2021 Kia Sorento Review

Price Range: $17,396 - $31,990

2021 Kia Sorento SX Prestige X-Line 4dr SUV Exterior

The all-new 2021 Kia Sorento is such a complete departure from the previous generation that you'd think it was built by a different company. With its mix of quality, practicality and available performance, the Sorento is an enticing option if you're looking for a small SUV with above-average versatility. Only the elevated price tag on the top-of-the-line model could be a deterrent.

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2021 Kia Sorento Review

Pros

Impressive number of standard and optional features
Lots of second- and third-row legroom for the class
Sharp-looking and easy-to-use infotainment system

Cons

Not so compact anymore
Significant price increase over 2020 model

What's new

Redesigned for 2021
Four powertrain choices including a hybrid and plug-in hybrid
More interior space
Kicks off the fourth Sorento generation

2021 Kia Sorento Video Shorts

by Edmunds Test Team

Overview

Written by automotive expert Cameron Rogers

4/1/2021

Kia's Sorento has always tried to go above and beyond as one of the few small crossover SUVs with a third row of seats — even if the back row was pretty cramped. As a result, the Sorento has long led a fairly compromised life straddling the two- and three-row SUV segments. But Kia is determined to make the small three-row SUV formula work. The redesigned 2021 Kia Sorento has more interior room and all-new powertrain choices, including a traditional hybrid and a plug-in.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near San Antonio, TX

62 listings

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2021 Kia Sorento
SX 4dr SUV
$24,024
- 73,712 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 6 Seats, 22 City / 29 Hwy MPG
- San Marcos Toyota (43 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in San Marcos, TX
**CLEAN CARFAX**, **CARFAX 1 OWNER**, **LOCAL TRADE**, **NON SMOKER**, **MOONROOF**, **KEYLESS ENTRY**, **PUSH BUTTON START**, **ANDROID AUTO**...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
25 Combined MPG (22 City/29 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5XYRK4LF5MG010810
Stock: MG010810T
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 08-16-2025
2021 Kia Sorento
S 4dr SUV
$21,896
great price
- 52,697 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 7 Seats, 23 City / 25 Hwy MPG
- Ancira Nissan (6 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Third-row seating
Close
Located in San Antonio, TX
**First Year Maintenance on us!** This Passion Red Tintcoat 2021 Kia Sorento S for sale in San Antonio is well equipped. Some of the great features in...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
24 Combined MPG (23 City/25 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5XYRLDLC1MG001962
Stock: N841529A
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 08-17-2025

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In short, we're big fans of the new Sorento. It delivers everything you'd want of a modern SUV — comfortable seats, plenty of cargo space, and sprightly acceleration from the optional turbocharged motor. And in a welcome change of pace, this newest version has enough room in the third row for adults. It's significantly better than either the Volkswagen Tiguan or Mitsubishi Outlander — the only other compact SUVs with three rows of seating. Even if you discount the versatility offered by the third row, the Sorento is quite competitive against other compact SUVs, though it does cost quite a bit more than these two-row rivals.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Great

8.2

out of 10

We drove the 2021 Kia Sorento on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

8/10

How does the Sorento drive? The Sorento with the optional turbocharged engine is downright quick for a small SUV. And it wasn't just the sprint to 60 mph in a mere 6.7 seconds that impressed us but also the way the power continues to build at higher speeds. For comparison, this Sorento is nearly 3 seconds faster than the similarly sized Volkswagen Tiguan and a tick faster than even the V6-powered Honda Passport. Highway merging as well as passing is not a problem in the Sorento. Just as impressive is the new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which is capable of near seamless shifts in slow-moving traffic or full-throttle merging.

Slowing the Sorento can be done with confidence thanks to the nicely balanced and intuitive brake pedal. Stopping from 60 mph, the Sorento showed only a little nosedive and braked in just 121 feet, which is better than average for the class. Handling is similarly confidence-inspiring, but we wish for a little more accuracy in the steering.

Comfort

8/10

How comfortable is the Sorento? All three rows of seats provide better-than-expected comfort for a small SUV. The front seats on our top-of-the-line test vehicle offered heating, ventilation and a good range of adjustment. The second-row captain's chairs (a bench seat is standard on lower trim levels) were firm but more comfortable and supportive than bench seats found in other SUVs. The third-row seats are small and low to the floor but still offer enough support for adults. The dual-zone climate control is efficient and easy to use even if the touch-sensitive buttons aren't as responsive as traditional buttons.

Ride comfort isn't quite as impressive, and a steady stream of jitters heads into the cabin at lower speeds. The large 20-inch wheels of the Sorento we tested may have been the culprit, and their low-profile tires caused elevated road noise at freeway speeds. On the highway, the Sorento's ride is well controlled, imparting confidence and a sense of stability.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? Contrary to its small SUV classification, the Sorento offers ample space for adults in all three rows. You'll even find more legroom in the second row than in dedicated two-row SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Taller adults will have plenty of space. Even the third row is hospitable for adults, though it's a bit of a squeeze to get back there. Getting into the Sorento is otherwise an easy affair.

The Sorento carries over many of Kia's user-friendly attributes, and buyers new to the brand will have no problem getting a handle on the interior. Visibility is also quite good thanks to ample-size windows and good sight lines throughout the cabin. The optional surround-view camera system offers high-definition images and proves helpful in tight situations.

Technology

8.5/10

How’s the tech? Our top-of-the-line test vehicle came decked out with a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, an upgraded Bose audio system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. The graphics are crisp and creative, but we found some on-screen buttons a bit on the small side. The Bose audio system was slightly less impressive, and we never really found a sweet spot over a wide range of music. The merely average voice command system is the least impressive tech in the Sorento. It lacks natural language recognition and flexibility.

With multiple USB ports as well as a wireless charger, passengers won't lack power for their devices. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility is standard, though wireless connectivity is not offered with the larger screen. The Sorento's advanced driver aids are impressive not only in scope but in application. We encountered no false alarms, and with the exception of an overly cautious rear cross-traffic warning system, we had no complaints.

Storage

8/10

How’s the storage? With the third-row seats up, there's only 12.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity, which equates to a row of about five grocery bags. Its closest competitor, the Volkswagen Tiguan, offers only 12 cubes, and the larger Subaru Ascent offers up to 17.8 cubes. With the third row dropped, the Sorento offers between 38.5 and 45 cubic feet, depending on how far forward you slide the second-row seats. That's more than the roomy Toyota RAV4 (up to 37.6 cubic feet) and the larger Honda Passport (41.2 cubes). With all the seats down, the Sorento holds 75.5 cubic feet, which is on par with the Honda CR-V.

Interior storage is another Sorento strong suit. Though it lacks the cleverness of Honda's CR-V and Passport, there's ample, well-thought-out storage options in all three rows. Towing capacity for this new generation of Sorento is a fairly standard 3,500 pounds (the last-generation capacity stood at 5,000 pounds). Sorentos without the turbocharged engine can tow up to 2,000 pounds.

Fuel Economy

8/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the all-wheel-drive Sorento with the turbocharged engine returns 24 mpg combined (21 city/28 highway), and we got a 25.2 mpg average over our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation loop. As an added bonus, the turbocharged Sorento doesn't need premium gasoline. The Sorento is not as frugal as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, but it exceeded the mpg numbers we got for the similarly powerful Honda Passport and Subaru Ascent on our eval route.

Value

8.5/10

Is the Sorento a good value? As we've come to expect from Kia, the Sorento is well equipped and well built. Even with bits of hard plastic scattered about the cabin, the Sorento features thoughtful detailing and premium touches throughout. Even in a SX Prestige X-Line optioned up to $44,290, the Sorento still manages to look and feel like good value for money, though that price tag puts it closer to larger, more capable SUVs.

Kia warranties are class-leading, and the Sorento comes with five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties. Roadside assistance is more standard at five years/60,000 miles.

Wildcard

8/10

When equipped with the optional 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, the Kia Sorento is just about as much fun in a straight line as a small SUV can be. Not only is the impressive power addictive but so is the smoothness with which the Sorento goes about gathering speed. As for the rest of the Sorento experience, if you can imagine a baby version of the popular Telluride, you're not very far off.

The previous Sorento was always a bit of a compromise and left us thinking it was being asked to do too much. The new Sorento is a revelation as an impressive and versatile small SUV.

2021 Kia Sorento trim level differences

The 2021 Kia Sorento is a three-row compact SUV available in six trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX, SX Prestige and SX Prestige X-Line. Most models come standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The exception to this rule is at the top: The SX Prestige is front-drive only, while the SX Prestige X-Line solely comes in AWD form. There's also a Sorento Hybrid, which is reviewed separately. Highlight features for the Sorento's trims include:

Which Sorento trim does Edmunds recommend?

We think the Sorento's value statement is strongest in the middle of its trim structure, though the ideal pick depends on your needs. If you'll only use the rear seats occasionally, the S trim has plenty of features and keeps the cost low. But if you plan to frequently drive with all seats occupied, you might want to consider the EX, which comes with a more powerful motor. Note that both of these models come with the smaller touchscreen, which, unlike the wider screen in more upper trims, features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This is a rare case of getting more and paying less.

Compare 2021 Kia Sorento trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Texas

$130/mo

$158/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

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Reliability

The 2021 Kia Sorento has a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic warranty and 3 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #12 out of 29 among Compact SUVs. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4 out of 5 stars4/5Above Average

#12 out of 29 among Compact SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$448/yr

vs. $465/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Frequency

0.96x/yr

vs. 1x/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Severity

12.2%

vs. 11.5%
for Average Compact SUV

Recalls

3 recalls found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 22V760000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: SC250
Number of vehicles affected:: 69038
Defect Description:: Kia Motors, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Defect Consequence:: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC250.

Recall Number:: 22V703000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: SC249
Number of vehicles affected:: 70887
Defect Description:: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Defect Consequence:: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.

Recall Number:: 21V519000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: SC214
Number of vehicles affected:: 21575
Defect Description:: Kia Motor America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Sorento and 2021-2022 K5 vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
Defect Consequence:: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC214.

Warranty

5 years / 60,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles

Kia Sorento Owner Reviews

3.4

63 reviews

5(41%)

4(13%)

3(11%)

2(14%)

1(21%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

My Kia Sorento S is a LEMON!!

Walterst, 07/12/2021

2021 Kia Sorento S 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A)

Long story short…..DON’T BUY A KIA!!! I bought my brand new 2021 Kia Sorento S on May 1st. Not even a week after buying it, the brakes have been non stop squealing every time I brake. I took it in to have them look at it, the tech said he found nothing wrong with it, didn’t hear anything and lubed the brakes and they sent me on my way. Didn’t even get down the road and heard the …

Electronic problems

Jose, 07/07/2021

2021 Kia Sorento S 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A)

Got the model S 2021, it's a nice looking SUV, nice leather seats and spacious, the moonroof is great. Also good mileage. But, and this is a big one, the SUV is new and already had check engine light issues twice, the safety system shout down on my completely yesterday, lights turn on by themselves, the seat heating turns on by itself. The thing is going bananas. Why would I have to be …

2021 Sorento X line serious problems

JP, 05/25/2021

2021 Kia Sorento SX Prestige X-Line 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)

I only have 2200 miles and my blind spot monitoring system went out and 3 days or so later the transmission failed...wouldn't switch to second gear without redlining. Engine light and service message came on and now it's been sitting in the Kia dealership lot for weeks because they are so backed up...stay far away from the 2021 Sorento.

2021 Kia Sorento is Nice, BUT a sour Lemon

John L. Kearney III, 06/25/2021

2021 Kia Sorento SX Prestige X-Line 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM)

I traded my 2019 Kia Optima Sport in for a 2021 Kia Sorento SX X-Line Prestige AWD on 1/1/2021. 2 weeks ago tomorrow will make 2 weeks that my truck is in the shop. Walked outside one morning on my way to work. Started my truck up like normal and put it in drive. It wouldn't move. Put it in reverse. It wouldn't move. After about 15 minutes, it started driving. I work out of town and … depend on my vehicle. Took it to the shop, they dropped me off at work. They wouldn't even give me a loaner because they said they were out of then. I reserved a rental. Long story short, I ended up having to purchase a second vehicle because it didn't make sense to continue to pay put of pocket for a rental. But 13 days later, they say they need to replace a pump and if that doesn't work, then they will replace my transmission. On a 2021 Nice SUV that WASN'T CHEAP!??? Make it make sense! I loved Kia and I still think they're nice vehicles, but this will be my LAST Kia I purchase. The new Sorento's are nice, but please wait a few years before you buy this vehicle. From reading other reviews as of today, this body style has too many transmission issues. 12/25/21 update----My original post was above. It has been an ongoing mess with Kia motors company and a nightmare. To summarize and make a long story short, Kia originally had my truck in the shop literally for 4.5 months. I had to purchase a second vehicle because they didn't have any loaner vehicles. The replaced three transmissions while it was in the shop. I dealership could only do what they could, but I am really disgusted with the corporate office. They are so unprofessional and un-empathetic. I had to get the Attorney General office involved. When they "finally" said I could do the buy back option, that was Sept 9th when I completed and faxed back and confirmed they got my paperwork. They told me 60 days for buy back. Well....Danielle G, the escalated case manager who was working my case didn't get it turned in til the end of the month and told me the buy back would take place by end of November. I feel like she kept blowing smoke up me because she would give me the run around---ALL the time and that's when she answered the phone for me. Danielle G wouldn't answer or return my calls. I called her one day from my office phone (different area code) and SHE ANSWERED! I was so pissed. I nicely told I called from my personal number and she wouldn't answer, but when I call from a different area code, she's answers and SHE LAUGHED! I told her how unprofessional that was and she apologized. But as far as the truck, I ended up getting it back 4.5 months later...drove it for 2 weeks and it cut off on me. Got it to the dealership and they had it for another week. They called me to pick it up. I asked them what was wrong with it? They said that it wasn't throwing any codes that they needed to fix, so they reset the check engine light. Excuse me? You reset the check engine light because you couldn't figure out why it cut off? I told them to keep the truck until the buy back was over. I'm done with Kia. Actually, the dealership were the nice people out of this, but Kia motors corporate ain't worth a penny. I feel bad for other people who spend their hard earned money on this beautiful truck and once that transmission goes out, it's a done deal. The 3rd party company called Morley emailed me this week. I'm just awaiting the surrender date to give them my part of the buy back money and so I can be done with these folks. I know this may not make sense, but---as long as you don't need Kia's services other than routine maintenance, you'll probably be okay. But let something mess up and you'll be screwed. PLEASE SAVE YOURSELF AND JUST LEAVE KIA ALONE! I brought this $50k truck January 1st 2021 and it has been in the shop for over half the time that I've had it.

See all 63 reviews of the Kia Sorento

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2021 Kia Sorento videos

2021 Kia Sorento Long-Term Wrap-up | 23,000 Miles in the 2021 Kia Sorento | MPG, Technology & More!

It's officially that time: After more than 23,000 miles, our 2021 Kia Sorento SX Prestige X-Line long-termer is leaving our test fleet. With its peppy turbocharged engine and premium-feeling interior, it's safe to say that overall we enjoyed our time with the Sorento — though there were a few hiccups that detracted from the experience. So is the latest Sorento really a…

2021 Sorento Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$29,390
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$130/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Sorento models:

Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go: Speeds up and slows the car automatically, keeping a user-defined distance between the Sorento and the car in front.
Lane Following Assist: Keeps the Sorento in the middle of its lane at low speeds. The upgraded Highway Driving Assist does the same at higher speeds.
Blind-Spot View Monitor: Projects an image of the Sorento's blind spot to the digital instrument panel when the turn signal is flipped on.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover15.9%

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2021 Kia Sorento Review

Selling or Trading-In?

Price & Payment

2021 Kia Sorento Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

2021 Kia Sorento Video Shorts

Overview

For sale near San Antonio, TX

2021 Kia SorentoSX 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2021 Kia SorentoS 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2021 Kia Sorento trim level differences

Which Sorento trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Recalls

Warranty

Kia Sorento Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

My Kia Sorento S is a LEMON!!

Electronic problems

2021 Sorento X line serious problems

2021 Kia Sorento is Nice, BUT a sour Lemon

2021 Kia Sorento videos

2021 Kia Sorento Long-Term Wrap-up | 23,000 Miles in the 2021 Kia Sorento | MPG, Technology & More!

2021 Sorento Highlights

Safety

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2021 Kia Sorento
SX 4dr SUV

2021 Kia Sorento
S 4dr SUV