Kia Sorento 2022 Review

The 2022 Kia Sorento is a small SUV that is one of the few in its class to offer three rows of seating. In that sense it's an intriguing pick if you want something that's more versatile than Kia's Sportage small SUV but not as big or as expensive as the three-row midsize Telluride.

Kia fully redesigned the Sorento for 2021, and the model's new styling is certainly inspired by its Telluride sibling. The Sorento offers four powertrain choices, including a hybrid and a new-for-2022 plug-in hybrid. Also this year, many trims gain additional equipment, such as the 10.25-inch touchscreen that now comes on all levels except the base model. Buyers looking for an affordable yet expressive SUV can now spec the spiffy X-Line appearance package further down the trim ladder. (It was previously only optional for the range-topping SX Prestige model.)

Overall, we give the 2022 Sorento high marks for its appealing mix of comfort, utility and value. Check out our Expert Rating below to read our test team's full report.

The 2022 Kia Sorento is a three-row small SUV available in five trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX and SX Prestige. There is also an X-Line appearance package available on S, EX and SX Prestige models. All trims come with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. There's also a Sorento Hybrid and Sorento Plug-In Hybrid, both of which are reviewed separately. Highlight features for the Sorento's trims include:

LX Starts you off with:

• 2.5-liter four-cylinder (191 horsepower, 181 lb-ft)
• Eight-speed automatic transmission
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• Heated mirrors
• Height-adjustable driver's seat
• Second-row 60/40-split folding bench seat (seven-passenger seating)
• Third-row 50/50-split folding seats
• 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Six-speaker audio system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (with wireless connectivity)

The Sorento also comes with:

• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the Sorento back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

S Adds a little more style and convenience with:

• 18-inch wheels
• Remote engine start
• Black exterior trim
• Roof rails
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Simulated leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• Heated front seats
• Dual-zone climate control

Additional tech and driver assist features for the S include:

• Keyless entry and push-button start
• 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen (deletes the wireless connectivity for CarPlay and Android Auto)
• Navigation system
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
• Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)
• Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)

On the options list is a bundle that pairs a panoramic sunroof with interior ambient lighting. You can also opt for the X-Line package that adds:

• All-wheel drive
• Restyled bumpers and silver exterior trim
• Raised roof rails
• Dark gray-painted wheels

EX On top of S features, the EX adds:

• 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (281 hp, 311 lb-ft)
• Eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
• Hands-free liftgate
• Second-row captain's chairs (reduces seating capacity to six)
• Wireless phone charger
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Sorento and the car in front)
• Enhanced forward collision mitigation system
• Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)

The optional panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting from the S trim are also available here. The EX's X-Line package includes features from the S X-Line plus 20-inch wheels and the panoramic sunroof.

SX The SX essentially adds the contents of the X-Line EX, but without the unique styling bits or AWD system. It also has a power-adjustable front passenger seat.

SX Prestige Dresses up the Sorento SX with:

• Power-folding mirrors
• Digital instrument panel
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Leather seating surfaces
• Ventilated front seats with additional adjustments
• Heated steering wheel
• Upgraded 12-speaker Bose audio system
• Front parking sensors
• 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Sorento and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
• Blind-spot camera (displays live camera footage to the instrument panel of your blind spots when changing lanes)

The X-Line package is also available for the SX Prestige. It adds AWD and the X-Line's distinctive styling upgrades.