2021 Kia Sorento
Price Range: $12,369 - $27,990
Kia Sorento Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(41%)
4(13%)
3(11%)
2(14%)
1(21%)
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 … same squealing as soon as I left the lot. I immediately called them back and was scheduled another week out. A different tech looked at it and said that my car had 2 defective leaking front brake calipers (on a brand new car). They scheduled to have it serviced and they were both supposedly “replaced” only to drive it the next day to hear squealing once again. I called to let them know about the issue and they couldn’t even get me in for another 2 weeks just to look at it again…..I brought it in, they now say the back brakes are overheating for some reason and they don’t know why. So they said they were going to replace the brake pads and rotors. Well, this morning I go to start my car up with push to start, it acted like it didn’t want to start and hesitated….I think to myself “maybe that was just a one time thing”. Well as I drop my son off at daycare and begin my drive to work through Delaware, I notice the transmission is not wanting to shift and will not go into 3rd gear. If it does, it will jerk really hard and then rev up again. I get further down the road and it is very slow to accelerate and will not let me go past 40mph. You better believe after all the issues with the brakes I DROVE THAT CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM TO KEEP IT! I already have a case open with Kia consumer affairs and I’m in the process of requesting a buyback. As a mother and work a full time job I do not have the time to keep bringing a new car in to be serviced every week! When you buy a new car, you expect to not have these very issues! I have tried to be very patient and understanding but at this point I am just frustrated!!! Will never buy another Kia.
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 … struggling like that with a car I just got 3 weeks ago? it's super annoying and now I regret buying it.
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.
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… smaller, slightly more affordable Telluride? Edmunds' Ryan ZumMallen is here to take you through the highs and lows of our 2021 Kia Sorento ownership experience to find out!
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.
FAQ
Is the Kia Sorento a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2021 Sorento both on the road and at the track, giving it a 8.2 out of 10. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2021 Sorento gets an average rating of 3 stars out of 5 (based on 63 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Sorento has 12.6 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Kia Sorento. Learn more
What's new in the 2021 Kia Sorento?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Kia Sorento:
- Redesigned for 2021
- Four powertrain choices including a hybrid and plug-in hybrid
- More interior space
- Kicks off the fourth Sorento generation
Is the Kia Sorento reliable?
To determine whether the Kia Sorento is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Sorento. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Sorento's 3-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2021 Kia Sorento a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2021 Kia Sorento is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2021 Sorento and gave it a 8.2 out of 10. Our consumer reviews show that the 2021 Sorento gets an average rating of 3 stars out of 5 (based on 63 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2021 Sorento is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2021 Kia Sorento?
The least-expensive 2021 Kia Sorento is the 2021 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $29,390.
Other versions include:
- LX 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) which starts at $29,390
- LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) which starts at $31,190
- S 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A) which starts at $31,890
- S 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A) which starts at $33,690
- EX 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM) which starts at $34,990
- EX 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM) which starts at $36,790
- SX 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM) which starts at $37,990
- SX 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM) which starts at $39,790
- SX Prestige 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM) which starts at $40,590
- SX Prestige X-Line 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 8AM) which starts at $42,590
What are the different models of Kia Sorento?
If you're interested in the Kia Sorento, the next question is, which Sorento model is right for you? Sorento variants include LX 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A), LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A), S 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 8A), and S 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 8A). For a full list of Sorento models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in South Dakota
$187/mo for Sorento LX
vs
$237/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV











