2018 Kia Sorento

The 2018 Kia Sorento is available in five trim levels: L, LX, EX, SX, and SX Limited. The base price starts at $25,900 and goes up to $46,300 for the top-spec SX Limited V6 model. Every trim comes standard with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is available. 

The base L and LX come standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The EX comes standard with the 2.0T turbocharged engine while a 3.3-liter V6 is available on the LX and EX, and it comes standard on the SX and SX Limited. Some trims are available with a third row that expands the standard seating capacity from five to seven.

We Recommend:

We recommend the midlevel EX trim, which combines useful technology, safety, and comfort features. The Sorento EX trim is only trim with a turbocharged engine and also features some classy cabin touches.

EPA fuel economy ratings for the 2018 Sorento with the base 2.4-liter and FWD are 21/28 mpg city/highway and 21/25 mpg with all-wheel drive. The 2.0-liter turbo-four drops the gas mileage to 20/27 mpg with front-wheel drive and 19/25 mpg with all-wheel drive. The V-6 powered Sorentos are rated at 18/25 mpg in front-drive configuration and 17/23 mpg in all-wheel-drive trim.

Fuel Economy is a strong suit of the 2018 Kia Sorento. By Compasiron no other midsize SUV matches the fuel efficiency of the Sorento. However, most of Sorento's rivals are more powerful, thus las slightly behind. 

"For the past couple years Kia has excelled in offering interior design, materials, and assembly that feel far more luxurious than the price tag suggests. That holds true for the 2018 Sorento." -Kelley Blue Book

2018 Sorento Seating and Comfort

The Kia Sorento's cabin is thoughtfully designed with the option of a five-seat layout or a seven-seat layout with an available third row. Apart from third-row space and access, the interior of the 2018 Sorento faces no criticism. In the front and second row, there is a good space for adults but the third row feels cramped and better left for kids or luggage.

In terms of quality, This biggest crossover of Kia feels surprisingly upscale, especially at this price tag. You will find top-notch materials and soft-touch plastics even in the base trim, with SX trims seeming properly luxurious. The outward visibility is good all-around, as the windshield and side pillars are reasonably slim.

The 2018 Sorento comes standard with cloth upholstery, and a 40/20/40 split-folding second row. Available seating features include:

• Third row of seats
• Leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Heated steering wheel
• Eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated second-row seats

2018 Sorento Infotainment System

Kia Sorento's UVO infotainment system and touchscreen display are some of the easiest to use and have user-friendly menus. Whether you are using the physical dash-mounted buttons or the touchscreen, it is fun to operate. Though the base Sorento offers six speakers, satellite radio, a USB port, and Bluetooth, we recommend going for 7- or 8-inch Uvo3 units that include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a variety of other multimedia features. 

• Six speakers
• Satellite radio
• A USB port and Bluetooth
• 3″ Touch-Screen Display
• 7- and 8-inch infotainment display
• Navigation, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay
• Dual rapid-charge USB ports
• 10-speaker Infinity surround-sound audio system
• Dual-zone automatic climate control

2018 Sorento Cargo Space

With the third row installed, the Sorento has a poor amount of cargo space rated 11.3 cubic feet behind the third row. As you fold the 50/50 split-folding third-row the cargo space expands to 38.8 cubic feet and 73.5 cubic feet behind the first row. A hands-free power liftgate is available. 

To the advantage, the third row folds easily via pull-straps. The second row folds via nifty trunk-mounted remote handles. Compared to other third-row midsize rivals, the Kia Sorento's cargo capacity trails behind.

"Like the interior, the 2018 Sorento projects a sophisticated and upscale look from the outside. We like the “tiger-nose” grille treatment, and the overall blunt styling." -Kelley Blue Book

2018 Sorento Dimension and Weight

The 2018 Sorento's exterior styling is mostly unchanged and adorns the neat look which made its debut with the 2016 model year. Irrespective of the trim level you choose, the Sorento has a handsome shape and styling. Kia prefers a smooth and composed design language over flashy ones. The prominent grille, chrome detailing, and LED lighting accents to build up a decent face.

Kia offers the 2018 Sorento base L and LX trims with 17-inch alloys, however, the 18-inch alloys on EX models and 19-inches on SX models with chrome 10-spoke-alloy wheel adds to the look. The 19-inch wheel is good for off-roading and also provides better ride quality. This midsize crossover's ground clearance is average in the class and does not make it a genuine off-roader. Toyota Highlander's 8 inches of ground clearance is still better and adds another feather in the cap of this top-rated SUV.

Exterior Features

All the 2018 Sorento’s comes with a set of upgrades:

• LED accent lights in the headlights
• Base L models now come with automatic headlamps
• Power rear liftgate
• Power-folding side-view mirrors
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers

The NHTSA gave the 2018 Sorento an overall rating of five-star (out of a possible five stars). In IIHS crash-tests, 2018 Sorento earned the Top Safety Pick award and received the highest rating of Good in all five categories. Certain V6 Sorentos earned an Acceptable score for the new headlights. 

Kia offers a full suite of active driver assistance and safety features as available or standard equipment on all but base L trim. The available safety features include the following:

• Surround-view parking camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure warning
• Forward collision warning
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Adaptive headlights

2018 Kia Sorento Vs 2018 Honda Pilot

The 2018 Honda Pilot is a better choice for large families as it offers more third-row space for adults to sit comfortably than most other mid-size crossover SUVs. The Pilot's seating capacity of eight also surpasses the Sorento's seating for seven. 

Also, where Sorento has paltry cargo space behind the third row, the Honda Pilot has more storage room than most rivals. Still, the Sorento ought to be on the shopping list as it has its own strengths. It has an upscale interior, many more available active safety features, and intuitive cabin controls.

2018 Kia Sorento Vs 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento are corporate cousins and share a lot of features and basics including the three powertrain options, 5-seat or 7-seat layout, and similar features list.

With the Kia Sorento, you can expect a better quality of materials and an upscale cabin while the Hyundai has a better-predicted reliability rating.

The Kia Sorento is one of the best in midsize SUV in the segment. It’s available in a variety of configurations, and because each presents a different temperament, the Sorento can be shaped to meet a variety of needs. The lower priced base trim with its above-average fuel economy along with a healthy list of included features makes it a good pick for budget-savvy shoppers. On the other hand, the Sorento EX – which has an energetic turbocharged engine – offers a livelier, more athletic experience or get a V6-powered model to increase towing capacity, or gain extra grip with the available all-wheel drive.