2024 Kia Sorento

The release date for the 2024 Kia Sorento is set for the first quarter of 2024, although hybrid models will be added to the lineup at a later date. The new Sorento lineup in the USA will include LZ, S, EX, SX, and SX-Prestige trims, with X-Line and X-Pro packages available for the upper trims.

The 2024 Kia Sorento's price will only be published nearer to its on-sale date, but there should be a small increase over the 2023 model. Right now, the MSRP of the base Sorento is $30,090, rising to $43,690 for the top-end X-Line SX Prestige. Of course, Kia Sorento Hybrid models are more expensive, but we cover these separately. We expect new models to have a starting cost of around $32k.

If you need a three-row SUV, then rivals will include the Honda Pilot, but that has a higher starting price than the Sorento, as does the Chevrolet Traverse. The Hyundai Santa Fe is also an option, and this is also getting an update for the new year. Kia should keep pricing as affordable as possible, although it will likely be in competition with the Santa Fe for the most affordable three-row SUV.

For a facelift, the 2024 Kia Sorento's exterior has undergone quite a change, particularly in front. In our reveal, we compared the new boomerang-shaped amber DRLs to those of the Cadillac XT4; the headlights are vertically stacked LEDs on the new model, giving it a fresh, assertive look. The latest grille, inspired by the EV9, has a three-dimensional pattern and is larger than before, while the hood and bumper have also been altered. The skid plate garnish at the front and rear is also wider to make it look more rugged. The overall aesthetic of the 2024 Sorento is also reminiscent of the blocky Telluride.

New alloy wheel designs have been introduced, which will likely range in size from 17 to 20 inches, as with the 2023 version. There are fewer obvious changes at the back, but the latest Sorento has new Star Map graphics in the taillights.

There is a new X-Pro upgrade available to the top Sorento trim, which equips the SUV for more outdoor adventuring with 17-inch wheels with standard GF Goodrich all-terrain tires.

Exterior colors for the Kia Sorento include the palette we're familiar with from the current model as well as new hues like Midnight Lake Blue, Dawning Red, Jungle Green, and Roadrider Brown; these names are derived from the natural world and support Kia's Bold for Nature stance, another aspect of the company's design philosophy.

As this isn't an all-new model, we expect the dimensions of the new Kia Sorento SUV to remain more or less the same. The 2023 version comes in at 189 inches in length, 74.8 inches in width, and 66.7 inches in height, spread over a wheelbase of 110.8 inches.

In front-wheel-drive guise, the base Sorento weighs 3,715 pounds, but that goes up all the way to 4,120 lbs for the heaviest AWD-spec car.

Kia Sorento engine options in the USA are unlikely to change, which means the base model will have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. A far better choice is the 2.5-liter turbo-four with 281 hp and 311 lb-ft available from the middle of the range. Whereas the non-turbo model has an eight-speed automatic, the turbocharged one comes with a dual-clutch automatic. All models are FWD by default, but AWD is available to all models in the 2023 lineup, with X-Line upgrades available to most trims. And for 2024, the top model can be had with the X-Pro upgrade for even more capability off the beaten path. Performance specs include a 0-60 mph time of low-seven-second time for the 281-hp Sorento, while models with the base engine are closer to ten seconds.

The Sorento isn't intended to be a sports car with a ridiculous top speed, and the focus is on getting families to their destination comfortably and ensuring practicality and versatility across a range of applications. To that end, the Sorento can tow around 3,500 lbs, although the automaker says that X-Pro-equipped models will have an increased towing capacity of 4,000 lbs.

We can look at gas mileage specs from the EPA for the 2023 model to get an idea of what to expect from the facelifted Sorento since there are no changes announced under the sheet metal.

FWD models with the base engine are obviously the most frugal at 24/29/26 mpg for the city/highway/combined cycle, dropping to 23/25/24 mpg with AWD. Opting for turbocharged trims sees a change, too, with FWD models earning 22/29/25 mpg and AWD trims getting 22/2724 mpg. If fuel economy is your main focus though, buyers will want to check out the 2025 Sorento Hybrid lineup.

A 17.7-gallon fuel tank capacity should carry over to the new Sorento SUV.

We've had mostly good things to say about the interior of the current-gen Kia Sorento, and that continues for the facelifted model. It's an environment characterized by superb passenger space in the first two rows and acceptable space for average-sized adults in the smaller third row, which is expected in the segment.

What has changed inside is the design of the dashboard with its dual-screen layout and slimmer ventilation outlets in the center that appear far more upscale than the current model's. The horizontal theme is much more harmonious and brings the Sorento in line with contemporary rivals. The dashboard feels uncluttered in the latest iteration.

Kia says the panoramic panel is standard in the new Sorento, but lower-tier trims have a 4.3-inch TFT display and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen underneath it. Higher-end models will get dual 12.3-inch screens under the curved display. Once again, taking its cues from the EV9, the Sorento now gets the next-gen Connected Car Navigation cockpit operating system with optimized accessibility and faster processing speeds. This includes OTA, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on all trims.

Other tech upgrades for the new Kia Sorento SUV include an advanced digital key and an upgraded ADAS suite, while upper trims should benefit from equipment like a surround-view camera system and a more powerful Bose sound system.

We can also see that the traditional gear selector has been replaced by what looks like a rotary alternative, and Kia has incorporated some attractive ambient lighting along the dashboard and front door panels. We expect the standard seats in the Kir Sorento to be upholstered in cloth, with leatherette and leather on upper trims. Power-adjustable front seats will continue to be available as they are now.

Cargo space in the 2023 Kia Sorento is as much as 75.5 cubic feet, with all the seats folded down. Even the 12.6 cubes behind the third row is quite practical. We see no reason that these numbers will change for the 2024 model when it gets here.