The Kia Sorento is a seven-seat, all-wheel-drive SUV offered in the UK with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and diesel power. The right version depends less on a single headline mpg figure than on how often you can charge, whether you tow, and how much you want to spend: the diesel has the highest braked towing limit, while the plug-in hybrid’s quoted economy assumes charging and a suitable pattern of short journeys.
Is the Kia Sorento worth buying?
It is worth considering if you need a large SUV with seven seats, all-wheel drive and a choice of powertrains. Kia UK lists the three versions at 190 bhp for the 2.2 CRDi diesel, 235 bhp for the 1.6 hybrid and 283 bhp for the 1.6 plug-in hybrid. The diesel uses an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission; the electrified versions use a six-speed automatic. These are manufacturer specifications, not independent test results.
The trade-offs are clear: the diesel is the strongest match for regular heavy towing, the conventional hybrid avoids the need to plug in, and the PHEV offers the highest listed output and a limited electric-only range. All are listed as seven-seaters with AWD. Reviewers praise the Sorento’s passenger space and comfort, but also describe it as expensive and note drawbacks such as a heavy feel, firm low-speed suspension or a dark cabin. These are reviewer assessments rather than universal findings.
Kia UK’s Sorento model page presents the range as a choice of diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. RAC Drive’s editorial verdict is that the updated model remains a strong large-SUV offering, while acknowledging that it is showing its age in places. Neither assessment replaces checking the specific car against your needs.
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How much does a Kia Sorento cost new?
Kia UK’s current price guide lists the following on-the-road prices by grade and powertrain. Prices were accessed on 3 October 2026; Kia’s page does not state a publication date, and prices can change, so confirm the live figure and any offers with a Kia retailer.
| Grade | Diesel | Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pure | £43,725 | £44,705 | £48,425 |
| Evolve | £48,375 | £48,935 | £52,655 |
| Aspire | £52,875 | £53,435 | £57,155 |
The price premium for the PHEV is most defensible if you can charge regularly and make frequent trips within its rated electric range. The diesel is the least expensive Pure in this guide, but that does not establish that it will cost least to own: fuel, tax, maintenance and your mileage all affect the total. Compare the exact grade and equipment you would buy, rather than treating the entry price as the whole decision. Kia UK’s specification page provides the maker’s current model figures.
Which Sorento powertrain suits your use?
| Powertrain | Output | Pure combined consumption (WLTP) | 0–62 mph (Kia figure) | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 CRDi diesel | 190 bhp | 43.4 mpg | 9.7 seconds | Regular towing and buyers who do not want to charge |
| 1.6 hybrid | 235 bhp | 42.8 mpg | 9.0 seconds | Mixed use without charging as a requirement |
| 1.6 plug-in hybrid | 283 bhp | 72.43 mpg weighted | 8.0 seconds | Frequent charging and many journeys within the rated electric range |
Consumption and acceleration figures above are Kia’s manufacturer figures for the Pure grade. Kia says its laboratory mpg results are intended for comparison and may not reflect real driving. There is no same-condition, independently verified real-world economy comparison across all three versions here, so do not read the table as a promise of what your route will achieve.
Rank #2
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Diesel: for regular towing
The diesel has the highest listed braked trailer limit at 2,500 kg, making it the clearest choice in this range for regular heavy towing, subject to the vehicle’s own limits and legal requirements. It is also the least expensive Pure version in Kia’s current guide. Those facts do not by themselves prove it will be cheapest to run.
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The conventional hybrid is the middle-priced Pure option and needs no plug-in charging routine. Kia lists 42.8 mpg combined under WLTP. It is a reasonable candidate for mixed family use if you want an electrified powertrain without planning charging, but the official figure does not establish that it will use less fuel than the diesel in real driving.
Plug-in hybrid: useful only if charging fits your routine
Kia lists the PHEV with 34 miles of combined electric range and a weighted combined figure of 72.43 mpg. The mpg figure is conditional: RAC notes that it depends on journeys being mostly within the battery’s range, and Kia cautions that WLTP results may differ from real use. If you regularly charge and most of your routine trips are short, it can make sense; if not, the purchase premium and reduced towing limit are harder to justify from these figures alone.
Rank #3
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Kia lists charging from 10% to 100% at 5 hours 2 minutes using a three-pin AC charger, or 3 hours 25 minutes on a 3.3 kW Type 2 AC connection. These are manufacturer-listed times; your charging setup and circumstances matter.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How practical is the Kia Sorento as a seven-seater?
Kia’s official luggage figures show the central compromise of a three-row SUV: there is little luggage space behind the upright third row, but much more when that row is folded. Figures vary slightly by powertrain.
| Seats in use / measurement position | Hybrid and diesel | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Behind upright third row | 179 litres | 175 litres |
| Behind upright second row | 813 litres | 809 litres |
| Behind front row | 1,996 litres | 1,988 litres |
RAC describes the Sorento as spacious for passengers and luggage and considers it a viable option for adults using the third row. Carwow is more cautious, saying the rearmost seats are best for children. Because comfort and usable space depend on passenger size, try your own family in all three rows and check whether the remaining boot can take your usual bags with every seat occupied.
Rank #4
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Can a Kia Sorento tow a caravan?
Yes, the range has substantial official braked towing limits, but the maximum depends on the powertrain:
| Powertrain | Maximum braked trailer weight listed by Kia |
|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,500 kg |
| Hybrid | 2,000 kg |
| Plug-in hybrid | 1,700 kg |
These are manufacturer limits, not a guarantee that a particular caravan is suitable for a particular car or driver. Check the car’s plate and handbook, its payload, the trailer’s actual laden weight and applicable legal limits before towing. Auto Express describes the standard four-wheel drive as helpful for towing; that reviewer assessment does not change the rated limits.
What should you compare before buying?
RAC names the Skoda Kodiaq, Hyundai Santa Fe, Volkswagen Tayron and Peugeot 5008 as alternatives in or around the large-SUV class. They are not automatically like-for-like: check whether the exact version you are considering has seven seats, the powertrain you need and comparable equipment.
Quick Recap
- Compare the transaction price and standard equipment for the grade you would actually buy.
- Check passenger comfort and luggage space with all three rows occupied, not only the maximum boot figure.
- Estimate fuel use on your own routes; the quoted WLTP figures are comparison values, not real-world guarantees.
- For the PHEV, consider where and how often you can charge, and how many journeys fall within its rated electric range.
- For towing, compare the exact braked limit with the fully laden trailer and check the vehicle’s own plate and payload.
- Verify warranty and ownership terms directly for the market, model and purchase date; they are not established by the figures in this review.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
