Kia Sorento 2026 Review: What To Expect

Photo Source/Copyright: Kia

Three-row SUVs have a bad habit of getting oversized. The 2026 Kia Sorento pushes back against that bloating trend, offering 189.8 inches of length, seating for up to seven, and a starting MSRP of $32,390 (excluding destination fee). It hits a practical sweet spot that keeps shoppers from defaulting straight to massive segment heavyweights like the Telluride or Palisade.

Two Engines, Two Personalities

The entry-level 2.5-liter four-cylinder in the LX and S trims puts out 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, completely fine for school runs and grocery hauls. Step up to the EX, though, and that same displacement picks up a turbo, jumping to 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque routed through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. That power jump isn’t subtle.

Front-wheel drive comes standard, while All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with Terrain Mode is available from the S trim upward. X-Line and X-Pro versions add 8.2 inches of ground clearance plus a center-locking differential. Notably, the X-Pro drops to 17-inch wheels wrapped in thick all-terrain rubber. A smaller wheel diameter with taller sidewalls looks counterintuitive on a showroom floor, but it’s exactly right for washboard gravel roads.

Key Specs at a Glance

• Starting Price: $32,390 MSRP (LX, excluding destination fee)
• Fuel Economy: Up to 23 miles per gallon (MPG) city / 31 MPG highway / 26 MPG combined
• Towing Capacity: 3,500 lbs (Turbo); 4,500 lbs (X-Pro, properly equipped)
• Seating Options: 7-passenger (second-row bench) or 6-passenger (captain’s chairs)
• Cargo Volume: 12.6 cu. ft. (behind row 3), 45 cu. ft. (behind row 2), 75.5 cu. ft. total

Real-World Space and Practicality

That 12.6 cubic feet behind the third row takes some flak online for holding only about five bags of groceries. However, context matters: this SUV is roughly ten inches shorter than full-sized competitors, and the dual-level hidden cargo floor tucks away loose gear effortlessly. Drop the third row on a Tuesday afternoon, and you open up 45 cubic feet of highly usable space where most owners spend 90 percent of their time anyway.

Choosing between the second-row bench and captain’s chairs comes down to daily logistics. Captain’s chairs trade the seventh seat for a pass-through aisle, a lifesaver when buckling a toddler into row three while holding a hot coffee. The bench keeps maximum capacity intact. Neither answer is wrong; they just solve different mornings.

Tech and Safety as Standard Equipment

Kia didn’t lock essential tech behind upper trim paywalls. Every Sorento gets a 12.3-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims layer on a curved panoramic setup, with twin 12.3-inch panels spanning 24 inches of glass, alongside Bose audio and Digital Key 2.0.

Five USB charging ports come standard on the LX, expanding to seven from the S trim up. It sounds like a minor detail until hour four of a family road trip.

Safety equipment is equally thorough. Earning IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ honors for models built after September 2025, standard driver assists include:

• Auto Emergency Braking (pedestrian, cyclist, and junction-turning detection)
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Lane Keeping and Lane Following Assist
• Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go
• Nine standard airbags, including second-row side protection

The Verdict

The third row is snug for full-grown adults, and Kia doesn’t pretend otherwise. It’s intentionally sized that way to keep the overall footprint tight and maneuverable. Kids fit fine. Adults across town, fine. Adults to Denver, take the Telluride. Schedule a test drive today to see which setup fits your driveway.