A couple of months ago, I reviewed the plug-in hybrid version of the Kia Sorento crossover and compared it with its Hyundai-badged fraternal twin, the Sante Fe.
This week, the comparison’s with the non-hybrid version of the Sorento.
What It is
The Sorento is one of just three small crossovers that has room for seven rather than just five because it comes standard with a third row. The other two compact-sized, three-row crossovers are the VW Tiguan and the Mitsubishi Outlander – and the difference there is that neither of these two are available with an optional engine.Much less a nearly 300 horsepower optional engine.
The Sorento is also available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid configurations – which the Tiggy isn’t (the Outlander is available in plug-in hybrid form).
This review will focus on the differences between the non-hybrid Sorento and the hybrid version – starting with the prices of each.
The hybrid Sorento starts at $38,690 for the base EX trim; it’s a conventional hybrid that uses the engine to charge the battery pack, which supplies power to run the accessories when the engine is cycled off. The plug-in hybrid (which can be driven for about 30 miles on battery power alone) stickers for $47,990 to start. These both come standard with a 1.6 liter engine. 
The non-hybrid comes standard with a larger 2.5 liter engine – without a turbo. It lists for $31,990 to start for the LX trim.
The non-hybrid Sorento is also available in several other trims that aren’t offered with either of the hybrids, including X-Pro (MSRP $47,390) which includes a center-locking differential and a set of 17 inch wheels with all-terrain tires that increase the Sorento’s grip on snow slicked roads as well as roads that aren’t paved.
Another big difference is the turbocharged, 281 horsepower iteration of the 2.5 liter engine that’s available in the non-hybrid Sorento. It’s standard in EX and higher trims, including the top-of-the-line X-Pro. It’s a much larger engine than the hybrids’ (both versions) 1.6 liter engine – and it makes more power.
Naturally, it burns more gas. 
You’ll have to decide whether saving on gas is worth spending thousands more for either iteration of the hybrid Sorento. And whether spending $6,100 more to jump from the base LX trim of the non-hybrid to an EX trim (in order to get that 281 horsepower engine) is worth the expense.
And then you’ll have to decide whether it might be worth the nearly $50k it costs to buy the plug-in version – and whether the $9,300 bump in price vs. the non-plug-in hybrid is worth being able to drive about 30 miles on battery power alone.
What’s New For 2025
The Sorento carries on into 2025 unchanged.
What’s Good
Available 281 horsepower engine uses only a little more gas than the standard 191 horsepower engine.
Standard engine is big enough to not need a turbo to make adequate power.
Room for seven in a compact-sized package.
What’s Not So Good
281 horsepower engine only available in the more expensive trims.
Base LX trim is not available with AWD; if you want that, you have to step up to the S trim and then add AWD, which boosts the MSRP to $36,890 (a $4,900 price bump to get AWD).
The other two small crossover with third rows – VW’s Tiguan ($28,880) and the Mitsubishi Outlander ($28,395) – both cost a couple thousand less to start.
Under The Hood
LX and S trims come standard with a 2.5 liter four cylinder engine that doesn’t need a turbocharger because it’s a big enough engine all by itself. It makes 191 horsepower and is paired with an eight speed automatic transmission. The base LX is front-wheel-drive only but you can opt for AWD by moving up to the S and higher trims.
The VW Tiguan comes standard with a much smaller (2.0 liter) engine that needs turbo-boost to make up for its size and even then, it only makes 184 horsepower. The other three-row competitor in this class – the Mitsubishi Outlander, which is basically a repackaged Nissan Rogue – comes standard with a 2.5 liter engine that produces 181 horsepower.
But it’s paired with a CVT automatic – and there’s no optional engine.
The Sorento is available with a turbocharged version of the 2.5 liter four that makes 281 horsepower and 311 ft-lbs. of torque. It is by far the strongest engine you can get in small crossover that offers third-row seating. Interestingly, it can be had without AWD – though AWD is available. Usually, such a powerful engine is paired with AWD – because of the possibility of wheelspin through just two wheels. Which can be fun, if you’re into that sort of fun.
Also of interest, the Sorento with the turbo’d 2.5 liter engine hardly uses any more gas than the standard (non-turbocharged) 2.5 liter engine that’s standard in the lower trims. The more potent engine rates 20 MPG in city driving and 27 on the highway.
But perhaps the more interesting comparison is vs. the hybrid (and plug-in hybrid) versions of the Sorento.
The plug-in hybrid comes standard with a much smaller (1.6 liter) four cylinder engine augmented by an electric motor and battery pack. The combo makes 227 horsepower and averages 36 MPG, which works out to a roughly 9 MPG overall increase vs. the non-hybrid Sorento with the 2.5 liter engine (no turbo) and about a 13 MPG increase vs. the Sorento with the turbocharged (281 horsepower) 2.5 liter engine.
You also get 36 more horsepower from the hybrid vs. the non-hybrid Sorento with the non-turbo 2.5 liter engine, although the gain in power is offset by the higher curb weight of the hybrid vs. the non-hybrid.
The plug-in hybrid ups the horsepower ante to 261 – just 20 shy of the output of the turbocharged 2.5 liter engine available in the higher trim Sorento non-hybrids. And you can drive the plug-in for about 30 miles without burning any gas, assuming you charged the battery up before your drive.
The plug-in hybrid’s much higher price pretty much negates any gas-savings advantage – but there is arguably an advantage in having what amounts to a dual-fuel vehicle that can operate on either gas or electricity. Especially when one – or the other – might not be readily available. There may also be a time when vehicles that burn gas aren’t allowed in certain areas; this is already the case in some European countries and it may become the case in this country as well. In that case, having a part-time electric vehicle might mean having a vehicle you’re still allowed to drive where you want to go.
And unlike electric-only vehicles, you don’t need to plan your life around charging waits because you can fill the tank in just a few minutes.
On The Road
The Sorento has three things going for it – the first being that its standard engine has enough power to get it moving adequately without needing a boost from a turbo.
The second is that its optional engine has more than enough power – which gets it moving very quickly (0-60 in six seconds).
The third thing – and it isn’t a small thing – is that the Sorento does not come standard with a CVT transmission. This means it does not feel like the transmission is slipping when the Sorento is accelerating. And the engine isn’t red-lining and sounding like it’s going to chuck pistons through the hood. It also probably means you won’t be buying a new transmission after the warranty runs out – because transmissions that aren’t CVTs usually hold up for the life of the vehicle while CVTs tend to come apart shortly after the warranty coverage expires.
So, there’s that.
With its standard engine, the Sorento is a solid alternative to its two three-row rivals as all have about the same power. But the Kia – with its optional engine – completely outclasses both of them. More finely, it has the power to rival larger three-row crossovers without being as large as they are – and that’s not a small thing.
If you like the idea of the hybrid layout, there’s that, too.
The regular hybrid is quicker-accelerating than the non-hybrid Sorento with the standard 2.5 liter engine and quieter. The gas engine cycles off when the vehicle is stationary and also when you’re just coasting along. And there’s no CVT tranny here, either. This is very uncommon among hybrids as CVTs are usually the go-to because they help eke out another couple of MPGs vs. a conventional automatic. Interestingly, the tranny used with the hybrid has six rather than eight speeds and this results in less upshifting while accelerating.
The plug-in hybrid can operate as an EV, which means silent running for about 30 miles (assuming you charged up the battery).You can also toggle between EV Mode and various other modes, as you like – and it’s almost as quick as the non-hybrid Sorento with the turbocharged 2.5 liter engine (0-60 in just over 7 seconds).
And – once again – no CVT automatic.
At The Curb
There are so many crossovers on the market – and they are so much alike – that deciding which one to pick comes down to Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Or maybe just brand loyalty. But there are some differences, here and there.
The big one, here, is the extra row – vs. the two-rows-only that come in all the other small crossovers except the VW Tiguan and the Mitsubishi Outlander. It’s a big deal, because it makes the Sorento – as well as its VW and Mitsu rivals – a small crossover for a big family. Or even a family that only has two kids. Because those kids will have friends and where are they going to sit?
The Sorento has the room.
You could, of course, move up a size – from compact to mid-sized – and then the number of three-row choices will increase to a dozen or so. But in that case, you will be moving up a size to a larger crossover and that may be more than you need.
Which makes the Sorento exactly the right size if you’re not wanting to upsize.
The main compromise is that with the third row in use, there’s less space (12.6 cubic feet) behind it for stuff than you’d have in a mid-sized crossover that’s a little bit longer. But there may be enough space for you. And if you’re not using the third row for passengers, the available space for stuff opens up to 75.5 cubic feet – which is a lot of space to carry home boxes and other things when you’re not carrying around a bunch of kids.
The Rest
As mentioned earlier, there are several things you can get with the non-hybrid Sorento that you can’t get with either iteration of the hybrid – including the slightly off-roady X-Pro trim that is centered on a set of 17 inch wheels shod with grippier all-terrain tires that make this version of this small crossover a bit more off-roady.
You also get a driver-selectable center locking differential – although there’s no Low range gearing, because this isn’t a 4WD SUV.
But you do get a bit more snow-day capability than the typical crossover – plus a very good 12 speaker Bose audio system and a one-piece digital instrument panel that curves toward the driver.
Plus a heated steering wheel and heated second row seats.
The Bottom Line
The big dilemma here isn’t deciding which crossover is right for you. It is deciding which iteration of this crossover is right for you.
. . .
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I can only hope the Kia and Hyundai CUVs are better than the Nissan Rogue/Mitsubishi Outlander you described recently. We have a Mitsubishi Outlander as a rental while our Hyundai is in the body shop.
It’s the singularly MOST uncomfortable vehicle I’ve ever driven. I have the driver’s seat all the way back and lifted as high as it goes and my legs are still cramping up. And as for my butt? I’ve sat on more comfortable aluminum bleachers at IMS for the Indy 500 or stadium seats at a ball and stick sporting event.
Yes it has three row seating but no human being is sitting in the third row. Maybe a puppy or kitten, but no person. (Unless you want to take the Jaws of Life to extricate them if they get in.)
Sure it’s cheaper, but it SCREAMS cheap. Thin sheet metal, plastic interior, and the goofiest shifter ever designed by man.
And the 3 Cyl and CVT? At highway speeds it isn’t too bad, but around town you can listen to the engine surge and fall off in stop and go.
The Mrs. is Overly Obsessed with getting a new ride, and a new CUV. I like talking about cars but I was blunt in telling her I really don’t care about CUVs and whatever we buy I’d better be comfortable sitting in the drivers seat.
She’s getting a real education on car prices these days. Any decent ride we get we’re not rolling off the lot for less than $35K. Which squares with the Kia prices you quoted.
I see a lot of horror stories about late model Hyundai/Kias online. Lots of engines blowing up well before 100K miles. Years ago, they seemed like pretty decent cars. I still see a good number of older ones on the roads. I doubt these newer ones will be the same. Of course, you can probably say the same about most new cars today.
I see an awful lot of Kia’s & Hyundai’s around. Since the Koreans have a strong market share of low cost (which is relative, I know) cars in the US, perhaps we needn’t spend billions of dollars protecting their peninsula.
The Orange Oracle hasn’t piped up on this subject (yet). But he and Kim Jong-Un are old buddies, and surely will do a deal after Trump disposes of the piano-playing Ukie comedian.
Well, you’ll work harder with a gun in your back
For a bowl of rice a day
Slave for soldiers till you starve
Then your head is skewered on a stake
It’s a holiday in North Korea
It’s tough, kid, but it’s life
— Dead Kennedys, Holiday in Cambodia
for around $10k less, you can still get AWD. That should be enough for most people with this type of vehicle. To me, it would be a no brainer. No hybrid.