2017 Kia Sorento | CarGurus Test Drive Review

My wife and I are shopping for a new midsize crossover SUV, and we can’t come to agreement on what to buy. I want the efficient and sensible Subaru Outback. She wants the roomy and luxurious Acura MDX. Both meet our criteria in terms of a safe family vehicle, but one costs far more than the other. I figured that the 2017 Kia Sorento would be an excellent compromise, one giving her the upscale styling and interior amenities she wants while keeping costs in check. Kias are terrific vehicles, stylishly rendered and made with quality and care. Wholly undeserving of whatever residual negativity might be associated with the Kia badge, they, and you, would be surprised by just how good modern Kias are.

Presenter: Christian Wardlaw
Producer: Dan Sharp

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Crossovers & SUVs

[troyklassen]

I took your recommendation and test drove one and was blown away at what a excellent vehicle it is . I picked up a SXL with white leather and graphite exterior coloring. The wife is hard to please and she even loves it so a win win for sure. Thanks a lot for your concise reviews keep it up. We got rid of a 08 MB GL that she did not want to part with which tells you how great the Kia is.

[pniiice]

got my stripped down 2015 with 15000 miles for 20k. I'm loving it.

[dr]

I did my research.... _Consumer Reports:_ 5* RELIABILITY. 5* user recommend/loved. 5* crash test. _JD Power_ top rated for quaility. _Intellichoice 5 Year Resale value:_ 55% (same as Audi Q5 & Toyota Camry at 55%--Mercedes is below 48%), though this fact doesn't matter to me as I keep my cars for 10-15years (only sold my '12 VW Sportwagen TDI due to Dieselgate scandal). In a Dec'16 British Auto review magazine (go to B&N) they rated 100 Top SUVs in the world, and the Sorento came in at #4, I believe (Q7 at #3, just so you see the league it's in). I test drove SUVs _repeatedly, _ the Q5 v6, Q5 v4, Mercedes GLC300, Volvo, BMW, Mazda CX-5, Toyota--all top rated researched cars in this category. I felt you're _not_ "giving up" on anything in performance/reliability for an apples-to-apples feature spec price and the fact that it does things BETTER [touch screen infotainment with _TONS_ of 21st century stuff like Apple Carplay/Android link, etc which newly released Mercedes(?!) or Audi models mentioned STILL(?!)_don't_ have but only have that clunky rotary push dial GPS--wtf are they thinking--it's 2017!? My '12 VW even had touch screen!] Take also into account that the steel Kia uses is _stronger and lighter_ than the competition since their parent company is Hyundai (monster conglamorate) that owns Hyundai Steel which sells LOWER grade steel to auto competition all over the world, BUT puts their superior _stronger/lighter/mpg saving_ steel INTO THEIR cars. The front 3 windows have noise dampening acoustic glass, which is only found in very high end cars. Also consider, that the LEAD AUDI designer (Peter Schreyer--responsible in large part for Audi's _HUGE_ success) was brought over years ago to make Kia cars perform/feel inch-for-inch "Germanesque", which the Sorento DEFINITELY(!) is inside & out--look at the angled door sills and tell me that's not an Audi A6 door, LOL! Also look at user reviews in KBB, Edmunds, online car mags, etc--top rated overall user/pro reviews. The case for the Sorento is REALLY compelling. Also, 10 yr/100, 000 mile warranty--best in the auto industry. I'm glad I bought this car and got a GOOD discount on it and drives as good as any much higher priced German/Japanese car. The V6 has good(!) pep (& maneuverability) I needed in _overtaking traffic, _ which is _extremely_ important to me considering how Californians drive out here. V6 pep isn't a "desire" but a life/death safety necessity here in CA! LOL. I'm averaging overall 23 mpg (50% in city) on the 2WD v6--not bad...not bad at all considering the car's size & powerful engine! I can feed it CHEAP COSTCO regular gas if I want to (which is recommended over Premium in this model). So bottom line: At least drive it and consider all the wealth of had data research out there that tends be be overwhelmingly all aces for this car on most _any_ metric....A NO-BRAINER for the "open-minded"--and I'm a die-hard German auto fan/multi-ex-owner. But "it is what it is"--a NEW world of contenders that are shoulders with the best, for a MUCH better price....

[rathk]

why do car reviewers always use the fully loaded trims for their review. when people think Kia they are not spending $45k on it

[coffeekhan]

A neighbor just bought a new Sorento, and at first, I thought it was a new Pilot. My wife thought it was a new Highlander. In any case, it is a very nice looking vehicle. I have always liked the Sorento, and seeing this new one made me start to think about it seriously for my next vehicle. Like Chris' wife, mine has a hard time warming up to either Kia or Hyundai, but I really like them. I will be looking in the used car market for mine, but glad to see that Kia has done such a good job with this vehicle. Good review, Chris.

[ncstewart]

Bought an SX with Advanced Technology package last Thursday. Got a superior deal plus almost retail for my trade. Already 200+ miles and just impressed as can be with this car.

[stephenhendricks]

Recently replaced a loaded 2012 Sorento with the 2018 SXL. Have to say that I tried to find an alternative to what was my first KIA but only the Ford Edge Sport came close. The turbo V6 in the Ford was tempting, especially for me, and we very seldom need a third row of seats. Nevertheless, on those rare occasions when more than five passengers is required that emergency third row is a blessing. And since my wife is the primary driver, her affection for the 2012 Sorento carried a lot of weight in the decision. And when her list of complaints about the 2012 model were literally all eliminated in the 2018 version, it was an easy choice.

We also considered the Mazda CX9, having owned four Mazda's over the years. But from a utility standpoint the only clear advantage was the slightly better gas mileage of the Turbo4. The CX9 is much, much larger on the outside with virtually no greater interior space. Not an advantage from our point of view. Mazdas do handle well, but having a vehicle almost a foot longer than the Sorento with 250 lbs more weight and a less powerful engine just doesn't make sense, at least to me.

The VW Atlas was another contender. (I drive a GTI.) But again, in addition to being larger than we need or want, the Atlas was at least $8, 000 more than we paid for the Sorento and did not include navigation on any but the most expensive trim level. Adding insult to injury, that trim level was not available within 500 miles of our home. The new Tiguan might have been a contender but the only available engine is utterly gutless and in a 7 passenger version suitable only for Black Forest gnomes.

So there it is. Taking into account the almost universal praise for the current generation of the Sorento and our own excellent experience over nearly 80K miles on our 2012 (virtually NO problems. Period), we went back to the KIA. And frankly, we love it.

[petikan]

I am still waiting to pick up my Sorento. I went with the Diesel 2.2 Turbo. Good low end torgue and it pulls really well.

[lorraine]

I love my KIA Serento! Its a ROCKET!!!it fly's, its goes where you command it to go and very easy to handle too. i didn't think that i would ever be interested in owning one but once i test drove it a few times and looked into the engineering specs plus looked at all the bells and whistles i that i can get for 1/2 the price of my Range!! I went for it, , , fully loaded, thats the only way to go for me and yes, with everything added, costumed...is about $45, 000 no kidding, but its worth it, in my opinion. i cant wait to get the 2020 model. GO KIA! PS> DON'T LET THE KIA EMBLEM MAKE YOU FEEL THAT ITS LESS OF A VALUE, BECAUSE ITS NOT!

[villanova]

That bit about his wife being “turned off by the Kia badge” was..something.

[CryptidHunter_official]

Just bought a used 2018 Ex V6 and coming from a 2016 Didge Charger im loving it. The power is surprisingly fairly comparable

[LooxJJ]

My father just bought SX. We didn't expect much but it really was nice surprise to see the quality and drivability. Also, in my father's opinion, it was far better choice than Acura RDX or Lexus NX or Toyota Highlander.

[ADucksOpinion]

im looking at a 2017 Kia Sorento LX FWD for 12k.. 50k miles.. its really nice.. im thinking its my next car

[jaysekhon]

This car has serious torque for a midsize. Just rented it for a trip to Vegas and it

[DriveAndBeDriven]

Great Review! The Sorento looks great, but my favorite 3-row crossover is the Mazda CX-9. It just has a very bold and flowing design. The back of the CX-9 can be a little controversial, but I love the styling. Keep up the great work, Chris!

-DriveAndBeDriven
" The Quest To Record The Best!"

[dieselxdan]

I have a Kia Sorento 2012 and it is the best car to date. I have owned many cars.

[swizzler]

I bought a used 2.2 diesel version of the sorento - 2011 model here in the UK. The car as standard is 194 bhp, I have had it remapped up to 215 bhp in turn raising the torque to - 342 lb/ft. This helps with overtaking and the fuel economy ( a little) seems to be averaging 30 mpg, this goes up ever so slightly in the warmer months. I disagree with the comments about the 3rd row seating, we hav had 6 adults and 1 child in our car with 2 adults in the 3rd row. Although its not huge there is room on shorter journeys. Overall, great family car and once you are moving has quite a lot of pulling power.

[abbyhunker]

I just got the 2017 Kia Sorento ex turbo I really like it

[bfogarty]

My wife and I tried not to like the Kia Sorento. She had a pilot and we were going to buy the highlander but we both liked the Kia better. Acura reliability is way down and their 9 speed and infotainment system is a mess. I have owned German stuff and love them except had nightmare reliability. I can afford anything and I bought the Kia. My wife looked also at the RX350 but could not deal with the racer boy lines and the hideous nose. My daughter has the Mercedes ML 350 and this car is much easier to use. In her car you have to turn the radio on or the back up camera does not work. What is that about? Also, the transmission shifter can easily be mistaken for the wipers. I got $4, 000 off the top of the line Kia Sorento. Minor things my wife does not like but they are things like when in reverse the clock disappears and the rear camera takes up the screen. Great power and easy to drive. We have a 2017 Sorento that we have had for about 3 months. As far as the Kia badge, my wife likes to be stealth and under the radar so perfect for her.

[TheMichaelRN]

I'd buy this but as certified used.