2022 Kia Sorento Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Though any version of the 2022 Kia Sorento is sufficiently stylish, the X-Line treatment gives this midsize SUV serious presence. Rugged bumpers, matte-finish wheels and black lower body cladding, a lifted suspension, and robust roof rails add definition and purpose to an already attractive sport-ute.

Our test vehicle had the X-Line package, which Kia newly offers with S and EX trim in addition to as-tested SX Prestige specification. With the Sorento X-Line, all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard. To this, our test vehicle added extra-cost Wolf Gray paint, Rust-colored leather, floor mats, and a cargo net. The total MSRP came to $45,310, including the $1,215 destination charge.

You don’t need to spend that much money on a Kia Sorento. The base LX trim with front-wheel drive (FWD) starts at $29,590, plus destination. Drop the X-Line package, resist the temptation to add extras, and you can park a plush Sorento SX Prestige front-driver out in front of your place for $42,405, including destination.

No matter which version of the 2022 Kia Sorento you choose, you’re going to get an SUV that exudes quality. That descriptor applies to the leather upholstery and simulated wood trim on the dashboard of our test vehicle, but also extends to all Sorentos through how the door releases operate and the transmission shifter feels in your hand with each and every use.

Not only that, but the Sorento’s cabin reflects rock-solid construction. Nothing about it looks or feels flimsy, and Kia applies impressive attention to design detail even in the most affordable Sorento LX model. Miraculously, the Sorento’s keen sense of interior style and traditional cable-operated transmission shifter do not negatively impact practical storage space.

In our opinion, if you buy a new Kia Sorento, chances are good that with every errand, commute, and road trip, you’ll feel like you got the best deal of your lifetime even if you had to pay sticker price.

The Sorento’s standard engine is an unremarkable 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that, according to Kia, takes almost 9.5 seconds to accelerate the 3,715-pound SUV to 60 mph. That sluggish performance is why we recommend any of the Sorento’s other powertrains, which include a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a turbocharged hybrid powertrain, and a new-for-2022 turbocharged plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Kia isn’t blind to the base engine’s lackluster power, which could be why it comes only with LX and S trim. Starting with the Sorento EX, the SUV has the far more satisfying turbo 2.5-liter, which generates 281 hp at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque between 1,700 rpm and 4,000 rpm. This engine is arguably more enjoyable than the V6 in the larger Kia Telluride, which cranks out a little more power at 291 hp, but pales in comparison when it comes to torque at 262 lb-ft. And torque is what you feel from behind the wheel when you accelerate.

With the turbo engine, Kia also swaps out the Sorento’s standard eight-speed automatic transmission for an eight-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. It powers the front wheels unless you get the torque-vectoring AWD system. With AWD, Kia says a turbo Sorento should scoot to 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds. Given the specs, it seems like it should be quicker than that.

Nevertheless, the surge of torque and snappy transmission make the Sorento feel plenty energetic. Better yet, despite the X-Line’s raised suspension, it drives more like a sports sedan than a sport/utility.

In addition to shoeing the SX Prestige with 20-inch alloy wheels and remarkably sticky 255/45 Continental CrossContact LX Sport tires, Kia tunes the suspension for an excellent blend of compliance and composure. The SUV soaks up rumpled roads yet supplies excellent body motion control and a decent amount of communication. On the writhing ribbons of blacktop laced across the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu, California, the Sorento SX Prestige proved itself an unexpectedly willing dance partner, and despite heavy use the brakes emitted nary a shudder or rumble let alone any hint of fade.

Though the X-Line package bumps ground clearance from 6.9 inches to 8.2 inches and improves the Sorento’s angles of approach, breakover, and departure, the suspension lift is more for show than go. Until Kia demonstrates to us otherwise, our contention is that a Sorento is best used for light off-roading excursions. It will probably tackle more serious terrain if necessary, but given the standard rubber and lack of body and mechanical component protection, it’s not adviseable.

Given how the price of gas is through the roof, how is the Sorento SX Prestige X-Line’s fuel economy? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says you should expect to get 24 mpg in combined driving. That appears to be a figment of someone’s imagination, as we averaged 20.5 mpg on our evaluation loop and 20.7 mpg during the entirety of the week-long loan.

So, you should either plan to visit gas stations more often or try not to actually use the turbocharged engine’s power. Or you could just get a Sorento Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid to solve the fuel-efficiency equation.

Our test vehicle looked and often felt legitimately luxurious inside. However, why Kia would call the appealing leather color Rust is beyond us. Since when is rust a good thing?

This year, the SX Prestige gets a 14-way power driver’s seat thanks to an added thigh support extension. Front passengers enjoy 10-way power adjustment, and both front seats are heated and ventilated. If you live where winter can be cruel, a heated steering wheel is also standard in the SX Prestige X-Line. Driver comfort is excellent, though the hard plastic on the center console can rub on and irritate a driver’s leg after a while.

Second-row captain’s chairs are standard starting with EX trim. New for 2022, they are heated in the SX Prestige X-Line. Kia clearly designed this area for kids, including cupholders molded into the door armrests, USB charging ports, rear air conditioning vents, dual storage pockets on the front seatbacks, and other handy storage solutions. Additionally, the Sorento’s available panoramic sunroof extends clear over their heads. Oh, and the seats are comfortable, too.

The same cannot be said of the Sorento’s third-row seat. Our advice is that if you actually need a third-row, consider getting a Kia Telluride or the company’s excellent Carnival multi-purpose vehicle (ahem, minivan) instead.

Why’s that? While adults will fit into the Sorento’s third row, they won’t be happy. The bottom cushion is as flat as central Nebraska and with the second-row seats moved all the way back in their tracks, kneecaps are on the menu due to the restrictive legroom. Plus, the third-row head restraints are flush against the rear window with very little crush-space between occupants and the texting idiot who is about to slam into the back of the Kia.

We think it’s better to just fold that third-row seat down to expand the measly 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space into 38.5 cubic feet. Fold the second-row seats down, and the Sorento can swallow 75.5 cubic feet of cargo. To make loading easier when your arms are full, the Sorento offers a “smart” power tailgate that opens when the key fob is nearby. This is great when you intend for the liftgate to open, and not great when you don’t.

Starting this year, the only Sorento that still has an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is the base LX trim. Others get a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen display with navigation, satellite radio, Kia Connect services, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Unfortunately, the base infotainment system offers wireless smartphone integration while the 10.25-inch version requires a cable plugged into a USB port.

Overall, the infotainment system offers plenty of features and functions with an intuitive user interface. However, the font style, graphics, and colors might not be to everyone’s tastes. Let’s call them inventive, and perhaps take note that someone at Kia must be a big Prince fan given the amount of purple that reigns supreme on this SUV’s digital displays.

Fundamentally, the Sorento’s infotainment system is the same as what you’ll find in many Hyundai models. Hyundai is Kia’s corporate sibling, and they share this technology. However, in our experience, the voice recognition systems in Kias are not nearly as good as what Hyundai provides. It is unclear why—perhaps there are differences between Kia Connect and Hyundai Blue Link connected service packages—but the disparity exists.

Oddly, Kia reserves a 12-speaker Bose premium surround-sound system for the SX Prestige X-Line. It seems to us that people who aren’t paying full freight might also like to have a decent audio system in their Sorentos. Wireless smartphone charging is standard starting with EX trim.

Kia Drive Wise is standard in every 2022 Sorento, but the contents of the package vary depending on the trim level. Our test vehicle had the full list of features, including now expected technologies as well as some surprises.

Among the more unusual safety features, the Sorento’s rear-seat reminder system uses ultrasonic sensors to monitor the interior for movement for 24 hours after you lock and leave the SUV. If the system detects movement, the owner receives an alert on their smartphone and the vehicle’s lights with flash and horn will sound to get the attention of passersby.

The Sorento also offers Junction Assist. This uses the forward-collision warning system to identify when it is unsafe to make a turn, and can brake the SUV to prevent a collision.

Additionally, a Blind View Monitor system is exclusively available on the SX Prestige X-Line. It uses cameras on either side of the Sorento to show the driver what’s in the SUV’s blind spots by replacing one of the digital gauges with a live video feed. It works only when the driver uses the turn signal to indicate a lane change, and enhances rather than replaces the traditional blind-spot monitoring system.

Intelligent Speed Limit Assist is also available, working with the adaptive cruise control to automatically adjust speed in accordance with posted speed limits. Another feature that uses the adaptive cruise control, in conjunction with Lane Following Assist, is the Highway Driving Assist technology.

Highway Driving Assist is a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system. It requires the driver to hold the steering wheel, but it will automatically adjust speed to maintain a safe distance to traffic ahead and will keep the Sorento centered in its intended lane of travel. We used the technology on a variety of Southern California freeways, and it works exceptionally well, striking us as nearly ready for a hands-free version similar to Ford Blue Cruise and General Motors Super Cruise.

If you’re unable to avoid a collision, know that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) calls the 2022 Sorento a Top Safety Pick. The only negative rating the SUV gets is for the headlights that come on all but the Kia Sorento SX and SX Prestige trims. These top trim levels boast full LED headlights that earn the highest rating from the IIHS.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the Sorento a four-star overall crash-test rating. In the frontal-impact collision test, the SUV supplies four-star driver and front passenger protection. Otherwise, the only other four-star rating is for rollover resistance. In all other assessments, the Sorento gets the highest five-star rating.

Most of the Kia Sorento’s competitors on the lower end of the midsize SUV spectrum are not three-row SUVs. In fact, the only other one is the GMC Acadia, where a third row is an option.

Furthermore, the Sorento offers both hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain options. The Kia’s only electrified competitors include the Hyundai Santa Fe, the Toyota Venza, and the newly introduced Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe.

Is getting the Kia Sorento Hybrid worth it? Absolutely. With 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, it won’t be as lively to drive as the Sorento with the 2.5-liter turbo, but the EPA says it will get between 35 mpg and 37 mpg in combined driving. Plus, though it costs $1,700 extra with S trim, in EX AWD specification the hybrid model is actually cheaper than the gas-only model.

The Sorento Plug-in Hybrid is a tougher sell. It comes only in SX trim, and can travel 32 miles on electricity before operating as a hybrid and supplying 34 mpg in combined driving. But, the Sorento PHEV costs $7,000 more than an equivalent gas-only Sorento SX. Ouch.

One thing is for sure, though. No matter which version of the 2022 Kia Sorento you choose, the generous warranty, the impeccable quality, the modern safety tech, and the stylish design do more than help this SUV to stand tall and apart from its competition. These qualities make you feel like you should have paid more, but didn’t.