New Kia Sorento 2024 Review

Is this one of the best seven-seaters out there?


The Kia Sorento has been a family favourite for over two decades, constantly evolving to meet the needs of your active lifestyle. For 2024, the Sorento raises the bar again, offering a choice of self-charging hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains, packed with the latest charging technology and a treasure trove of new features.



The Kia Sorento has been a family favourite for over two decades, constantly evolving to meet the needs of your active lifestyle. For 2024, the Sorento raises the bar again, offering a choice of self-charging hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains, packed with the latest charging technology and a treasure trove of new features.

The Kia Sorento has seen significant upgrades, showcasing its prowess in electrification. The 2024 model is now available with diesel engines, as well as self-charging hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. These advancements have significantly reduced the vehicle's emissions—from 176g/km for the diesel engine to just 37g/km for the PHEV model. This not only helps in cutting down on tax but also considerably lowers the Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) rates for company cars.

Additionally, the new Kia Sorento comes equipped with a standard automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive, ensuring that buyers don’t have to pay extra for these features, thus keeping the overall cost more manageable.

Kia has truly gone all out with the Sorento's 2024 facelift, featuring a thoroughly updated interior that promises to impress. This new model is designed to compete with premium vehicles such as the Land Rover Discovery and Mercedes GLB, offering a level of sophistication and quality that is on par with these luxury brands. At the same time, the Sorento stands strong against more mainstream rivals like the Skoda Kodiaq, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of buyers. With its enhanced features and stylish design, the 2024 Kia Sorento is set to make a significant impact in the family SUV market.

This car is well-equipped, especially for family life, offering a large boot and plenty room with the seven seats, and a lot of standard equipment. Despite being spacious, it doesn't compromise on performance. The PHEV variant accelerates from 0-62mph in just 8.7 seconds, thanks to its more powerful engine. Meanwhile, the self-charging hybrid is no slouch either, achieving the same speed in a respectable 9 seconds.

If you’re in the market for a car that’s great for towing, the diesel engine variant of the 2024 Kia Sorento might be just what you need. It can handle up to 2,500kg, making it perfect for those heavier loads. On the other hand, if you’re leaning towards a more eco-friendly option, the PHEV model offers a respectable towing capacity of 1,500kg. This gives you a nice balance between efficiency and capability, ideal for lighter towing needs.

The Sorento handles very well, especially on country roads with tight bends, but it also performs well on straight roads in town and on larger motorways. While it doesn't handle like a sports car—you can't expect that from a seven-seater—it still offers a pleasant driving experience. The transition from electric to petrol power is smooth and hassle-free, complemented by the automatic gearbox. Overall, it's a comfortable and capable drive, making it a great choice for various driving conditions.

The Sorento offers a nice high driving position, which many drivers appreciate. Manual adjustments come as standard, but if you prefer electric adjustments and lumbar support, you'll need to upgrade to the 3 trim. For those seeking even more luxury, the top trim level includes memory functions for the driver’s seat.

Visibility is excellent, with the pillars not obstructing the driver’s view significantly. The side windows and rear design also provide a good over-the-shoulder view, enhancing safety and convenience while driving.

The entry-level 2 trim of the Sorento comes with a 4.2-inch digital driver display and analogue dials. However, if you opt for any trim above that, you'll enjoy a sharp 12.3-inch fully digital display. Many drivers will be pleased to find that controls for features like the stereo and heater are still good old-fashioned buttons and knobs, despite some functions being integrated into the digital touchscreen.

The infotainment system is well-equipped, offering everything you would expect, including radio, built-in sat-nav, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and smartphone mirroring. Starting from the 3 trim level, wireless charging is also included. The crisp graphics are easy to navigate, and the system is responsive, making it user-friendly and efficient.

All Sorento models come with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera as standard features, making parking much easier. For added convenience, trims above the entry-level include a 360-degree bird's-eye camera, a really nice extra.

Inside, the centre console is impressive, featuring a fingerprint recognition system that allows you to connect your user profile, start the vehicle, and activate valet mode. Additionally, the Sorento offers Remote Smart Parking Assist, a remote control feature that manoeuvres your car into and out of parking spaces with ease, taking the hassle out of tight parking situations.