2026 Kia Sorento Review: Expert Insights, Pricing, and Trims

Motor Trend

6 hours ago

For drivers who need something bigger than the Sportage but smaller than the Telluride, Kia builds the 2026 Sorento. This three-row midsize SUV attempts to find a sweet spot between Kia's compact crossover and larger three-row.
The current Sorento went on sale for 2021 and received a refresh for 2024. In addition to the gas-only model covered here, the 2026 Sorento is also offered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid. Rivals include the Subaru Outback, Honda Passport, and Hyundai Santa Fe. What's New
The 2026 Kia Sorento isn't expected to see many changes after a busy couple of years.
For 2024, the Sorento was updated with new exterior and interior design details, a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and the introduction of the off-road-inspired X-Pro trim level. Those changes were then applied to the Sorento Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid for 2025. What We Think
A Kia Sorento spent a year in MotorTrend's long-term review fleet, and for the most part it received consistent praise.
The Sorento's in-betweener size doesn't make it as effective for three-row duty as a larger SUV, but otherwise the Sorento is plenty versatile. The cabin feels spacious, with easy-folding seats to reconfigure the arrangement, and offers many areas to stash smaller items.
The Sorento is more stylish than a vehicle like this needs to be—but we're not complaining. Interior materials and design are relatively upscale, with attractive colors and finishes on offer. Tech features are sufficient for a modern vehicle, although physical buttons for basic functions would lead to a better user experience than the Sorento's touch-sensitive controls.
Choose the turbocharged engine; it's much more powerful than the standard I-4. That engine is paired to a dual-clutch automatic transmission that delivers clunky responses when pulling away from a stop. Otherwise the Sorento is pleasant to drive, with composed handling, ample acceleration, and a tight turning radius.
The 2026 Sorento carries over mostly the same as the 2025 model, but not much needed to change—it's still a solid all-around SUV. Top-Ranked Competitors MotorTrend Tested
As standard, the Sorento is equipped with a 2.5-liter I-4 engine that produces 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. That engine is connected to an eight-speed automatic , which routes output to standard FWD or available AWD. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph should take approximately 8.0 seconds.
An optional turbocharged 2.5-liter I-4 increases output to 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. It's also connected to an eight-speed automatic , but the dual-clutch type. We wish the transmission were better tuned, as it sometimes hesitates at low speeds.
Again, FWD is standard, and AWD is optional. In MotorTrend testing, a Sorento with this engine and AWD posted a 0–60-mph acceleration time of 6.3 seconds. MPGs and Range
Expect fuel economy for the 2026 Sorento's base engine to be rated at about 23/28-31 mpg city/highway depending on configuration. Driving range is a respectable 442–460 miles.
Fuel economy on the 2.5 Turbo models should rate at 20/27-29 mpg, with a 407-mile driving range. Sorento Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid
For better fuel economy and about 200 miles of extra driving range, Kia also offers the Sorento with a hybrid or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. Both 2026 Sorento hybrids use a 1.6-liter turbo-four, amplified by electricity to different degrees.
In the Sorento Hybrid, fuel economy is rated at approximately 34-36/34-36 mpg city/highway. Driving range is an impressive 602–637 miles. Meanwhile, the Sorento PHEV gets 76 mpg-e combined and has about 30 miles of all-electric driving range.
Compared trim to trim, the Sorento Hybrid is only a few hundred dollars more expensive than the non-hybrid equivalent, a difference that could be negated by fuel expense savings over time. However, the Sorento PHEV is considerably more costly—worth it?
Decide by reading about the 2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid and 2026 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid. Sorento X-Pro: Off-Road Family SUV?
Kia offers the Sorento in X-Line trim, which is essentially an appearance package that gives the SUV a more rugged aesthetic. Above that, the X-Pro trim is essentially a half step up in terms of capability and looks.
The Sorento X-Pro at least comes with proper all-terrain tires wrapped around smaller 17-inch wheels, which helps with traction on loose surfaces and also provides a bit more cushion from road impacts. A lockable AWD function could also help the Sorento X-Pro get through tricky terrain. Thanks to additional cooling hardware, towing capacity rises to 4,000 pounds.
Otherwise, the Sorento X-Pro is just about looking tough. It has molded plastic skidplate accents and is offered with earthy exterior paint and interior upholstery color options. Safety Ratings and Features
In crash safety testing for 2025, the Sorento earned the highest five-star overall score from NHTSA.
Every new Sorento comes equipped with Kia's Drive Wise suite of driver-assist and active safety features. Among these are: Front and rear automatic emergency braking
Intersection collision avoidance
Side cross-traffic alert
Lane keep assist
Adaptive cruise control
Higher-end models gain blind-spot monitoring cameras, emergency evasive steering assist, low-speed collision mitigation, and enhanced adaptive cruise control with lane change assistance. Cargo Space and Interior Room
All Sorento models have three rows of seats. The 2026 Sorento has captain's chairs in its six-passenger configuration, but a seven-passenger layout is also available on lower-trim non-hybrid models.
The Sorento's interior capacity for passengers and cargo is generally aligned with similarly sized three-row SUVs. Technology
Every new Kia Sorento is equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen that has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as multi-device Bluetooth connectivity. Over-the-air update capability keeps the software fresh.
Entry level models have a 4.0-inch gauge cluster display, and higher-end trims gain a 12.3-inch all-digital gauge display.
All versions have USB ports in the first two rows of seats, and above the base trim a wireless charging pad and third-row USB ports are added, along with Wi-Fi hot spot functionality.
A six-speaker audio system is standard, and a Bose 12-speaker premium setup is available. Other optional tech features include a digital rearview mirror, 360-degree camera, and phone-as-key functionality. Kia Sorento Trim Levels
The 2026 Sorento is expected to be offered in a wide range of trim levels: Sorento LX
Sorento S
Sorento EX
Sorento SX
Sorento X-Line EX AWD
Sorento X-Line SX AWD
Sorento X-Line SX Prestige AWD
Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige AWD Value
Assuming pricing doesn't increase much for 2026, our pick in the lineup is with the Sorento S, as it seems like the most compelling value.
Standard features on the Sorento S include seven-passenger seating capacity, heated front seats, adaptive cruise control, and front and rear parking sensors. Unlike the lower LX trim, AWD is available with the S trim.