2022 Kia Sorento

Our trim of choice out of the varied 2022 Kia Sorento lineup would be the EX trim that comes for an MSRP of $36,390. Not only does it offer a wide array of creature comforts but it can also be had with a much more powerful 2.5L turbocharged Inline-4 engine. Plus, the EX trim also gets loads of active and passive driver-assistance features as standard, which only adds to its worth.

The 2022 Kia Sorento compact SUV will be available in five trim levels: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. prices for the same start from $29,490 and go all the way up to $44,265. Most Sorento models come standard with front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive is available as an option. The range-topping SX Prestige is front-drive configured, while the SX Prestige X-Line comes in AWD configuration, and also in most other trims as well, apart from the SX. The price bump is $400 from last year.

Changes to the tune of a 10.25-inch touchscreen system is offered as standard with the S trim, whereas the SX Prestige trim adds a multi-way adjustable driver's seat and also heated second-row captain's chairs, as standard. Multiple packages are also offered with the 2022 Sorento, and you can opt for them with a minimal premium too.

 The Sorento's powertrain is a bit of a mixed bag, but the driving dynamics are solid - Road Show.

The 2022 Kia Sorento comes in four powertrains in total – two gasoline engines, one hybrid, and one plug-in hybrid. The engines are the same as the 2021 model. The base engine is a 2.5L inline-4 capable of spitting out 191 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque. The upgraded version is a 2.5L turbocharged inline-4 that offers 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. Both of these engines are married to the same eight-speed automatic transmission and both run on an FWD system. However, if you pay extra you can upgrade to the AWD system too.

The 2022 Sorento also comes as a hybrid. You can have a 1.6L inline-4 paired with a 44-kW electric motor, and it only comes as an FWD. Also, a new plug-in hybrid will be offered, which will include a 1.6L inline-4 and a 66.9-kW electric motor. This will come with a six-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine comes with a Dual-Clutch Transmission which makes things a lot smoother and gear changes are seamless. Shifts are quick and super smooth.

The 2022 Kia Sorento is also able to sprint from 0-60 MPH in just 8.5 seconds. This is with the 2.5L NA engine, whereas when you opt for the 2.5L turbocharged version, the 2022 Sorento is able to sprint from 0-60 MPH in a quicker 7.2 seconds. The quarter-mile mark barrier is also crossed in a competitive 16.4 seconds, with the naturally aspirated 2.5L engine.

Also, Kia has highly advertised the off-roading capability. There’s a dedicated button that allows you to select either drive modes or terrain mode. The terrain mode is basically for undesirable situations. We’d like to hold our horses until the Sorento comes out to test the off-roading factor, but it looks promising for now. Looking at the charts, it is clear that all the SUVs are more or less closely matched with each other. The Blazer offers the most power, although just slightly over the Sorento. Every SUV is more or less evenly matched and none is particularly quick off the line.

The base engine of the 2022 Kia Sorento promises a fuel economy of 24/29 MPG for city/highway and 26 MPG for combined driving. The turbocharged engine will offer 22/29 MPG on the city/highway respectively and 25 MPG for combined driving. These figures are for the FWD. With the AWD setup, the Korean SUV will manage 23/25/24 MPG for the base engine and 21/28/24 MPG for city/highway/combined driving for the turbocharged engine. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions offer more fuel economy and they can offer an excellent range.

All the SUVs manage to put up decent figures and range across the chart, except the Tiguan. It does not offer the best range and does not even cross the 400-mile mark, owing to its smaller 15.3-gallon tank size. The Santa Fe offers the best range, but only narrowly beating the Sorento. The Blazer also has a decent range.

The Telluride deserved praise for offering a premium interior at mainstream prices, and it looks the Sorento will do the same, and then some - Carbuzz.com

Offering a three-row set-up and 7 seats, seven people can practically fit inside the 2022 Kia Sorento. The AC vents are rhombus in shape and have a chrome outline, adding to the overall feel of the vehicle. The seats offer excellent stitching with the higher trims offering leather. The dashboard of the Sorento looks more modern with bigger screens and ambient lighting with 64 colors. Buttons and dials are also placed ergonomically and within the reach of the driver. The front seats get a 6-way manual adjustment with a 4-way adjustable passenger’s seat.

The higher trims will also include heated and cooled seats as standard with a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat with 2-way lumbar support and an 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat. The second row includes captain seats with armrests and the third row will have seats for up to three people. Spacing is also not an issue for the first two rows, while the rear row will be a little cramped for taller adults. 

The front and second-row are spacious for all the SUVs, but only the Sorento comes with a third row. For cargo, the Sorento will offer 12.6 cubic feet of cargo storage when the rear seats are up. However, they can easily be folded down with the push of a button, and then you will get more than 45 cubic feet of cargo storage. The second row can also be folded to offer more than 70 cubic feet of cargo storage, which should be more than enough for anyone. There are also tons of small-item storage solutions inside the cabin.

For infotainment, you get an 8” screen as standard but you can upgrade to the 10.3” screen too. You also get a 12.3” instrument cluster, although that is preserved for just the higher SX-Prestige and Prestige X-Line trims. On the higher trims, you get all the goodies such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM Radio, HD Radio, navigation, wireless phone charger, USB ports for all three rows, etc. And you can also add a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system.

The notable interior features of 2022 Sorento are:

• 6 Speaker AM/FM/HD Radio Audio System
• Steering-Wheel-Mounted Audio, Hands-Free Phone, and Cruise Control Buttons
• 8.0-inch Touch-Screen
• 4.2-inch Trip Computer Display
• Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column
• Rear Air Conditioning Vents
• Front & Rear Door Bottle Holders
• Dual Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors
• 6-Way Adjustable Driver's Seat
• One-Touch Sliding & Folding 2nd-Row Seats
• 60/40 Split-Folding 2nd-Row Seats

The 2021 Sorento gets a makeover that breaks free of the bulbous minivan mold of its predecessor -  The Car Connection.

The Sorento did get a massive change on the design front last year and the same continues for this year as well. While it might not look like much at first glance, Kia is going for a boxier look. No longer is the front fascia curved or rounded. It looks sleeker and resembles vehicles from a class above. The front fascia housing the stylish LED headlights will have a strong aggressive radiator grille, with boxy edges that capitulates a bolder stance. The hood will also have strong creases to reinstate its bold character.

The sides will also have strong lines and curvier windows. The rear fascia sees multiple LED taillights with a hidden windshield wiper. The 2022 Sorento is not a light SUV by any means, but it's right where you would expect it to. The new SUV has a longer wheelbase and looks quite dominating on the streets. With a large enough ground clearance, you can also take it out for off-roading.

Some exterior features of the 2022 Kia Sorento are:

• 20” wheels
• Express Open/close sliding and tilting glass
• Roof Rails
• Deep tinted glass
• Matte Black rear spoiler
• Panoramic sunroof
• Smart power liftgate rear cargo access
• Auto on/off projector-beam LED low/high beam auto high-beam headlamps

Kia claims that their new Sorento has a 4% increased tensile strength over its last-gen model. We expect that the 2022 Sorento will also be stronger and safer than the outgoing model, which already received great safety ratings and a Top Safety Pick for 2021 by IIHS. There will also be new safety features and the higher trims will enjoy all of it as standard. Moreover, the lower trims will also get plenty of active and passive safety features as standard.

The new safety features will include:

• Automatic Emergency Braking w/ Junction Assist
• Blind Spot View Monitor w/ Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Safe Exit System
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Lane Departure Warning
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist – Pedestrians and Cyclists
• Parking distance warning front and rear parking sensors
• Surround 360-degree camera

2022 Kia Sorento vs 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe

Identical in a lot of ways, the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento share a lot of similarities. The 2022 Santa Fe’s big grille might not cater to everybody’s liking, but some people might prefer it. The Santa Fe cannot fit seven people, but the Sorento can. 

While the interior is almost similar in spacing, the 2022 Sorento has that extra trick up its sleeve of fitting more people. Performance-wise too, they are mostly identical, while coming to the fuel economy front, the Sorento does have a slightly lesser range.

2022 Kia Sorento vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan is a great offering from the Germans, offering performance similar to that of the Sorento, but the Tiguan is a bit sportier. Also, the Tiguan cannot offer fuel economy on par with the Sorento, and also it has lesser interior spacing too. 

Despite that, the Tiguan has good driving dynamics and performs well on the highway. The interior quality is also decent. It comes down to outright personal preference when choosing between the two.

The 2022 Kia Sorento gets some fresh upgrades to keep the competition healthy and the SUV on its toes against much more competent rivals. The interior spacing allows more practicality and the new tech will surely make the lives of owners a lot easier. With a lot of safety features as well, the Sorento makes it hard to look away from it. By getting a boxier and more serious design, it certainly has attracted lots of SUV buyers. So, if you want a three-row SUV with decent space on the inside but is all the more great for the pocket as well, look no further than the 2022 Kia Sorento.