Used Kia Sorento (Mk4, 2020-date) buyer’s guide: an extremely talented large 4x4

Verdict

For more than two decades the Kia Sorento has been the Korean brand’s flagship model (EV9 aside, more recently), and while this large SUV costs more than it did, it’s still decent value. The Sorento is more desirable than ever, because it comes with all of the latest comfort and safety tech, and as standard it’ll seat seven. Our sister website CarBuyer crowned the Sorento its 2021 Car of the Year and its 2022 Large Family Car of the Year, while it was our Best Large SUV in our 2024 Used Car awards. The model has won other awards galore, proving the Sorento is a deeply impressive product.

The Kia Sorento celebrated its 21st birthday last year, and since the first edition went on sale back in 2003, this full-sized SUV has changed beyond all recognition.

In most ways those alterations have been for the better, because this is a car that can compete with the best mid-range seven-seat SUVs on the market. That’s a shame if you’re after a reliable SUV that’s also cheap, but if you want a sophisticated full-size SUV that’s easy to own and packs all of the latest tech, it’ll be just the thing as long as your pockets are deep enough.

History

The Kia Sorento Mk4 went on sale in the UK in September 2020, with a choice of two engines: a 1.6 T-GDi hybrid, with a turbo petrol engine, or the 2.2 CRDi diesel that we’d seen in the previous Sorento. All versions are automatics; the hybrid had a six-speed gearbox, while the diesel had an eight-speed dual-clutch unit.

Within weeks a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) had been added to the range, also powered by the 1.6 T-GDi engine. A facelifted Sorento went on sale in April 2024, with a refreshed design inside and out, and still a choice of diesel, hybrid and PHEV powertrains, with prices starting at £41,995.

On the road

No seven-seat SUV is going to feel agile, but Kia has done a pretty good job of making it enjoyable to drive, with a comfortable ride (although some owners disagree), decent body control and better levels of acceleration than you might expect. Higher-spec cars ride better with their self-levelling suspension; the biggest bugbear is the steering, which could feel more engaging than it does. All Sorentos  have four-wheel drive as standard.

Which one should I buy?

If you do a lot of long-distance motorway journeys, the diesel is the best option. But if your trips are more mixed, the PHEV should suit you perfectly, while shorter journeys are ideal for the hybrid or PHEV.

All Sorentos are well equipped, with even the entry-level 2 having three-zone air-con, heated front seats and steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors plus a rear camera, adaptive cruise control and LED headlights.

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The Sorento 3 adds sat-nav, eight-way electric adjustment for the front seats, leather trim, heating for the second row of seats, self-levelling suspension and more. The 4 brings a 360-degree camera, Nappa leather trim, a Bose hi-fi, head-up display and an opening panoramic glass roof.

Alternatives to the Kia Sorento

As Kia has taken the Sorento upmarket, steadily increasing the price, it’s now up against some very talented competition. One of the most accomplished is the Skoda Kodiaq, which has just arrived in Mk2 form; the Mk1 is a tough act to follow.

Closely related to the Skoda are the SEAT Tarraco and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, which are also user-friendly and have some great powertrains. The Peugeot 5008 has a great interior and looks smart, much like the Nissan X-Trail, while the Hyundai Santa Fe shares a great deal with the Sorento, including most of its key traits.

The Land Rover Discovery Sport is another contender, but if that third row of seats is key, you’re better off looking at the Discovery 5.

What to look for

Towing limits

Bear in mind that while the plug-in hybrid can tow just 1,010 kg, the hybrid can haul 100kg more. But the diesel can pull up to 2,500kg.

Camera trouble

The rear parking camera can fall out of its housing. Some US cars were recalled for this, and several UK owners have had their cameras replaced under warranty.

Panel gaps

Most owners are impressed by their Sorentos’ fit and finish, but some have seen inconsistent shut lines and, in some cases, damaged paint as a result of misalignment.

PHEV range

The plug-in hybrid can be run as an EV if you do mainly short trips, which can slash fuel costs. One owner managed almost 3,000 miles on a tank of fuel, and averaged around 100mpg over 45,000 miles.

Interior

The quality of the Sorento’s cabin is excellent, but there are a few areas where this drops off slightly, with some materials appearing a bit cheaper. Then there’s the technology, which is up to the minute, although pre-facelift cars have a few extra physical controls, which many owners will find welcome.

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You’ll also love the huge amount of space; there’s lots of room for two or three adults in row two, and if not too tall they’ll fit into row three. But as with so many seven-seat SUVs (all Sorentos come with seats for seven), the back seats aren’t as roomy as the middle row. Drop row three down and the boot can hold 813 litres (809 in the PHEV); fold the middle row too and this jumps to 1,996/1,988 litres.

Running costs

Hybrid and PHEV models have to be serviced every 12 months or 10,000 miles, while the interval for diesels is annually or 20,000 miles. Check-up costs for the petrol-engined models are pegged at £320-£630; for diesels it’s £209-£513. Only the diesel has a cambelt, which needs to be replaced every 16 years or 160,000 miles; you should budget £700 to have it done.

Apart from the entry-level Hybrid 2, at launch, all Sorentos had a price tag of more than £40,000 when new, which means a £410 VED supplement until the car’s sixth birthday, on top of the standard £190 annual tax charge.

Insurance costs should be sensible, because the Sorento sits in groups 25-34, while fuel bills should be okay; the hybrid and diesel are both pegged at 42mpg. But a common gripe from owners is that they’re disappointed with their Sorentos’ fuel efficiency. Real-world economy for the plug-in hybrid model is typically 35-45mpg, depending on driving style.

Recalls

Five recalls so far isn’t too bad for such a complex car. The first campaign was launched in May 2022, because some Sorentos made in July and August 2021 had faulty seatbelt pre-tensioners fitted to the front passenger seat.

The second recall was a few days later, because of fuel leaks in diesel-engined Sorentos built up to November 2020. Dual-clutch transmission glitches on diesel cars led to a third action, in January 2023, just weeks before recall four, due to leaks from sub-standard fuel tanks. The latest campaign was in September 2023, because some Sorentos made between April and August 2022 had faulty software for the indicators.

Driver Power owner satisfaction

The Sorento Mk4 was one of 14 Kias in our 2023 survey, and it was highly rated, with an impressive second place, beaten only by the Citroen C4.

There were first places for the exterior finish quality, the infotainment and the functioning of the safety systems.

The only significant low spots for owners were the smoothness of the transmission, the running costs (including servicing charges) and the ride quality.

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