New 2024 Kia Sorento Interior, Colors, Exterior – Kia bets that a diminutive third-row seat will distinguish it from the Hyundai Santa Fe, which shares the same platform, as well as some of the most popular family wagons on the market right now, such as the Ford Explorer and Lexus RX. On a spec sheet, the additional seats may stick out. Still, the otherwise excellent Sorento performs better in the five-seat configuration, especially in vehicles with a more affordable hybrid powertrain.
2024 Kia Sorento Redesign
A plug-in hybrid drivetrain will be added to the 2024 Kia Sorento this year. Most models now come with a 10.3-inch touchscreen, and more variants may be customized with rugged-looking X-Line add-ons. The new Sorento’s styling has confused us more than it has fascinated us. It once wore generally attractive SUV cues; today, to stand out, it wears metallic fillips and a razor-mesh grille. We get what you’re saying, but some road-to-nowhere elements and the cluttered, video game-inspired design of the display and buttons are giving us pause.
Although the Sorento handles more enthusiastically and maintains solid control over its ride quality, its standard 191-hp, the 4-cylinder engine won’t create much noise. Although its 281-hp turbo-4 has outstanding acceleration, it also produces more engine noise. The 227-hp hybrid system that receives our approval also achieves this; it is effective and just quick enough. We are prepared to drive the future plug-in hybrid, which will cost more but use less gasoline and deliver better performance.
Four adults can comfortably fit into the Sorento. Although there are seven seats available, the middle passenger in the middle row and anybody in the back will understand why those seats are best utilized only rarely. All Sorentos feature plenty of cargo space and several small-item storage options, not to mention nice extras such as USB connections integrated into the front seatbacks on some models. The second-row seats slide fore and aft on tracks and provide almost as much support as the comfy buckets up front.
Interior
The 2024 Kia Sorento claims to have seven seats. If you prefer, make four full sizes, and the remaining ones should be medium or smaller. Thanks to its comfortable seats and spacious cargo area, it earns an 8 for comfort and usefulness. Three rows of cloth-covered seats are standard in the Sorento’s basic version, which measures 189.4 inches long on a 110.8-inch wheelbase. All models above the Sorento LX include a power driver’s seat and synthetic or genuine leather, most of which may be customized to include a power front passenger seat.
The Sorentos we’ve driven offered supportive front seats with adequate lumbar cushioning, a solid driving posture, and a nice blend of firm bolsters for long-distance comfort. Most people can fit in the front, where there is plenty of headroom and 41.1 inches of legroom, and ample storage bins surround them in the console and doors. With 40.7 inches of legroom and either a sliding bench seat or a pair of captain’s chairs, row two allows passengers up to 6 feet tall to sit behind people who are as tall, with neighboring net pouches and USB outlets to store their carry-ons.
There are just 29.6 inches of legroom and a seat bottom low to the ground in the third row, which may be reached by pushing a button. It is only appropriate for brief journeys and tiny people. Even better, you can fold it down to increase the crossover’s 12.6 cubic feet of storage space to up to 45.0 cubic feet behind the back seats or 75.5 cubic feet behind the front row. This time around, Kia hasn’t improved the Sorento’s fit and finish. Even on the priciest models, hard plastic is present, and the engines are noisier. Previous iterations had a richer, more solid feel.
Engine
Although we haven’t had a chance to test the standard 191-hp inline-4 that accounts for the majority of its sales volume, it is swift enough in hybrid and turbo-4 form. We would recommend any of the other three options based on that powertrain’s performance in comparable goods. When the drive-mode selection is set to Sport, the Sorento’s 281-hp, 2.5-liter turbo-4 can power away from a standstill with authority. The dual-clutch transmission’s relationship to the turbo-4 in normal mode is obscured by uncertainty at low speeds.
It moves slowly and doesn’t react quickly enough to requests for passing power. Sport mode removes the powertrain’s uncertainties and also enables it to retain low speeds for longer. The Sorento weighs 3,979 lbs at base and up to 4,065 lbs with the torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system and calorie-dense luxury features like 20-inch wheels. The turbo-4 can not overcome this weight.
The Sorento Hybrid suits the efficient family atmosphere better. It has 227 net horsepower from a 1.6-liter turbo-4, electric motors, a battery pack, and an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It is also louder than the more potent Sorento. It does achieve low-forties city fuel efficiency numbers, which we were able to match on test drives.
We can’t wait to get into the plug-in hybrid since it should accelerate more swiftly than the hybrid alone can do and offer 32 miles of all-electric range thanks to its 66.9 engine electric motor and 13.8 kwh battery.
2024 Kia Sorento Release Date and Price
With three rows of seats, cloth upholstery, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the $30,665 Sorento LX offers a lot. We prefer the hybrid-equipped $36,465 Kia Sorento EX, which also has all-wheel drive, a panoramic sunroof, and wireless smartphone charging. Spending more than $55,000 is doable, but you shouldn’t.