2020 Kia Sorento

The 3.3L V6 is standard on the S, EX and SX trims — three of the five 2020 Sorento trims — making it the more representative gas powertrain versus the base 2.4L I4 offered only on L/LX.

Peak torque of the volume V6 powertrain.

No 2020-specific instrumented test was found; this figure is consistent with independent estimates for the unchanged V6/8-speed AWD combination (ProfessCars estimate 7.1s) and with Car and Driver's earlier test of the same-generation V6 AWD Sorento (7.2s).

Reviewers praised the naturally aspirated 3.3L V6 as smooth and refined with no turbo lag, though soft at low rpm before waking up and pulling strongly past 5,000 rpm — no coarse or unrefined behavior noted.

The new-for-2020 8-speed automatic (replacing the prior 6-speed on V6 trims) shifts smoothly and keeps the engine in the right gear most of the time, but multiple reviewers noted it feels lazy outside Sport mode with a beat of hesitation on kickdown.

Maximum conventional towing rating for the V6 with AWD and factory tow package; FWD V6 and 2.4L configurations are rated lower.

AWD is an $1,800 option available on every trim except the base L, with a low-speed AWD Lock mode and Snow/Mud/Sand terrain modes — widely available with basic-to-moderate sophistication, but optional rather than standard and with no low-range or locking differential.

7.3 in of ground clearance with modest 16.9° approach / 21° departure angles and Snow/Mud/Sand terrain modes give light-duty capability, but there is no dedicated off-road trim, skid plates, or locking hardware on this car-based crossover platform.

For 2020 specifically the Sorento offers exactly two gas engines (2.4L I4, 3.3L V6) with no turbo, hybrid, or PHEV variant yet — those arrived with the following-generation 2021 redesign — covering mainstream needs but without a broader electrified or turbo lineup.

EPA combined rating for the volume 3.3L V6 AWD configuration.

EPA city rating for the V6 AWD configuration.

EPA highway rating for the V6 AWD configuration.

EPA-published total range figure for the V6 AWD configuration, consistent with its 18.8-gallon fuel tank and 20 MPG combined rating.

EPA's standard 15,000 mi/yr estimate for the V6 AWD configuration; noticeably higher than the 2.4L four-cylinder configurations due to the V6's lower MPG.

Runs on regular unleaded (87 AOI/91 RON); no premium fuel requirement or recommendation for the 3.3L V6.

NHTSA's 5-star overall rating is the top possible result, with only the rollover sub-score short of a perfect 5.

All six IIHS crashworthiness tests came back Good, and the 2020 Sorento earned the Top Safety Pick award (not TSP+) — the award required the optional front crash prevention and the LED headlights only fitted to the SX Touring/SXL package, so it does not carry through to every trim as configured.

The base L trim carries no driver-assistance suite. From the volume V6 trims up (S and above, the group this scorecard's cat1 treats as representative), forward-collision warning/AEB, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise are standard, but lane keep assist is withheld until the EX trim — so the suite is broad but not complete on the entry V6 configuration.

IIHS rated the optional front crash prevention system Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle (avoided the collision in both the 12 mph and 25 mph tests) and Advanced for daytime pedestrian detection; IIHS did not run a nighttime pedestrian evaluation for this generation, so that half of the top tier can't be confirmed either way.

Blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert are standard from the LX/S trims up (absent only on the stripped base L), but 2020 offers alert-only coverage — no rear automatic braking or blind-spot steering intervention on this generation.

Lane keep assist is warning-plus-correction only (steering nudges to stay in lane), not a lane-centering system, and it isn't standard until the EX trim two rungs above the volume V6 configuration — this generation predates Kia's Highway Driving Assist.

Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go is standard from LX/S up, giving full-speed-range adaptive cruise on the volume trims, but there is no combined highway-assist feature layering lane centering on top of it in this generation.

The 2020 Sorento has no hands-free highway driving system at any trim or option level — Kia's hands-free-capable Highway Driving Assist software came later.

IIHS rated the halogen/LED-reflector headlights fitted to L, LX, EX and base SX trims Poor, with a Good rating only on the LED projector headlights bundled into the SX Touring/SXL package — so the volume trims carry the worst available headlight rating, not a middle Acceptable/Marginal result.

Contemporary reviews describe generally good outward sightlines for the segment; a 360-degree surround-view camera is available only on the range-topping SX, so lower trims rely on unaided sightlines and a standard rearview camera alone.

Two complete LATCH lower-anchor sets on the second-row outboard seats plus a top-tether anchor for the second-row center seat make front-two-rows car-seat installation straightforward, but there are no third-row tether anchors, limiting how many child seats the 7-seat cabin can carry at once.

Standard three-row, 7-passenger layout across every 2020 Sorento trim.

Manufacturer-published front headroom, consistent across trims.

Manufacturer-published front legroom, near the top of the mid-size SUV band.

Second-row headroom, generous for the segment.

Second-row legroom is a strength; the tradeoff shows up in the cramped third row instead.

A real (not token) third row with only 36.3 in headroom and 31.7 in legroom — reviewers describe it as fine for kids on short trips but cramped for adults on anything longer, the low end of the kid-friendly band.

Cargo volume with the third row folded — on the smaller side of the mid-size SUV band.

Maximum cargo volume with all rear seats folded flat.

Conventional console, door-pocket and underfloor storage for the class; no standout innovation like a giga-console or in-bed trunk was documented for 2020.

Reviewers describe a 'high-end feel' to overall comfort with supportive front seats; heated seats are standard from the S V6 trim up but ventilation is limited to the top SX Limited trim.

Widely cited as the Sorento's strongest dynamic trait for 2020 — a well-damped, composed ride that smooths out rough pavement.

Reviewers note the 2020 model is quieter and smoother than prior years, with lower road and wind noise than key rivals like the CR-V or Forester, though not class-leading library-quiet.

Heated front seats standard from S V6 up and heated 2nd-row outboard seats on top trims, but ventilated seats are limited to SX Limited only and no heated steering wheel is offered on any trim.

Entry L trim (2.4L I4, FWD, 6-speed automatic) is the cheapest way into a 2020 Sorento.

EX AWD is the representative volume configuration — matches the 3.3L V6/8-speed powertrain scored elsewhere on this scorecard and is the trim most contemporary reviews tested as-equipped; LX and SX bracket it on price.

RepairPal rates the Sorento's average annual repair cost ($533) below the midsize-SUV-class average, reflecting a reliability edge; combined with typical scheduled-maintenance spend this puts 5-year total toward the favorable end of the segment band.

Below-average retention for the segment, consistent with Kia's historically weaker resale positioning versus Toyota/Honda rivals, and likely pressured further by the all-new 2021 redesign already announced before this model year even sold out.

Best-in-class basic warranty length, tied for longest in the mainstream segment.

Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty is a segment-leading, well-known ownership benefit for the original owner.

2020 Kia did not bundle free scheduled maintenance with purchase — Kia Care was a paid add-on plan — but every Sorento came with 5-year/60,000-mile 24/7 roadside assistance and the anti-perforation warranty, so coverage is basic-roadside-plus rather than nothing.

$38,135 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (43% retained, or about $16,398) leaves about $21,737 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,700 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $26,437 in total.

Both major predictive sources rate this generation Sorento well above average heading into its final model year; the 2019 refresh carried over a maturing, well-sorted platform.

Kia was mid-pack in J.D. Power's 2020 Vehicle Dependability Study (roughly 132 PP100) but tied Dodge for first in the concurrent 2020 Initial Quality Study, and improved 35 PP100 the following year to become the top mass-market brand in the 2021 VDS — a brand clearly on a strong upward trajectory in this period rather than one with an established top-tier dependability record yet.

NHTSA lists multiple campaigns against the 2020 Sorento, most notably a tow-hitch-harness fire-risk recall spanning 2016-2022 model years — a real but accessory-level defect, not a core structural or airbag failure. Typical recall load for the generation, not concentrated in one systemic safety defect.

The base 2.4L (G4KJ, Theta II GDI) fitted through the 2020 model year is the same engine family at the center of Hyundai/Kia's connecting-rod bearing failure complaints, a class-action settlement, and NHTSA's 2020 $210M civil penalty over slow recall reporting — a genuine, well-documented durability red flag on the volume 4-cylinder trim. The optional 3.3L (Lambda II) V6 carries a materially cleaner long-term record and is not implicated in the same issue.

The 2019 mid-cycle refresh brought a noticeably richer cabin to this generation — ample soft-touch surfaces, better switchgear feel, and woodgrain/aluminum-look accents on upper trims — competitive with or ahead of mainstream mid-size SUV rivals, though lower dash and door-panel plastics on base trims still read as cost-conscious.

Kia's brand-wide tie for #1 in the 2020 Initial Quality Study reflects genuinely strong assembly consistency fleet-wide in this model year, and reviewers report tight panel gaps with no notable rattle or squeak complaints for the Sorento specifically.

Kia ran a well-established, nationwide mainstream dealer network in 2020 (on the order of 750-800 US points), smaller and less dense than Toyota/Honda/Ford but broadly comparable to Hyundai, Mazda and Subaru — adequate coverage for most US buyers, without a documented service-satisfaction standout in either direction for this period.

RepairPal's rating and cost data (aggregated across model years but reflective of this generation's mechanical package) show below-average annual repair spend and a wide OEM plus aftermarket parts ecosystem, consistent with a high-volume mainstream nameplate.

The 8-inch navigation-equipped display is the largest screen offered and standard on the EX and SX trims that also carry the V6.

The UVO system of this era is functional with clear menu logic and physical volume/tuning knobs retained, but it was not singled out for exceptional speed or polish by contemporary reviewers.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included via UVO across trims, but only in wired form — wireless projection was not introduced to the Sorento lineup until later generations, so no trim offers it in 2020.

UVO's embedded navigation (EX/SX) and voice command system are functional but generation-typical — most owners default to phone-projected navigation and voice assistants instead.

The volume EX/S V6 trims carry a standard 6-speaker system; the 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio is reserved for the range-topping SX trim.

EX Sport V6 and SX V6 get a 7-inch color TFT supervision display inset within an otherwise analog cluster — a partial-digital solution, not a full reconfigurable digital cluster, and unavailable on lower trims at all.

The 2020 Sorento's UVO system predates Kia's broader over-the-air rollout; software updates of this era were dealer- or USB-based rather than wireless whole-vehicle OTA.

UVO eServices/UVO Link of this era offered remote lock/unlock, remote climate start, and vehicle locate, but the richer functions (and the app itself) were subscription-gated after an initial trial period.

Two rapid-charge USB ports are standard from LX up, but wireless phone charging is reserved for the top SX trim and second-row USB provisions are modest versus later-generation rivals.

Push-button start with smart key is standard from S V6 up (covering the volume trims), but there is no phone-as-key capability in this generation.

Rear camera and rear parking sensors are standard on EX and up, matching the segment norm, while the full surround-view monitor is exclusive to the range-topping SX.

No head-up display was offered on any 2020 Sorento trim, including the range-topping SX.

Generous 2nd-row legroom (39.4 in) and standard LATCH anchors make daily car-seat duty easy; wide door openings on a 3-row SUV body help loading gear, with the tight third row as the main compromise for larger families.

NHTSA rated the 2020 Sorento 5 stars overall (4 stars rollover) and IIHS awarded it a 2020 Top Safety Pick, but forward-collision warning/automatic emergency braking and the fuller Drive Wise suite are limited to the top three trims rather than standard on the affordable base trims families often buy.

A well-damped, quiet ride and roomy 2nd row support multi-hour family trips, but rear-seat entertainment/amenities are modest and the tight third row limits comfortable capacity to four or five occupants.

Reviewers consistently describe the 2020 Sorento as relaxed and easy to drive in everyday traffic, with responsive steering and a smooth, quiet powertrain reducing fatigue.

The volume V6 AWD configuration's 18/24/20 mpg city/highway/combined trails segment norms for gas-only mid-size SUVs, meaningfully raising per-mile commuting cost versus 4-cylinder or hybrid rivals.

A 37.2-37.3 ft turning diameter and standard rear camera plus parking sensors (EX/SX) make it manageable in tight urban settings, though its mid-size 3-row footprint is larger than compact-crossover rivals.

A 5,000 lb max tow rating on the V6 AWD (3,500 lbs FWD) is solid for a unibody crossover and competitive with class rivals, giving real capability for light trailers and small boats without the payload/bed utility of a truck.

Kia's reliability reputation was mid-pack by 2020 and the Sorento is a car-based unibody crossover rather than a fleet-proven body-on-frame work vehicle, so durability under sustained hard use is unproven rather than demonstrated.

No onboard power outlets, tie-down provisions, or upfit ecosystem are documented for the 2020 Sorento — it is not marketed or equipped as a work-site vehicle.

A quiet, well-damped ride suits highway touring, but a 376-mile EPA range on the V6 AWD is average and adaptive cruise control (Advanced Smart Cruise Control) is reserved for the range-topping SX, limiting driver-assist fatigue reduction on the volume EX trim.

Optional AWD with Snow/Mud/Sand terrain modes and 7.3 in of ground clearance handle gravel roads and light trail access, but modest approach/departure angles and no low-range or locking hardware keep it pavement-oriented beyond that.

60/40 folding second and third rows open up to 73.0 cu ft with everything down, and roof rails are available, giving reasonable flexibility for bulky gear even though the cargo bands trail some segment leaders.

Reviewers found the 2020 refresh's steering and suspension updates gave secure, composed cornering with minimal body roll — competent but not class-leading engagement.

The electric power steering is accurate and appropriately weighted for daily use but was not singled out by reviewers for genuine road feedback.

No instrumented stopping-distance test or specific pedal-feel critique was found for the 2020 model year; assessed as adequate and unremarkable for the segment.

The naturally aspirated 3.3L V6 paired with the new-for-2020 8-speed automatic delivers smooth, refined power delivery with no turbo lag, though the transmission can feel lazy outside Sport mode on kickdown.

Engine noise is described as nicely subdued and never coarse, even under heavy throttle, with the 2020 refresh quieter and smoother than prior model years.

Curb-to-curb turning diameter for the volume V6 AWD configuration.

A commanding but easy-entry seating position, adjustable driver's seat, and generous front headroom/legroom give comfortable ergonomics for a range of driver sizes.

Competent and capable — reviewers note it comfortably handles mountainous highways fully loaded — but it is tuned as a comfortable family hauler rather than an engaging or characterful drive.

Even the base L trim included a rearview camera, Bluetooth, and forward-collision assist standard, and Kia's segment-leading warranty is itself a form of standard value; but the L trim's cloth seats and smaller touchscreen are basic versus loaded rivals at the same price point.

US News named it Best 3-Row SUV for the Money for 2020 — three-row seating, a strong warranty, and the optional V6/AWD powertrain undercut Highlander/Pilot pricing meaningfully — though ride/handling and interior materials trail the class leaders it's priced against.

Five trims (L, LX, S, EX, SX) span $26,690–$39,990 with FWD standard and AWD optional on every trim but L, giving reasonable budget-to-loaded spread, but the lineup lacks a hybrid or off-road-focused variant that some rivals now offer.

Sorento remained Kia's best-selling SUV nameplate through 2020, but as an aging third-generation design nearing replacement it sat mid-pack behind segment leaders like the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot in a fiercely competitive class.

By 2020 Kia's image had climbed well past its budget-brand reputation on the strength of design and warranty confidence, but it still sat behind Toyota/Honda on aspirational pull and resale-driven desirability.

Kia routinely ran meaningful cash-back and low-APR financing offers on the Sorento in this era to move an aging generation ahead of the 2021 redesign, though exact period incentive amounts were not directly retrievable.

2020 is the final year of the third-generation Sorento (2016 facelift) before an all-new fourth-generation (MQ4) was unveiled in February 2020 for the 2021 model year — buyers were purchasing a design already publicly superseded.

Solidly reviewed with real accolades — IIHS Top Safety Pick 2020, NHTSA 5-star overall, US News Best 3-Row SUV for the Money — but The Car Connection scored it a middling 6.5/10 and Consumer Reports found it clearly behind the more engaging Mazda CX-9 in comparison testing; not a comparison-test winner.