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Large SUV · South Korea · 2002-Present

Kia Sorento

Kia Sorento — spec data and generation history.

press photo
Verdict
B
Years
2002-Present
Generations
4
Segment
Large SUV

Kia's seven-seat workhorse — sister to the Hyundai Santa Fe throughout. BL (2002–2009) was the body-on-frame original; XM (2009–2014) moved to unibody and was the breakthrough Sorento; UM (2014–2020) refined the formula; MQ4 (2020–Present) is the boldly-styled current car with full hybrid (since 2020) and PHEV (since 2021). Quietly one of the better-judged seven-seaters under $100k — the PHEV makes BIK numbers work for company drivers.

What changed

Era-to-era deltas

XM 2009-2014 → UM 2014-2020
BHP +18 bhp
Torque +40 Nm
0–60 mph −0.6 s
Top speed +5 mph
MPG +5 mpg
UM 2014-2020 → MQ4 2020-Present
BHP +30 bhp
Torque +45 Nm
0–60 mph −1.0 s
Top speed 0
MPG +8 mpg

Generations

Click any generation for the full deep dive

press photo
2002-2009

BL

→

2.5 CRDi — 168 bhp, 0-62 in 12.1s.

Verdict
C
BHP
168
0–60
12.1 s
Top
112 mph
MPG
27 mpg
Used
$1,100-$4,400
  • + Cheap to buy
  • + Body-on-frame durable for towing
  • − Crude on-road
  • − Rusts on UK cars
press photo
2009-2014

XM

→

2.2 CRDi — 195 bhp, 0-62 in 9.6s.

Verdict
B
BHP
195
0–60
9.6 s
Top
118 mph
MPG
33 mpg
Used
$3,800-$11,000
  • + Unibody — much better on-road
  • + Seven seats standard from 2012
  • − Diesel injector reliability
  • − Cabin still plasticky
press photo
2014-2020

UM

→

2.2 CRDi — 197 bhp, 0-62 in 9.0s.

Verdict
B
BHP
197
0–60
9.0 s
Top
124 mph
MPG
35 mpg
Used
$10,000-$25,000
  • + Cabin a big step on
  • + Refined diesel
  • − Heavy and softly sprung
  • − No hybrid yet
press photo
2020-Present

MQ4

→

1.6 T-GDi PHEV — 261 bhp combined, 0-62 in 8.7s.

Verdict
A
BHP
261
0–60
8.7 s
Top
119 mph
MPG
147 mpg
Used
$36,000-$66,000
  • + Bold styling
  • + Cabin best Sorento yet
  • − Touch-heavy controls
  • − 8DCT shudder on hybrid

Known issues by generation

Common faults reported on each generation — useful when shopping the used market.

2002-2009 · BL
  • Diesel turbo failures
  • Rear axle rust on UK cars
  • 5AT slow to shift
2009-2014 · XM
  • Diesel injector failures
  • Air-con condenser
  • Steering rack leaks
2014-2020 · UM
  • Theta II engine recall (US-heavy, UK rare)
  • DPF on diesel short journeys
  • 8-speed auto torque-converter shudder
2020-Present · MQ4
  • 8DCT/6AT hybrid shudder
  • PHEV battery cell faults early VIN
  • Boot rattle on early cars
  • Lane-keep over-eager

Rivals

Hyundai Santa Fe · Skoda Kodiaq · Volvo XC60 · Land Rover Discovery Sport