- The pros of the 2025 Kia Sorento offer versatile powertrain choices including gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid.
- Cons of the 2025 Kia Sorento include a cramped third row, limited cargo space with seats up, and touch-sensitive controls.
- Overall, the pros and cons of the 2025 Kia Sorento make it a strong contender in the SUV market.
The 2025 Kia Sorento sits in a crowded midsize SUV field where buyers are hungry for versatility, efficiency, comfort and value. It promises to deliver a broad set of powertrain choices and safety credentials without charging a premium like some luxury brands. At the same time, it faces inevitable compromises. This review aims to unpack both pros and cons of the 2025 Kia Sorento.
Kia Sorento Overview
The Kia Sorento is a three-row midsize crossover SUV that offers seating for six or seven, depending on configuration. It’s available in gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions, giving buyers options that balance performance and efficiency. Engine choices typically include a standard four-cylinder and an available turbocharged version for more power. The Kia Sorento is equipped with a wide range of features. Such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a large infotainment display in many trims, advanced driver-assistance technologies, and Kia’s long warranty coverage. All this and we still haven’t even gotten to the pros and cons of the 2025 Kia Sorento!
New for the 2025 Kia Sorento
For the 2025 Kia Sorento, changes are modest and largely cosmetic or trim specific. For example, there is new badging, particularly blacked out touches on the X-Line and X-Pro trims. There is also an updated paint option called Panthera Metal replacing a prior color. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models have also received the updated exterior styling and interior enhancements that non-hybrid versions got before. Lastly, Kia has refined interfaces and interior materials in upper trim levels to feel more premium than past generations.
Pros of the 2025 Kia Sorento
For the 2025 Kia Sorento, it mostly carries forward the design, powertrain lineup and core features that were refreshed in 2024. Driver assist features are also kept current. Not too many updates, understandably. After all, with all these pros of the 2025 Kia Sorento, what’s not to love?
Diverse Powertrain Options
The 2025 Kia Sorento shines in giving buyers flexibility in how they power their SUV. If you want straightforward gas-powered performance, the turbo-charged 2.5-liter option brings strong acceleration and towing capacity. The hybrid version provides a compelling balance between power and efficiency with around 227 hp plus torque from the electric motor. The plug-in hybrid takes that further and gives drivers the opportunity to drive a number of miles on electric power alone before gasoline kicks in. Having these three paths are definitely pros of the 2025 Kia Sorento because it means consumers can choose based on priorities.
Stylish and Comfortable Interior with Premium Materials
Inside the 2025 Kia Sorento you’ll find a step up in materials and finishes. This is one of the pros of the 2025 Kia Sorento that’s especially true for the upper trims. Quilted or genuine leather seats, open-pore wood trim, satin-finish accents and ambient lighting help give the cabin a premium feel. The first two rows offer generous legroom and headroom and the inclusion of second-row captain’s chairs in certain trims improves comfort and access to the third row. Standard tech touches are widely available so occupants benefit from both aesthetics and functionality. Tech touches include:
- a large 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- digital gauge cluster (in higher trims)
- multiple USB-C ports throughout the cabin
- wireless phone connectivity
Rich Technology and Safety Feature Set
Safety and tech keep pace with competitors. Standard infotainment includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Alongside driver assistance systems like forward collision avoidance and blind-spot monitoring are available advanced features like a surround-view camera. Kia’s Drive Wise package adds more sophisticated driver aids. This is one of the pros of the 2025 Kia Sorento worth mentioning because the technology inside is intuitive and tends to outmatch many rivals like the Hyundai Santa Fe.
Strong Value and Warranty Coverage
Kia has been very deliberate about offering strong value in the 2025 Sorento. Base pricing is competitive within its class meaning you’re getting three-row capability without paying premium SUV pricing. The pros of the 2025 Kia Sorento come down to the fact that the warranty is one of the better ones in the segment. It has solid powertrain protection and basic coverage that rivals more expensive crossovers. The 2025 Kia Sorento tends to deliver more bang for buck than many others that compromise heavily in one area.
Cons of the 2025 Kia Sorento
Although they exist, the cons of the 2025 Kia Sorento are few and far between. The cons of the 2025 Kia Sorento that we do list below are fortunately subjective.
Limited Third-Row Space and Reduced Cargo Capacity with Seats Up
Even though the 2025 Kia Sorento offers three rows, the third row is really best suited for kids or for occasional use only. Legroom and headroom there are tight compared to many larger midsize SUVs. When the third row is raised, cargo space shrinks significantly. Those who expect to fill that third row often or to stow large items while keeping those seats up may find the 2025 Kia Sorento less practical than its competitors.
Ride Quality and Road Noise on Rough Pavement
The 2025 Kia Sorento performs well on smooth roads. However, when pavement becomes uneven or there are potholes, it tends to transmit more vibration, harshness and road noise into the cabin. Larger wheels or off-road tires in trims like the X-Pro exacerbate the issue. Highway cruising is stable but ambient noise from wind becomes more noticeable especially at higher speed.
Touch-Sensitive Controls May Frustrate Some Users
The infotainment and climate control panels in many versions of the 2025 Kia Sorento lean heavily into touch-sensitive surfaces rather than physical buttons. These make for cleaner styling but can require more attention. This is because sometimes it may lag or mis-register touches in some conditions. It is a design trade-off that looks good but can impact usability in certain situations.
Is the 2025 Kia Sorento Worth It?
Whether the 2025 Kia Sorento is worth purchasing depends heavily on how much you value its strengths versus the drawbacks. Is your driving mostly on paved roads? Are your passengers in the third row children or occasional riders? Do you appreciate good fuel economy or want the option of hybrid or plug-in use? If you asked any of these questions, then the 2025 Kia Sorento delivers excellent value.
On the other hand if you regularly carry adults in the third row, need large cargo space with all seats in use, or want an especially quiet and cushioned ride over rough surfaces then there are rivals that perform better. Price differences may not be large but space and comfort trade-offs can make a big difference over years.
Experience the Pros and Cons of the 2025 Kia Sorento At Lawton Kia
Overall the pros and cons of the 2025 Kia Sorento manages to balance many desirable traits. For many buyers however, the cons of the 2025 Kia Sorento will be acceptable in exchange for what it gives so much of. If you fit more into its target case rather than its weaker spots this could very well be one of the smarter midsize three-row SUV buys of 2025.
Our Kia models for sale include the Kia Telluride, Kia Niro, Kia Soul, Kia Sportage, Kia Sorento, Kia Carnival, Kia EV6, Kia K4, Kia K5, and the Kia Seltos.
Contact Lawton Kia
Contact Lawton Kia today to learn more about the pros and cons of the 2025 Kia Sorento!
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4455 NW Cache Road, Lawton, OK 73505

Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.