressive, featuring high quality materials and an intuitive layout that makes every journey more enjoyable.

What makes the Sorento particularly appealing is its blend of practicality and sophistication. The hybrid powertrain delivers excellent fuel economy for such a large vehicle, making it surprisingly economical to run. The ride quality is superb, handling British roads with composure while keeping passengers comfortable. It’s a car that successfully bridges the gap between family practicality and premium feel, making every school run or weekend adventure feel effortless.

What's the Kia Sorento Like to Drive?

The Kia Sorento is engineered for smooth, refined driving rather than outright performance. The hybrid powertrain combines a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, producing around 230 horsepower combined. This setup provides adequate acceleration for a large SUV, reaching 60mph in approximately 8.8 seconds. The plug-in hybrid variant offers even more power and the ability to run on electric power alone for short urban journeys.

Where the Sorento truly excels is in its composure and ride quality. The steering is well-weighted and precise, giving you confidence when navigating tight car parks or country roads. The suspension setup strikes an excellent balance between comfort and control. It absorbs bumps and imperfections beautifully, keeping all seven occupants comfortable even on longer journeys. The all-wheel-drive system provides reassuring grip in poor weather conditions, while the refined powertrain ensures minimal noise intrusion into the cabin.

How Comfortable Is the Kia Sorento?

Step inside the Sorento and you’re immediately struck by the quality and attention to detail. The dashboard features a clean, modern design with an impressive dual-screen setup that controls infotainment and climate functions. The materials throughout feel premium, with soft-touch surfaces and well-damped switches that operate with satisfying precision. The front seats are exceptionally comfortable with excellent support for long journeys.

The cabin is remarkably quiet, with excellent sound insulation keeping road and wind noise to a minimum. All three rows of seats offer genuine comfort, with the middle row providing ample space for adults. Even the third row is usable for shorter adults or teenagers, not just children. Standard equipment is generous, including wireless phone charging, multiple USB ports, and tri-zone climate control. The panoramic sunroof available on higher trims adds to the airy, spacious feel of the interior.

The Kia Sorento succeeds brilliantly at being a premium family SUV that doesn’t break the bank. It offers genuine seven-seat capability wrapped in a package that feels far more expensive than it actually is. The interior quality rivals German premium brands, while the hybrid powertrain provides impressive efficiency for such a large vehicle. The ride quality and refinement make it a pleasure to drive on any journey.

Nicholas Zapolski Car Expert

Is the Kia Sorento Expensive to Run?

For a large seven-seat SUV, the Sorento’s running costs are impressively reasonable. The hybrid powertrain delivers real-world fuel economy of around 38-42 mpg, which is excellent for such a large vehicle. The plug-in hybrid variant can achieve even better efficiency when regularly charged, potentially reaching over 50 mpg in mixed driving. Insurance groups are moderate for the class, though they’ll be higher than smaller SUVs.

The initial purchase price reflects the Sorento’s premium positioning, but it represents excellent value when you consider the space, equipment, and seven-year warranty included. Kia’s reputation for reliability means maintenance costs should remain reasonable, and the long warranty period provides peace of mind. With car finance options available, monthly payments can be spread to make ownership more manageable. The strong residual values mean the Sorento holds its value well compared to many competitors.

Kia Sorento Practicality & Boot Space

The Sorento is exceptionally practical, which is exactly what you’d expect from a seven-seat family SUV. The 821-litre boot in five-seat mode is genuinely huge, easily accommodating holiday luggage for the whole family. When you need all seven seats, boot space reduces but remains usable for essentials. The rear seats fold completely flat, creating a massive load area for larger items like furniture or sports equipment.

Inside the cabin, there’s thoughtful storage throughout with large door pockets, multiple cup holders, and useful compartments. The middle row slides and tilts to provide easy access to the third row, while the captain’s chair option on higher trims adds even more comfort. For families considering used Kia cars, the Sorento offers unmatched versatility. Its manageable dimensions make it surprisingly easy to park despite its size, and the excellent all-round visibility helps with manoeuvring in tight spaces.

The Kia Sorento stands as one of the finest large SUVs available today, successfully combining space, comfort, and efficiency in an attractive package. It delivers on every key requirement for family transport while adding a touch of premium luxury. The hybrid powertrain provides excellent fuel economy without compromising on performance, making it both environmentally conscious and cost effective to run.

You choose the Sorento because you want a large SUV that doesn’t feel like a compromise. Its refined ride, spacious interior, and impressive build quality make it suitable for everything from daily school runs to family holidays. With Kia’s excellent warranty and strong reputation for reliability, it represents outstanding value in the competitive seven-seat SUV market. For families seeking the best combination of space and sophistication, the Sorento delivers exactly what you need.