New 2022 KIA Sorento SX Prestige
2022 KIA Sorento SX Prestige – Small SUVs have offered small engines and strive to provide efficiency and practicality. Kia’s Sorento always tries to go above and beyond as one of the few small crossover SUVs with third-row seats – even if the back row is narrow enough.
The available V6 makes good power but proves inefficient against rivals. As a result, the Sorento has long lived a fairly disturbed life straddling the two- and three-row SUV segments.
2022 KIA Sorento SX Prestige
But Kia is determined to make the small three-line SUV formula work. The redesigned Kia Sorento 2022 focuses on interior space and new powertrain options, including traditional hybrids and plug-ins.
Kia has done an aesthetic role with the debuts of Telluride and K5, and the 2022 Sorento is the latest beneficiary of the brand’s latest style trends.
Kia transformed the 2022 Sorento from minivan-Esque to muscular with a redesigned version of its mid-size crossover.
With square silhouettes and firmer exterior details, the new generation looks a lot different from the one it replaced. The cabin also upgrades from its predecessor, with a slick digital interface and snazzier style throughout.
The three-line SUV also has a wide range of powertrain options, including a 281 hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a hybrid model that will produce 39 mpg in the city.
Slotting between 10Best-winning Telluride and compact Sportage, the 2022 Sorento looks to strengthen Kia’s already impressive SUV portfolio further.
Sorento SX Prestige Engine
The updated Sorento offers four engines to choose from. A 2.5-liter 4-cylinder base engine, a new turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder, and two new hybrid powertrains are available.
Of these, most of us have spent time turbocharged at 2.5 liters, producing 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. And not for one second do we expect to model out a 3.5-liter V6.
The new engine is responsive and makes the Sorento really fast. This, plus a fast eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, transforms the Sorento from a slightly cut-down SUV and truck into a more athletic and modern vehicle.
KIA Sorento Hybrid Engine
The new Sorento Hybrid pairs a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with a 44-kilowatt electric motor to produce a combined 227 horsepower. The powertrain is available with a six-speed automatic transmission and is limited to front-wheel drive only.
The Sorento plug-in hybrid still uses the same gasoline engine but added a 66.9 kW electric motor to emit 261 horsepower. With a plug-in capacity of 13.8 kWh, Kia estimates it can travel up to 30 miles at full cost. The Sorento plug-in will arrive later in the 2021 or 2022 calendar year, only available in all-wheel-drive configurations.
KIA Sorento SX Top Speed
At various road surfaces and various speeds, the Sorento is stable and under control. Only at low speeds do you feel the sharp impact of obstacles such as railroad tracks and potholes.
The impact doesn’t really shake the cabin, but you definitely hear it and feel it through the steering wheel. It is possible that the wheels of our 20-inch test car are to blame for some of the violent impacts it has.
Road and wind noise levels are both lower than, say, you’ll experience a Honda CR-V or Subaru Forester. Engine noise is also well subdued and never sounds rough or union purified, even under heavy throttle. And thanks to the low-rpm torque of the 2.5-liter turbo engine, you rarely have to work the Sorento.
Sorento SX Prestige is top-of-the-line and therefore comes with leather upholstery and heating and ventilation for the front passenger.
The skin is firm but comfortable, and the seats offer plenty of customization for the front passenger. On the second row are arranged two captain’s seats (bench seats are standard at trim levels of LX and S) that slide and lie down. There is plenty of room for higher passengers, even behind higher drivers.
2022 KIA Sorento SX Prestige Exterior
The new Sorento is much more than just a shrinking Telluride. Designed in Kia’s Irvine, California studio, the Sorento mimics Telluride’s rugged design language while incorporating unique style elements and going in different directions.
The sharp, modern lines give the Sorento a classy aesthetic, and elements such as the “tiger nose” grille and DRL “eye line” provide a bespoke fascia.
The strong character line gives the vehicle an impressive attitude, especially with beefier wheels and higher suspension settings, especially in the Halo X-Line SX-Prestige trim level.
Kia has managed to give the Sorento its own look without feeling out of place with the rest of the line-up. Wheel sizes range from 17 to 20 inches – the largest ever for the Sorento.
2022 KIA Sorento SX Prestige Interior
Telluride deserves credit for offering premium interiors at mainstream prices, and it seems the Sorento will do the same, and then some.
The Sorento cockpit is equipped with high-quality materials such as bright satin finishing, available metal textures or open-pore wood inlays, leather blankets, and invites ambient lighting.
All the controls look intuitively laid out, which means there has to be a lot of space and a bit of a learning curve.
In terms of technology, Sorento looks ready to lead its class. Available features include a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with Blind View Monitor, surround-view camera, up to eight USB ports, an eight-inch or 10.25-inch infotainment display with connectivity for up to two smartphones, and a Bose premium sound system with 12 speakers.
The Sorento will comfortably accommodate five passengers with space for two more people in a pinched state, and based on the photos, and we’ll question why you need to spend more on a BMW X5 or Mercedes-Benz GLE.
The interior of the Sorento is a major departure from the aesthetics of the current version, which is somewhat staid. Dashboards can be equipped with a 12.3-inch digital measuring cluster and a 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
The rest combines shaped air vents, integrated ambient lighting, and intricately sewn surfaces on door panels and seat inserts.
The center console hosts rotary shift knobs as well as drive mode selectors and other vehicle functions. Various cubby storage and cupholders also fill the console.
While we can’t comment on how comfortable the cabin is until we ride in one, the Sorento wheelbase has stretched 1.4 inches compared to its predecessor.
Kia says the extra length and new platform improves interior space. Along with the standard third row, the second-row bench can be exchanged for a pair of captain’s seats.
Fuel Economy
The 2022 Sorento on a four-cylinder 2.5-liter basis will produce up to 24 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.
The more powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter four is rated at up to 22 mpg city and 29 motorways. The hybrid Sorento is the most fuel-efficient, with an estimated 39 mpg of the city and 35 highways.
Once we have the opportunity to run this powertrain on our 75 mph highway fuel economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, we can evaluate the MPG’s real-world SUV.
Infotainment
With infotainment and connectivity features at the forefront of new car technology, the Sorento supports all the content it wants most.
It comes standard with an 8.0-inch touchscreen or an optional 10.3-inch touchscreen. In addition to the wireless charging pad, there is also an optional Bose 12 speaker sound system for those who prefer a high-end audio experience.
Sorento Storage
The bonus of the previous generation Sorento was its ability to swallow £5,000, which is above average for a small SUV.
The new model loses quite a lot of that capability but is still rated to towing up to 3,500 pounds when equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine and Sorento tow package.
That’s still enough to pull a small cargo trailer or some motorcycle, for example. All other powertrains in the Sorento range are priced at £2,000.
As you’d expect, a compact SUV doesn’t have much cargo capacity behind the third row of seats. But there’s room for about five bags of groceries in that space, as well as a little more room to be found in the plane’s bottom storage.
With the third row down (an easy rope pull), the Sorento offers between 38.5 and 45.0 cubic feet, depending on how you have a second-row seat adjusted.
The hotel offers more space than a Honda Passport (41.2 cubic feet) and a Volkswagen Tiguan (37.6 cubic feet). With all three lines falling, the Sorento boasts an impressive 75.5 cubic feet.
On the practical side, the Sorento offers a well-thought-out range of interior storage options. Front passengers have enough storage, even with optional wireless charging pads, while second-row passengers enjoy two different cupholders at their respective doors.
This may seem like a silly thing to get excited about, but the top cupholder (at the same height as the door pull) is the right size for a can, and the bottom pocket has the perfect place for a drink bottle.
That’s wise. They also have netted pockets on the side of their seats that can easily hold mobile phones. Even third-row passengers have a place to store loose goods and drinks.
2022 KIA Sorento Release Date
Kia has yet to announce a price, but the Sorento has always been an excellent value proposition over its competitors. Buyers can choose from 5 trim levels, including LX, S, EX, SX, SX-Prestige, plus flagship SX-Prestige AWD models with X-Line packages.
2022 KIA Sorento Price
We expected this new Sorento to start below $30,000 but quickly exceeded $40,000 with options. Only the base powertrain, turbo, and turbo-hybrid will arrive at launch, with PHEV models reserved for the 2022 model year.
Sorento Competitors
The Sorento jumped into battle against other small-medium sizes such as the GMC Acadia, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Nissan Murano.
With its outstanding exterior design, luxurious interior, powerful technological features, and a large selection of engines, the Sorento looks ready to take its segment by storm.
Sorento Trim Level
Sorento 2022 is available in five trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX, SX Prestige, and SX Prestige X-Line. Most of them come with a front drive or all the wheels.
The Sorento is also available as a hybrid in two trims: S and EX. The plug-in hybrid version will debut at the end of the model year. Highlight features for Sorento thanks include:
LX
Get you started with:
- 2.5-liter four-cylinder (191 hp, 182 lb-ft);
- Eight-speed automatic transmission;
- Selectable drive mode;
- 17-inch wheels;
- LED headlights;
- Heated outside the mirror;
- 60/40 second-row folding seats (seven-seater seat);
- 50/50-split third-row folding seats;
- 8-inch infotainment touch screen;
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless compatibility
The Sorento also comes with:
- Advanced collision mitigation (warns you of an upcoming collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios);
- Driver’s attention warning (issue an alert if the sensor determines you’re becoming tired);
- Line departure mitigation (warns you of lane departures when turn signals are not in use and can;
- automatically redirect to maintain lane position);
- System of maintaining paths
S
Add a little more style and comfort with:
- 18-inch wheels;
- Glossy black exterior trim;
- Leather seat trim simulation;
- Power-adjustable driver’s seat;
- Heated front seats;
- Double zone climate control;
- Keyless entry and start push button;
- A blind-spot monitor with rear traffic warning
EX
Includes more powerful machines and other features, such as:
- 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (281 hp, 311 lb-ft);
- Eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission;
- LED fog light;
- Wireless phone charger;
- Adaptive cruise control.
SX
Add the following:
- 20-inch wheels;
- Panoramic sunroof;
- LED taillights;
- Power-adjustable passenger seat;
- 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen;
- Second-row captain’s seat.
SX Prestige
Dress up the Sorento with:
- Digital measuring cluster;
- Automatic dimming rearview mirror;
- Leather seating surface;
- Ventilated front seats;
- Heated steering wheel;
- Improved Bose 12 speaker audio system;
- Rear automatic braking;
- 360-degree camera system ;
- Blind-spot camera.
SX Prestige X-Line
Add off-road capabilities with:
- Standard all-wheel drive;
- Unique dark silver exterior trim;
- 8.2 inches ground clearance (up from 6.9 inches);
- Improved approach and departure angle;
- Snow mode for the all-wheel-drive system.
Hybrid S and EX
Similar to the standard S and EX trims, they come with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a hybrid system to produce 227 hp. Both hybrid trims use a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.
