Used Kia Sorento 2015-2020 review

Once upon a time, the Kia Sorento was the sort of thing you would have sent round to the servant’s entrance, so basic were its intentions, but the last two versions have had a decidedly upmarket air to them. This 2015-2020 third-generation model in particular was much improved in its driving behaviour and its fit and finish, and the latest all-new 2021-onwards version is so good that it scooped our What Car? Large SUV of the Year award when it was launched.

The Sorento may well have been the only fully fledged seven-seater with such a handsome warranty, too: Kia offers a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty from new, with the chance to extend that to the full seven years on any used car up to 20 months old. Combine that with its sharp looks and it’s no wonder that this model proved such a popular car in the UK.

Engines: The sole engine option is the punchy 197bhp 2.2-litre diesel, which is available with either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.

Trims and equipment: A bonus is that even the cheapest versions are well equipped. Base KX-1 trim gets alloys, air-con and rear parking sensors, while KX-2, our favourite, adds leather seats and a reversing camera. KX-3 and KX-4 trims add even more opulence and are worth seeking out if you like your luxuries, but both will cost you more on the forecourt.

Ride and handling: The engine’s performance is a bit flat at low revs, but the Sorento is in fact faster than contemporary rivals such as the Nissan X-Trail and Land Rover Discovery Sport, and it’s also noticeably more refined. The average claimed economy figure is reasonable, too, for a car of this size and weight, with the base-spec KX-1 model, on its smaller wheels, recording a respectable 49.6mpg.

It rides well, too, and its handling is safe if a little uninspiring. It also has four-wheel drive, so buyers might feel that they have that extra edge of security on difficult roads.

Interior and practicality: Hop inside and the Sorento has a good driving position, with a driver's seat and a steering wheel with plenty of adjustment. There's a commanding driving position, in fact, with excellent visibility. Even the entry-level trim comes with a DAB radio, Bluetooth (including audio streaming), voice control, six speakers, a USB socket and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. All this is controlled through a 7.0in touchscreen. Upgrading to KX-2 and above gets you a better system – an 8.0in touchscreen that also has sat-nav. This system is simple to use because the on-screen buttons are large and clear, so are easy to press while driving.

Space-wise, the Sorento doesn't disappoint. Two tall adults will have plenty of room – there’s lots of head and leg room, and shoulder room is equally generous. Wide-opening doors help make it easy to get into the front seats. The rear part of the Sorento’s interior is almost as roomy as the front. There’s generous head and leg room for two tall adults to be comfortable and even fitting three is perfectly possible, thanks to the Sorento’s broad interior and flat floor. The two third-row seats are decent, too. Sure, children will be more comfortable than grown-ups, but the seats are fine if you need to take a couple of average-height adults on a short trip.

Boot space is another Sorento strong point. There's an impressive 605 litres with the two rearmost seats folded down – that's considerably more space than you get in a Discovery Sport or a Volvo XC60. Even with all seven seats in place, there’s enough room for a few shopping bags or a couple of small suitcases.

In 2018 the Kia Sorento received a modest facelift, with a new front and rear design, new wheels and exterior colours and changes to some of the trims and the standard equipment. The engine remained unchanged, however, as did most of the oily bits underneath.

If you're interested in buying a used Kia Sorento, or any of the other cars mentioned here, please check out our used car classifieds site here.

Prices for this third-generation model start at around £10,000 for a high mileage version, while between £11,000 and £15,000 will buy you a good, clean 2015 or 2016 car in KX-2 trim with an average mileage for the year and a full history from an independent dealer. Up the money to between £15,000 and £18,000 and you’ll find plenty of 2016 and 2017 cars in various trim levels, all with an average mileage and a full history, often from a Kia dealer. Spending £20,000-£22,000 will net you a 2018 or 2019 post-facelift car with a nominal mileage. Expect to spend upwards of £22,000 to net a 2020 model.

MPG

The main cost of running your Sorento will be fuel. The one and only 2.2-litre diesel engine has a lot of work to do, hauling around all that car, and although the base trim KX-1 can claim an average official consumption of 49.9mpg under the older NEDC tests, or 41.5mpg under the later and more realistic WLTP tests. In everyday use, your consumption will, of course, be considerably heavier than this, with the prospect of achieving only 25mpg in certain situations a real possibility.

Road tax

Annual car tax (VED) will be based on CO2 emissions figures for cars registered before April 2017, and will be charged at a flat rate (currently £180 a year) for cars registered after that date, provided they don't cost more than £40,000 new.

Servicing

Servicing costs are reasonable, with services due every 12 months or 20,000 miles. Starting at just £299, Kia Care-3 and Care-3 Plus offer a competitive fixed-price package on each of the car’s first three or five services – but, alas, only for cars less than 11 months old. You can add the MOT cost to that for just £30.

As far as engine options go, it's Hobson’s choice: there’s only the 2.2-litre diesel unit. This is a strong and sturdy performer, provided you rev it, and it’s reasonably reliable and quite refined, too. However, it’s understandably not especially economical when it’s asked to haul around the large Sorento.

Trims start with the base KX-1, which offers air-con, 17in alloy wheels (which give this version of the Sorento the best economy), reversing sensors and electrically folding mirrors. These are the best buys on the used car forecourts, but we prefer the KX-2, which adds larger alloys and better air-con, as well as leather heated seats. KX-3 and KX-4 are seriously opulent and include xenon headlights and a powered tailgate, as well as a panoramic sunroof and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat. Worth seeking out, but beware of inflated used prices.

Our favourite Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-2

The most obvious rival to the Sorento is the Hyundai Sante Fe, which is mechanically very similar. It offers a 2.2-litre diesel engine allied to four-wheel drive and comes with a seven-seat option. The Santa Fe is a fine family SUV, with a rugged, go-anywhere ability and acres of space, as well as a good dose of practicality. It’s not the cheapest to run, and comes with only a five-year warranty from new, while the Kia has a seven-year one.

The Skoda Kodiaq is a relative newcomer on the used car market. It has a seven-seat option and some models will have been specified with four-wheel drive (front-wheel drive is standard on most trims). It’s great to drive and comfortable to travel in. Where the Kodiaq really scores on the new car market is in providing excellent value for money, so we’re still waiting to see if this translates on to the used market. There’s a wide range of well-equipped trims so there should be plenty of options for most pockets.

If you want a more upmarket image, you should consider a used Land Rover Discovery Sport, even though you will pay a premium for a like-for-like example. All versions have a 2.0-litre diesel engine and four-wheel drive, and most buyers will have specified the seven-seat interior rather than the cheaper five-seat layout. Off-road, it’s also markedly superior to nearly all the rivals in this category. Only a mixed reliability record counts against it.

Alternatively, the Mitsubishi Outlander offers seven seats in diesel guise and has a good reputation for reliability. It is smaller than the Kia Sorento though, particularly in its third-row seats.

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If you're interested in buying a used Kia Sorento, or any of the other cars mentioned here, please check out our used car classifieds site here.