The 2021 Kia Sorento is a family-friendly SUV with plenty of passenger space in the cabin and a powerful turbocharged engine under the hood. You’ll find that the Sorento has an upscale cabin and several great tech features. Some of these features vary depending on the trim you choose. Here’s an overview of what’s available with each of the 2021 Sorento’s trims.
The Sorento is offered in five trims: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. There’s also a Sorento hybrid option, which is powered by a combination of an electric motor and a gas-powered engine. The hybrid’s powertrain puts out 227 horsepower and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
All Kia Sorento models come standard with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available with all trims at an additional cost of $1,800. The only exception to this is the range-topping SX Prestige, which offers all-wheel drive as part of a styling package costing an extra $2,000.
When the Sorento is properly equipped, it can tow up to 3,500 pounds. This makes it a good choice if you plan on towing a camper for a weekend trip away or hauling a boat for a trip to a lake.
Kia Sorento LX
Image via Flickr by crash71100
With a starting price of $29,390, the Sorento’s base LX trim proves that it’s possible to get a three-row SUV on a modest budget. Reflecting the great value offered by the Sorento, US News and World Report named it the 2021 Best Three-Row SUV for the Money.
The LX features a 2.5-liter V-4 engine under the hood that can put out 191 horsepower. Power to the engine is managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The LX’s exterior styling includes a black tiger-nose grille and black radiator mesh at the front.
Inside the cabin, the Sorento’s three rows of seats feature cloth upholstery. The first two rows are perfect for adult passengers, while the third row is well suited for child passengers. The third row has a 50-50 split-folding seat, providing accommodation for two passengers. If you need to install child seats, there are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the outward seats in the second row. Behind the rear row, you’ll find 12.9 cubic feet of storage space.
When it comes to infotainment and technology, the base LX trim has an 8-inch infotainment screen and a six-speaker audio system. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay also come standard, making it easy for you to link your phone to your Sorento’s entertainment setup. The Sorento boasts a wide range of driver assistance features, like forward-collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, and driver drowsiness monitoring.
Sorento S
The Kia Sorento S changes out the cloth upholstery in the cabin for synthetic leather. In addition, you also get heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. For extra comfort throughout the cabin, the S trim has dual-zone automatic climate control.
Like the LX trim, the S is powered by the 2.5-liter V-4 engine. This unit has some of the best gas mileage in the mid-sized SUV class, achieving 24 mpg on city roads and 29 mpg on the highway.
The S shares several styling features with the EX, SX, and SX prestige trims. These include a gloss black tiger-nose grille, gloss black radiator mesh, and GT bumpers.
Kia Sorento EX
Fans of a bit more power under the hood are well-served by the Sorento EX, which is equipped with Kia’s turbocharged V-4. This 2.5-liter engine can crank out 281 horsepower. The extra power doesn’t cost much in terms of gas mileage, with the turbocharged V-4 making 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
Inside, the Sorento EX adds captain’s chairs to the second row for a little more comfort. This reduces the Sorento’s passenger capacity to six. At the rear, the EX gets a hands-free liftgate, which will make it a lot easier for you when you’re loading up your SUV with groceries or cargo.
There’s also a number of additional technology features to look forward to with the EX. Adaptive cruise control can manage your speed on the highway so that you maintain a safe distance between your Sorento and vehicles up ahead. Wireless device charging will help you keep your phone or other electronic devices fully charged while you’re on the go.
Sorento SX
If you want to experience this SUV’s full infotainment capabilities, you’ll enjoy the 10.25-inch screen that comes standard with the SX trim. Kia’s infotainment system is called UVO, and it wins praise from auto critics for being easy to use and retaining physical controls for some features. Other additions on the technology front include a navigation system and satellite radio. The SX also adds a power-adjustable passenger’s seat and a sunroof.
Kia Sorento SX Prestige
The SX Prestige is the Kia Sorento’s range-topping trim. A luxurious feel to the cabin is provided by leather upholstery and ventilated front seats. When you’re behind the wheel on cold days, you’ll benefit from a heated steering wheel.
Music fans will love the SX Prestige’s 12-speaker premium stereo. Other technology upgrades include rear automatic emergency braking and a surround-view parking camera.
Kia’s X-Line package costs an additional $2,000 and adds some great styling features to your SX Prestige. These include Hyper Silver styling on the radiator mesh, rugged bumpers, and Hyper Silver moulded-in skid plates. It also includes all-wheel drive.
We hope that our comparison of the features available with the various trims on the Kia Sorento has helped you in your vehicle search. If you have any questions about the Sorento or its features, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Here at Huffines Kia Corinth, our team of auto experts is proud to support customers like you and help you choose the perfect SUV to meet your needs. Once you’ve selected your preferred Sorento trim, you can arrange a test drive to learn how the vehicle performs in practice. To get the process started, drop by our showroom in Corinth or give us a call.