Kia Sorento

The cabin consists of premium materials, ample passenger space and modern touchscreen displays.

Bilal points out,

"The biggest surprise inside the Sorento is not how good the cabin is, but how familiar it feels."

Cabin Layout and Quality

• The dashboard uses a clean, horizontal layout.
• There’s a continuous panoramic curved display panel on mid and top trims.
• It houses twin 12.3-inch high-definition screens under a single curved sheet of glass.

Seating Comfort

Front Row

• The front seats have high spinal cushioning for long trips.
• The driver receives a 10-way power-adjustable seat with lumbar support.
• HTX variants add memory settings, massage functions and relaxation tilt positions.

Second Row

• From the HTX  variant, you get individual executive captain seats.
• In seven-seater variants, the second row features a 60:40 split bench.
• Rear window sunshades, AC vents and USB Type-C fast-charging ports are available as well.

Third Row

• A one-touch remote walk-in button slides the second-row seat forward for entry here.
• The third-row bench features a 50:50 split-folding design with reclining backrests.
• Headroom is generous enough for adults under five feet nine inches.

Features That Improve Daily Use

• Head-Up Display and Digital IRVM
• 12-Speaker Bose Premium Audio
• Remote Smart Parking Assist

The range starts at Rs. 27.99 lakh for the entry-level HTE seven-seater. It tops out at Rs. 38.49 lakh for the flagship HTX (A) six-seater that has all-wheel drive and advanced Level 2+ ADAS.

Ex-Showroom Prices (India)

Both engines run with the help of a 67-litre fuel tank. As for mileage, the hybrid returns usually high numbers across busy city routes. Meanwhile, the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel is most frugal on open highways.

Observed Fuel Efficiency During Testing

Kia has equipped the Sorento with a solid active and passive safety net.

Passive Safety and Crash Protection

• HTE and HTK variants feature seven airbags as standard.
• Three-point seatbelts with pre-tensioners are present across all three rows.
• The top-spec HTX and HTX (A) add rear-seat side airbags and a front-centre airbag.

Active Safety and Stability Systems

• Every variant has all-four disc brakes.
• You get ABS, EBD, ESP, and a TPMS as standard.
• The HTK (A) trim introduces Kia's Level 2 ADAS suite with 21 autonomous functions.
• There are features like Front Collision Warning and Front Collision-Avoidance Assist.
• The HTX (A) variant upgrades to an enhanced Level 2+ ADAS suite with 29 functions.
• A high-resolution 360-degree camera with a blind-view monitor rounds out the assistance.

The cabin has a clean, high-tech environment.

Infotainment and Interface

• HTK and HTX variants feature twin 12.3-inch high-definition displays.
• Base HTE trims also get the same large central infotainment touchscreen.
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect quickly without charging cables.

Cabin Convenience and Practical Features

• Front ventilated seats are standard from the HTE (O) variants upward.
• The dual-pane panoramic sunroof offers all rows with natural light.
• The digital IRVM and Head-Up Display are exclusive to the HTX.

The Sorento has a clear advantage in ride composure over traditional ladder-frame competitors.

According to Bilal,

"The Sorento has a distinctly European approach to its road manners."

City Driving

• The 360-degree camera and blind-view monitors offer situational awareness at all times.
• In city driving, the suspension irons out broken road surfaces conveniently.
• The steering wheel requires little effort to turn at low speeds.

Highway Driving

• The Sorento stays planted and composed at 100 kmph.
• Around corners, body roll is quite predictable and well-contained.
• For variants with All-Wheel Drive, the system distributes power cleanly between the axles.

You get three core personas under this Kia nameplate.

The Essentials That You Don’t Get

• A manual transmission option
• A low-range transfer case or heavy-duty 4x4
• All-Wheel Drive availability on the entry-level HTE and HTK variants

The ideal Sorento for you, out of all the ones available, depends on your seating preferences, your budget and whether you drive yourself most of the time or travel with a chauffeur.

Best on a Budget: HTE (O) 7

For under Rs. 30 lakh, ex-showroom, the HTE (O) is a variant you can check out. You get the spacious seven-seater cabin, the seven standard airbags, the large 12.3-inch display and some extra Indian luxury must-haves: the dual-pane panoramic sunroof and front ventilated seats.

Best Value Overall: HTK (A) 7

The HTK (A) is the most logical variant for self-driving family buyers. It offers the twin 12.3-inch curved glass display, the 12-speaker Bose sound system and the 360-degree camera, while also adding the 21-feature Level 2 ADAS safety package.

Best for Luxury and Highway Touring: HTX (A) 6

If you intend to sit at the back often and also want to take long road trips on weekends with your family, the top-tier HTX (A) is right for you. You get the six-seater layout with ventilated second-row captain chairs, Boss Mode seat controls, 10 airbags, standard All-Wheel Drive and Level 2+ ADAS.