DecodedCarsKia Sorento
22 model years from 2005 to 2027, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.
- Model years
- 2005–2027
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
- Latest engines
- 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
- Best MPG
- 16–37 combined, by year
- Latest rating
- ★★★★★ (2025)
- Recalls
- 42 campaigns, all years
- Most complaints
- 2016 (1,258)
- Fewest problems
- 2020
- Interest
- 15,695 Wikipedia views / 30 days
The 2026 Sorento in brief
The 2026 Kia Sorento is a small SUV offered with 3 engines (1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl and 2.5L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 189 inches long and 75 inches wide on a 111-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,825 lb (2.5l SUV).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 37 MPG combined (37 city / 36 highway), 23% better than the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG, for an estimated $1,800 a year in fuel.
It has 2 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
The Kia Sorento has 22 model years in our data, from 2005 to 2027, classed as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD.
Its most efficient year was 2027 at 37 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 16 to 37 MPG.
Owners most often report problems with the engine (3,615), unknown or other (1,289), electrical system (1,160).
Buying used? 2024 has the fewest problems in our data, and 2016 is the year to avoid.
2022 has the most recalls (9); all years together count 42 campaigns and 8,605 owner complaints.
How the 2005 Sorento compares
The 2005 Kia Sorento is a SUV - offered with a 3.5L 6-cyl engine and rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.
It measures about 180 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 107-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,255 lb (4dr SUV 4WD /LX).
About the Kia Sorento
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 presumed to be named after the Italian city of Sorrento, though Kia did not confirm this. However, Kia released the cryptic post teasing the launch of Sorento in India featuring the image of Piazza Tasso located in Sorrento, Italy.
From the Wikipedia article "Kia Sorento", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
2026 Sorento pros & cons
Full 2026 details →What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 37 MPG combined — 23% better than the average 2026 small SUV (30.2 MPG).
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well as gas.
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Best and worst years to buy used
2024 Sorento
51 owner complaints · 2 recalls · 1 fire report · 4 crash reports
NHTSA overall: ★★★★★
Year to avoid2016 Sorento
1,258 owner complaints · 8 recalls · 49 fire reports · 29 crash reports
Most reported: Engine
NHTSA recalls and complaints for 10 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →
Compare head to head
Sorento changes by model year
- 2024
- NHTSA overall rating up from 4 to 5 stars
- 2022
- New plug-in hybrid version
- 2021
- New body dimensions, wheelbase +1.2 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
- New hybrid version
- Engines added: 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl and 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
- Engines dropped: 2.4L 4-cyl and 3.3L 6-cyl
- Best combined MPG up from 25 to 37
- NHTSA overall rating down from 5 to 4 stars
- 2019
- Engine dropped: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- 2017
- Now crash-tested by NHTSA: 5 stars overall
- 2016
- New body dimensions: 3.5 in longer, wheelbase +3.1 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
- Engine added: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- 2014
- Engine added: 3.3L 6-cyl
- Engine dropped: 3.5L 6-cyl
- Best combined MPG down from 24 to 22
- 2013
- Lightest version 192 lb heavier
- 2011
- New body dimensions: 3.2 in longer — most likely a redesign or new generation
- Engines added: 2.4L 4-cyl and 3.5L 6-cyl
- Engines dropped: 3.3L 6-cyl and 3.8L 6-cyl
- Best combined MPG up from 18 to 24
- 2007
- Engines added: 3.3L 6-cyl and 3.8L 6-cyl
- Engine dropped: 3.5L 6-cyl
- Best combined MPG up from 16 to 18
Years without a measurable change are left out.
Show all 22 model years side by side
| Year | Latest engines | Best MPG / range | Length | Weight | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | 37 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | 37 MPG | 189 in | 3,825 lb | Not rated | 2 | 9 |
| 2025 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | 36 MPG | 189 in | 3,825 lb | ★★★★★ | 4 | 135 |
| 2024 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | 37 MPG | 189 in | 3,825 lb | ★★★★★ | 2 | 51 |
| 2023 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | 37 MPG | 189 in | 3,825 lb | ★★★★★ | 4 | 165 |
| 2022 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | 37 MPG | 189 in | 3,825 lb | ★★★★★ | 9 | 227 |
| 2021 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | 37 MPG | 189 in | 3,825 lb | ★★★★★ | 5 | 275 |
| 2020 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl | 25 MPG | 189 in | 3,953 lb | ★★★★★ | 1 | 140 |
| 2019 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl | 25 MPG | 189 in | 3,953 lb | ★★★★★ | 2 | 434 |
| 2018 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.3L 6-cyl | 24 MPG | 187.8 in | 4,004 lb | ★★★★★ | 3 | 255 |
| 2017 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.3L 6-cyl | 24 MPG | 187.8 in | 4,004 lb | ★★★★★ | 4 | 808 |
| 2016 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.3L 6-cyl | 24 MPG | 187.8 in | 4,004 lb | Not rated | 8 | 1,258 |
| 2015 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl | 23 MPG | 184.3 in | 3,814 lb | Not rated | 3 | 743 |
| 2014 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl | 22 MPG | 184.3 in | 3,814 lb | Not rated | 6 | 946 |
| 2013 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl | 24 MPG | 183.9 in | 3,796 lb | Not rated | 5 | 866 |
| 2012 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl | 24 MPG | 183.9 in | 4,050 lb | Not rated | 5 | 764 |
| 2011 | 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl | 24 MPG | 183.9 in | 4,050 lb | Not rated | 7 | 1,174 |
| 2009 | 3.3L 6-cyl, 3.8L 6-cyl | 18 MPG | 180.7 in | 4,462 lb | Not rated | 2 | 28 |
| 2008 | 3.3L 6-cyl, 3.8L 6-cyl | 18 MPG | 180.7 in | 4,462 lb | Not rated | 3 | 98 |
| 2007 | 3.3L 6-cyl, 3.8L 6-cyl | 18 MPG | 180.7 in | 4,462 lb | Not rated | 3 | 55 |
| 2006 | 3.5L 6-cyl | 16 MPG | 179.9 in | 4,345 lb | Not rated | 0 | 81 |
| 2005 | 3.5L 6-cyl | 16 MPG | 179.9 in | 4,255 lb | Not rated | 0 | 93 |
Alternatives to the 2026 Sorento
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser | 23 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 43 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Honda CR-V | 40 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Toyota 4Runner | 23 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Ford Explorer | 24 MPG | Not rated | 15 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson | 38 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
Most common owner-reported problems
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Kia. How we calculate this →