The third-generation Kia Sorento (UM) represents a massive leap upmarket for the Korean brand. Moving away from its utilitarian roots, it positioned itself as a near-premium mid-size (North America) or large (Europe) SUV. Offering 5 or 7 seats, it boasts excellent sound insulation, high-quality interior materials, and a very comfortable ride. A mid-cycle facelift in 2018 brought subtle exterior tweaks, upgraded infotainment, and crucially, a new in-house 8-speed automatic transmission for the 2.2 CRDi and V6 engines, replacing the older 6-speed unit. While the European market was dominated by the highly reliable 'R-Line' diesel engines, the North American market relied heavily on the 'Theta II' petrol engines, which have been plagued by catastrophic reliability issues.
The Kia Sorento III is a tale of two continents. In Europe and markets where the 2.2 CRDi diesel is the standard, it is an outstanding, highly reliable, and practical family SUV that represents excellent value for money. The diesel powertrain is robust, provided it sees regular highway use to keep the DPF clean. However, in North America, the prevalence of the Theta II 4-cylinder petrol engines makes the Sorento a massive gamble due to widespread engine failures. Buying Advice: If buying diesel, ACHETER with confidence, but thoroughly check the AWD system and demand a full service history. If buying petrol, seek out the 3.3 V6. ÉVITER the 2.4 GDi and 2.0 T-GDi entirely unless the engine has already been replaced by Kia and carries a transferable lifetime warranty.