The Kia Sorento () is a series of two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive family SUVs manufactured by the South Korean manufacturer Kia since 2002 through four generations. Initially a compact SUV built on a body-on-frame chassis, the second-generation Sorento transitioned to a larger car-based platform which placed it into the mid-size crossover SUV class, and has been developed alongside the Hyundai Santa Fe. It is presumably named after the Italian city of Sorrento, although Kia did not confirm this.
First generation (BL; 2002)
2002–2006
Debuting in late 2001, the first generation Sorento was a traditional truck-based body-on-frame SUV. All US-spec Sorentos also came with dual front airbags and dual side-curtain airbags in the front and rear. An optional four-wheel drive system with low range received praise for adding to the vehicle's off-road ability.
It had two transmission options, a 5-speed manual or 4- and 5-speed automatic (pre-2005 models have a 4-speed automatic, whilst 2005 Sorentos came with a 5-speed tip-tronic style automatic). First generation Sorentos are equipped with a Hyundai-manufactured 3.5-litre 24-valve DOHC V6 engine producing at 5500 rpm, and of torque at 3,000 rpm.
Common features of the first generation Sorento were 4-wheel disc brakes (standard on all models), optional anti-lock braking system (ABS), and a 21.1-gallon (79.9 litres) fuel tank.
There were two trim levels available for the Sorento: either the base LX or the up-level EX.
2006 facelift
The 2007 Sorento received upgrades, such as the transition from the 3.5-litre Sigma to the 3.3-litre with and , and the 3.8-litre Lambda, with and and increased tow capacity from to . Projector beam headlamps were added, along with new tail lamps. The 5-speed manual transmission was no longer available; the 5-speed Sportmatic tip-tronic automatic transmission was made standard for all vehicles. Most of the EX trim had full-time AWD and 4x4 Low modes; The LX had a part-time system with 2WD High (rear wheel drive), 4WD High (not for dry pavement) and 4WD Low modes. The 2007 Kia Sorento earned a five-star crash safety rating, the highest rating possible, for all seating positions in frontal and side impact crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The tail lights and front end were upgraded, but the two-box design stayed.
Safety
Euro NCAP
IIHS
The 2002 Sorento received Poor to Average ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 2007 facelifted version had improved safety ratings for moderate overlap front crashes and head restraints & seats, but retained its Poor side impact rating.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|Test
| style="text-align:center;"|Rating
|-
|Overall:
| style="text-align:center;"| (2002)<br /> (2007)
|-
|Moderate overlap front:
| style="text-align:center;"|Acceptable (2003)<br />Good (2007)
|-
|Side:
| style="text-align:center;"|Poor
|-
|Head restraints & seats:
| style="text-align:center;"|Poor (2003)<br />Good (2007)
|}
ANCAP
Second generation (XM; 2009)
thumb|left|Pre-facelift
A redesigned Sorento (codename XM) was launched in South Korea in April 2009. The second generation was Kia's first model to be manufactured in the United States, in Kia's new US$1 billion West Point, Georgia, factory (which also builds the sister vehicle to the Sorento, the Hyundai Santa Fe). The second generation used Kia's corporate Tiger Nose grille, and was the first Kia vehicle to offer Kia UVO. Furthermore, unlike its body-on-frame predecessor, the new Sorento adopted a unibody platform with fully independent suspension. The vice president of marketing for Kia Motors America said that Kia initially considered changing the name due to the radical change in the Sorento's body style.
The second-generation Sorento introduced Kia's new design language, and introduced new features and technology that would later become available on other Kia models.
The four-cylinder model returned to the lineup for North American models after being absent between 2007 and 2010. The engine was transverse, and the suspension all-independent. The change in body construction as well as the loss of a low-ratio transfer case made the Sorento 475 pounds less than the old one model for model, to gain in performance and economy.
The second generation Sorento was originally available in four models – the Base, LX, EX and top-of-the-line SX models. The SX is only available with the 3.5-litre V6. The Base and LX both come standard with the 2.4-litre straight-4 and EX has the GDI version of the same engine which is rated 191 hp. The V6 is available as an upgrade for both the LX and EX. The SX Limited model became available in 2012.
<gallery widths="200" heights="150">
File:Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi AWD Spirit (XM) – Frontansicht, 15. Juli 2012, Düsseldorf.jpg|Kia Sorento Spirit (Germany; pre-facelift)
File:Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi AWD Spirit (XM) – Heckansicht, 15. Juli 2012, Düsseldorf.jpg|Kia Sorento Spirit (Germany; pre-facelift)
File:2011 Kia Sorento SX.jpg|2011 Kia Sorento SX (US; pre-facelift)
File:2010 Kia Sorento (XM) Platinum wagon (2010-10-16) 02.jpg|Interior (pre-facelift)
</gallery>
2012 facelift
The Sorento received a mid-cycle refresh for the 2014 model year, unveiled in 2012 at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, and went on sale in first quarter of 2013. Major changes included a revised instrument panel, front and rear end with new tail lights modeled after the Optima, as well as several other mechanical and interior changes.
For 2015, the six-speed manual transmission option, previously only available on the Base and LX models, was discontinued, leaving the six-speed automatic transmission as the only transmission option for the Sorento.
<gallery widths="200" heights="150">
File:2015 Kia Sorento KX-3 SAT NAV CRDi 2.2 Front.jpg|2015 Kia Sorento KX-3 (UK; facelift)
File:2015 Kia Sorento KX-3 SAT NAV CRDi 2.2 Rear.jpg|2015 Kia Sorento KX-3 (UK; facelift)
File:2013 Kia Sorento (XM MY13) Si wagon (2018-09-28) 02.jpg|2013 Kia Sorento Si (Australia; facelift)
File:2012 Kia Sorento (XM MY13) SLi wagon (2012-10-26) 02.jpg|Interior (facelift)
</gallery>
Safety
Euro NCAP
IIHS
The 2011 Sorento received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|Test
| style="text-align:center;"|Rating
|-
|Overall:
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
|Moderate overlap front:
| style="text-align:center;"|Good
|-
|Side:
| style="text-align:center;"|Good
|-
|Roof strength:
| style="text-align:center;"|Good
|-
|Head restraints & seats:
| style="text-align:center;"|Good
|}
ANCAP
Awards
The 2011 Sorento was awarded the maximum five-star safety rating from the crash safety experts, European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) and Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). The XM Sorento awarded 'Top Safety Pick' from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States.
The second generation Sorento was awarded New Zealand Autocar magazine SUV of the Year, "great looker, does absolutely everything as it should. Engine is world class". The Kia Sorento EX V6 model earned an “Excellent” overall score by American magazine Consumer Reports’ July 2010 issue.
Marketing
As part of 2014 Sorento market launch in the US, a campaign titled "It has an answer for everything" was unveiled during Super Bowl XLVII. "Space Babies" (directed by Jake Scott) commercial was premiered in the fourth quarter, featuring the existence of a faraway planet known as "Babylandia" and follows infant boys, girls, dogs, pandas and more on their journey to Earth to join their new families. After taking it all in, the curious child begins to offer an alternative theory passed on by a friend but his quick-thinking father calls upon UVO's voice-activated jukebox feature to hurriedly change the subject and survive another day in the adventures of parenthood. "Tight Space" (directed by Peter Darley Miller and Colin Jeffery) showed two of the CUV's available features – power-folding mirrors and power liftgate – help a determined father make the slimmest parking garage space manageable while his skeptical wife and children look on.
Third generation (UM; 2014)
Kia revealed the third generation Sorento in South Korea on 28 August 2014. The vehicle later made its European debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. The third generation Sorento shares a platform with the third-generation Kia Carnival, and is available in either 5-seater or 7-seater, depending on configuration. It is 95mm longer than the previous generation, but lower for better handling. Kia claims a rigidity strengthening of 14% on its high tensile steel and the Sorento scored good evaluation in small overlap crash test by IIHS. In the US, the Sorento continues to be produced at the West Point, Georgia assembly plant.
Available engines are a 3.3-litre Lambda II V6, the existing 2.4-litre GDi I4 that make the same output as the outgoing engine, and the new 2.0-litre turbo I4. A 2.2-litre CRDi diesel engine with variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) is also available.
The third generation Sorento comes equipped with a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic transmission. Drivetrains are front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
<gallery widths="220" heights="137">
File:2017 Kia Sorento KX-4 4X4 Automatic 2,2 Rear.jpg|Rear view
File:Kia Sorento (UM) interior.jpg|Interior
</gallery>
2017 facelift
In 2017, the Kia Sorento received updates for 2018 or 2019 depending on market location, these included a new front grille, bumper covers and exterior lighting with similar design cues derived from the 2019 Kia Forte and the 2018 Kia Cadenza for the 2019 model year. The L, LX, EX and SX trim levels received refreshed projector beam headlamps with LED positioning lights. The SXL trim received new LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights, LED amber turn signal and positioning lights, and LED tail lamps.
Other changes include new exterior colours, new wheels, third row seating became standard on all trim levels with all engine types, driver attention warning system added to all trim levels, and a 2.4-litre engine replaced the 2.0-litre engine on lower trim levels. The 2019 Kia Sorento features a 3.3-litre V6 engine on higher trim levels. The trim levels are available with all-wheel drive, except for the base L trim, which is only available with front-wheel drive.
<gallery widths="220" heights="120">
File:2018 Kia Sorento KX-2 CRDI ISG 4X4 2.2 Front.jpg|Kia Sorento (facelift)
File:2018 Kia Sorento KX-2 CRDI ISG 4X4 2.2 Rear.jpg|Rear view
</gallery>
Markets
North America
In the United States, the 2016 Kia Sorento is offered in five models, and four models within the United Kingdom. KX-1 base model, KX-2, KX-3 and KX-4 with the GT-Line from late 2018 onwards replacing the KX-4.
Pakistan
In Pakistan, Kia Pakistan launched the facelifted third-generation Sorento as a locally assembled model at a Power Play event held at the Karachi factory on 14 February 2021. The event was held at Lucky Motor Corporation's production plant, where various personalities from the automotive sector were invited. The SUV is offered in three trim levels: 2.4 L FWD, 2.4 L AWD and 3.5 L FWD. The two 2.4 L trim levels come with the 2.4 L Theta II MPi I4 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission while the 3.5 L trim comes with the 3.5 L Lambda II MPi V6 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission.
Safety
Euro NCAP
IIHS
The 2017 Sorento received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|Test
| style="text-align:center;"|Rating
|-
|Overall:
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
|Small overlap front:
| style="text-align:center;"|Good
|-
|Moderate overlap front:
| style="text-align:center;"|Good
|-
|Side:
| style="text-align:center;"|Good
|-
|Roof strength:
| style="text-align:center;"|Good
|-
|Head restraints & seats:
| style="text-align:center;"|Good
|-
|Front crash prevention:
| style="text-align:center;"|Superior
|-
|Headlights:
| style="text-align:center;"|Poor/Good varying with trim level
|-
|Child seat anchors (Latch) ease of use:
| style="text-align:center;"|Acceptable
|}
ANCAP
Marketing
In November 2014, Kia collaborated with 20th Century Fox to create a Wolverine-themed Sorento to promote the home media release of X-Men: Days of Future Past. The custom Sorento made its debut at the 2015 Australian Open, with a series of videos featuring Rafael Nadal teaming up with the X-Men to save the tennis event from the Sentinels.
In January 2015, Kia released their Sorento Super Bowl XLIX commercial featuring Pierce Brosnan.