What is a Sorento? The Sorento is a midsize 3 row SUV built in the Hwasung, Korea assembly plant and sold in North America by Kia. The 2025 Sorento can seat up to 7 people and it offers a balance of practicality, fuel efficiency and technology, with a starting price of around $32,000. It’s smaller than Kia’s Telluride, but larger than the Sportage, making it a good choice for families who occasionally need third row seating.
The 2025 Kia Sorento is available in 7 trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX,
SX Prestige, X-Line and X-line Pro. There’s also a Sorento Hybrid and a Sorento Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) models. Kia sent me a Sorento SX Prestige AWD PHEV Hybrid SUV this week to test drive and review. It’s a very nicely equipped family hauler.
The 2025 Kia Sorento offers a compelling combination of practicality, features and value. It’s a good choice for families who need a 3 row SUV, but don’t want the size and price tag of a larger model, like the Kia Telluride. Key features include a spacious and well equipped interior, a strong warranty, hybrid and plug in hybrid power trains.
Here’s a detailed look at just some of the reasons to consider a 2025 Kia Sorento SUV:
Seating: With 3 row seating Sorento comfortably seats 7 passengers, making it a good option for families. While the third row is best suited for occasional use for kids, it’s a practical feature for families who sometimes need the extra seats. Plus, Sorento offers good cargo space, even with the third row in use.
Features: Even base models are equipped with a good list of features; including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a suite of driver assist technologies and plenty of USB charging ports for everyone.
Power: Sorento offers a 1.6 liter turbocharged engine option with 261 horsepower for those who want more performance, and in front (FWD) or all wheel drive (AWD).
Safety: The 2025 Sorento has received the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Plus, Sorento was awarded a perfect 5 Star Safety overall rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Tech: Sorento comes standard with a comprehensive suite of tech features, including automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, and blind spot monitoring.
Value: The 2025 Sorento is a well rounded SUV with a starting price under $32,000 that offers a good balance of space, features and value. It’s a solid choice for families who want a practical and versatile styled vehicle without breaking the bank.
Warranty: Kia’s class leading warranty coverage is among the best in the industry, offering peace of mind for new owners for up to 10 years and 100,000 miles.
To showcase all of these items, this week Kia sent me a 2025 Sorento SX Prestige SUV to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this AWD PHEV model is $53,090. The only extra cost option is the carpeted floor mats for $225. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), including the $1,375 destination charge, is: $54,690.
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealer fees, the out the door and in your garage total purchase price came to: $61,526. At just $474 under $62 Grand, you get a very highly optioned and very fuel efficient, midsize 3 row SUV that gets 74 MPGe in hybrid mode, and 33 MPG in gas engine only combined driving. The green house gas rating is a 9, and the smog rating is a 6, both out of 10.
The all electric driving range is set at 30 miles on a full battery charge, and the battery pack can be recharged in about 4 hours on a 240 volt Level 2 charger. Using the 120 volt Level 1 charging cord that comes with the Sorento, you can add about 5 miles of range per hour for a fully charged battery in just over 6 hours at home or anywhere really.
These are all very good numbers for an SUV that can carry 7 people, plus pets and cargo and still tow a 2,000 pound trailer. Total combined driving range is an impressive 440 miles with a full battery charge and a full tank of gas.
So, call, click or visit your local Kia dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on the 2025 Kia Sorento SX Prestige AWD PHEV Hybrid SUV. And remember that the base price for a new Sorento starts at only $31,990. Kia – Movement that Inspires.
Be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today. Have a great day, drive safely, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright – Tony the Car Guy.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to [email protected] and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net
