2022 Kia Sorento

The 2022 Kia Sorento is a three-row crossover SUV with a spacious cabin, lots of tech for the money, and an ultra-frugal hybrid option.

After a redesign last year, the 2022 Sorento lineup grows for 2022 with the addition of a plug-in hybrid powertrain, available all-wheel drive for the standard hybrid, and a new X-Line trim level with rugged looks.

The Sorento comes in a wide range of trim levels – LX, S, EX, SX, and SX-Prestige, all wrapped up in an attention-grabbing body. Inside, look for spacious seating for up to five, with a third-row setup great for children. EX and SX models add a turbocharger for more boost, while various trims are available with a thrifty hybrid option.

A four-star overall rating from the NHTSA is countered by a Top Safety Pick score from the IIHS for models with optional LED headlights. All Sorento SUVs come with automatic emergency braking and, blind-spot monitors, while adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera system are optional.

Fuel economy varies by what’s underhood. Hybrids lead the charge with 39 mpg city, 35 highway, 37 combined, or 36/33/35 mpg with all-wheel drive. The plug-in hybrid version can motor for 32 miles on electricity alone, according to the EPA, for 34 mpg combined.

Those with the standard 4-cylinder gas engine cost less but use more fuel, to the tune of 24/29/26 mpg with front-wheel drive or 23/25/24 mpg with all-wheel drive. Optional turbocharged power comes in at 24 mpg combined with all-wheel drive.

Model Lineup

The Sorento lineup stretches from $30,665 for the base LX model all the way to north of $55,000 for an SX-Prestige with the plug-in hybrid powertrain. Odds are there is a Sorento for your garage somewhere in that mix.

Base models have standard 17-inch alloy wheels, third-row seating, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility; it’s $1,800 more for all-wheel drive.

The S trim level costs $33,465 and adds upsized wheels, synthetic leather trim, heated front seats, blind-spot monitors, and a 10.3-inch touchscreen. The hybrid version of the Sorento S costs $35,165 but adds middle-row captain’s chairs.

EX versions bundle the turbocharged engine with adaptive cruise control and a wireless charging pad for $36,465. The EX hybrid adds all-wheel drive, a panoramic sunroof, and parking sensors for $3,000 more.

The SX-Prestige comes suited up with leather seats, Bose audio, a digital gauge cluster, and cooled front seats with additional adjustment.

Exterior

The Sorento makes a strong statement outside. Up front, the razor-thin grille is flanked by narrow LED lamps over a jutting-out bumper. Along its flanks, this SUV’s styling takes a more complex direction culminating in big taillights separated by a thin strip of painted trim. This year’s new X-Line trim package adds unpainted bits and special wheel designs for a rugged flair.

Kia offers the Sorento in a broad range of exterior hues, and its wheels range in size from 17- to 20-inch diameters.

Interior

There’s a lot going on inside the Sorento, which can haul a lot of people and their cargo, too.

A busy dash design speaks to the Sorento’s high-tech nature. Base LX models use an 8.0-inch screen that grows to 10.3 inches in higher-trim versions. A digital instrument cluster is optional. All models come with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and plenty of USB ports, while a wireless charging pad is optional.

Upholstery choices range from cloth to hard-wearing synthetic leather all the way to real hides, with options for heated front- and second-row seats plus cooled thrones up front.

The Sorento comes standard with third-row seating. Though spacious enough to take a basketball team’s starting lineup and two reserves, this crossover can handle teenagers and smaller kids in a pinch with cargo room to spare. Behind the third row sits 12.6 cubic feet of space, which grows to as much as 45 cubes with the third row folded and maxes out at 75.5 cubic feet.

Driving Impressions

The Sorento hits the mark for easy-to-drive family utility. Base versions use a 191-horsepower inline-4 teamed with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

EX and SX Sorentos swap in a 281-hp turbo-4 linked to a racier 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Turbocharged models are usefully quicker, making them a better choice for drivers who routinely motor around with a full load of passengers or live in mountainous country.

The available hybrid powertrain suits the eco-friendly family vibe. With 227 hp net from a 1.6-ltier turbo-4 mated to electric motors and a battery pack, it is a smooth, frugal operator. This year’s new plug-in hybrid promises a small boost in power plus 32 miles of electric driving.

Sorentos boast a controlled, comfortable ride with good control at speed and reasonable isolation on the highway. While never truly sporty, these three-rows make admirable family-haulers.

Final Word

Families, take note: the 2022 Kia Sorento lineup offers something for everyone. Whether it’s the affordable LX, a spicy turbocharged EX or SX, or the hybrid, the Sorento makes a solid case for itself.

—by Andrew Ganz, with driving impressions from The Car Connection