2025 Kia Sorento Review
The Kia Sorento occupies an unusual spot in the market: a three-row SUV small enough to park like a compact crossover, yet priced well below most three-row rivals. For 2025 it's sold in three flavors — gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid — which makes it one of the most flexible family SUVs Kia builds. It's also, by most owners' accounts, essentially a scaled-down Telluride. Here's whether that trade-off actually works.
2025 Kia Sorento Trims and Pricing
The gas Sorento spans five main trims — LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige — with X-Line and X-Pro dress-up packages layered on top of certain trims. The Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid are sold separately in a simpler two-trim lineup.
| Powertrain | Trims | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gas (2.5L 4-cyl, turbo on EX and up) | LX, S, EX, SX, SX Prestige, X-Line, X-Pro | ~$31,990 – $47,390 |
| Hybrid (1.6L turbo + electric) | EX, SX Prestige | ~$38,690 – $46,890 |
| Plug-In Hybrid (1.6L turbo + larger battery) | EX, SX Prestige | Mid-$40,000s and up |
The S trim is the volume seller on the gas side, offering a reasonable feature set without stepping up to the turbocharged EX. For hybrid buyers, the EX trim is the value pick — it includes navigation and wireless phone charging standard, and offers all-wheel drive as a stand-alone option, which narrows the gap with the pricier SX Prestige considerably.
Performance and Fuel Economy
The base gas engine is adequate but unremarkable. Buyers who want the Sorento to feel genuinely quick should look at the optional turbocharged 2.5-liter engine on EX trims and above, which independent testing clocked at roughly 6.7 seconds to 60 mph — noticeably quicker than rivals like the Volkswagen Tiguan.
The Hybrid pairs a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with hybrid components for a combined 227 horsepower, and it's quicker off the line than you'd expect from a hybrid crossover, reaching 60 mph in about 7.6 seconds in testing — quicker, in fact, than its mechanical twin, the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. The Plug-In Hybrid steps up further to 261 horsepower and adds a larger battery good for roughly 32 miles of EPA-estimated electric-only range, making it genuinely useful as a short-commute EV substitute with gas-engine backup for longer trips.
Interior, Third-Row Space, and Cargo
This is the Sorento's most important trade-off, and it's worth being upfront about it. The cabin itself is genuinely impressive for the price — a spacious first and second row, good build quality, and on higher trims, comfortable captain's chairs in row two. Where the Sorento shows its compact-three-row roots is the third row: it's small and sits low to the floor. It works fine for kids or for adults on short trips, but it's not a place adults want to sit for a long highway drive.
Cargo space follows the same pattern. Behind the third row, storage is limited — fine for groceries or a couple of bags, tight for a family road trip with all seven seats occupied. Fold the third row down, though, and the Sorento opens up into a genuinely large cargo hold. In practice, that means the Sorento works best as a five-or-six-passenger SUV that occasionally presses the third row into service, rather than a full-time seven-seater for long trips.
Buyers who need a roomier cabin with all three rows in regular use should cross-shop the Kia Telluride or a larger three-row SUV like the Toyota Grand Highlander before committing to the Sorento's smaller footprint.
Ride Quality and Road Manners
Independent testing found the Sorento's ride to be a mixed bag: it absorbs larger bumps and freeway dips reasonably well, but smaller imperfections like pavement seams and potholes come through sharply, especially on trims with larger wheels. Handling is confidence-inspiring for the class, though not as precise as some rivals. Braking performance is solid, with only a slight falloff on trims equipped with all-terrain tires. Overall, it drives like a smaller, slightly firmer-riding version of the Telluride — which, for a lot of shoppers, is exactly the appeal.
Reliability: What the Data Actually Says
This is a case where two respected data sources disagree, and an honest review has to show both. RepairPal rates the Sorento's reliability at 4.0 out of 5.0 — "above average" for the segment — with a relatively low average annual repair cost and a track record of infrequent, less serious repairs. Kia's low count of reported RepairPal issues for the current model year supports that picture.
Consumer Reports' owner survey data tells a less flattering story for the 2025 model year specifically, rating overall predicted reliability below average and noting several owner-reported issues around cabin noises, squeaks, and interior fit. The 2025 Sorento has also been subject to a handful of NHTSA recalls, which factors into Consumer Reports' scoring.
The discrepancy is common with brand-new model years: RepairPal's rating leans on the Sorento's longer-term repair-cost history, while Consumer Reports' survey captures early-ownership feedback on a specific model year, including issues that tend to get resolved through running production changes and technical service bulletins. The practical takeaway: the Sorento isn't a reliability outlier in either direction, but buyers cross-shopping it against the Santa Fe or a Toyota should read recall notices for their specific build date rather than relying on the Sorento nameplate's reputation alone.
2025 Kia Sorento Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Three powertrain choices, including a genuinely useful PHEV | Small, low third row not suited to long trips |
| Spacious, well-built first and second row for the price | Cramped cargo space with all three rows in use |
| Quicker than most three-row rivals with the turbo engine | Firm ride over small bumps and pavement seams |
| Smaller footprint than most three-row SUVs, easier to park | Mixed reliability data between sources for the 2025 model year |
How the Sorento Compares to Its Rivals
Against its closest relative, the Hyundai Santa Fe, the Sorento offers very similar mechanicals in a more conventionally styled package — the choice often comes down to which design language you prefer. Against the Toyota Grand Highlander, the Sorento is smaller inside and out but noticeably cheaper and easier to maneuver day to day. Against the Honda Passport TrailSport, the Sorento's on-road ride and turbo performance compare well, though the Passport counters with a roomier cabin. For buyers cross-shopping plug-in options, the Sorento PHEV is one of relatively few affordable three-row plug-in hybrids on the market, which gives it a lane almost to itself.
Who Should Buy the 2025 Kia Sorento
The Sorento is a strong fit for smaller families who want occasional third-row flexibility without stepping up to a full-size three-row SUV, for commuters drawn to the Plug-In Hybrid's electric-only range with the safety net of a gas engine, and for anyone who wants Telluride-like styling and driving manners at a lower price point. It's a tougher fit for larger families who need the third row and full cargo capacity in daily use — those buyers will likely be happier in a Telluride or a larger competitor from the start.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the 2025 Kia Sorento cost?
The gas Sorento starts around $31,990 for the base LX and tops out near $47,390 for the X-Pro SX Prestige. The Sorento Hybrid starts around $38,690, and the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid starts in the mid-$40,000s.
Is the third row usable in the Kia Sorento?
It works for kids or adults on short trips, but it's small and sits low to the floor, so it's not ideal for long drives. Cargo space is also limited with the third row in use.
Is the Kia Sorento reliable?
Reliability data is mixed: RepairPal rates it above average with low repair costs, while Consumer Reports' 2025 owner survey data is less favorable and the model has had a handful of recalls. It's worth checking both sources rather than one.
What's the difference between the Sorento Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid?
The Hybrid has no plug and is rated for strong combined fuel economy. The Plug-In Hybrid adds a larger battery for about 32 miles of electric-only range and more total horsepower, at a higher starting price.
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