2021 Kia Sorento

Combined output of the 1.6L turbo four (177.2 hp) and the electric motor (60.1 hp) via the 6-speed automatic; the only powertrain figure for the 2021 Sorento Hybrid, which was offered in S and EX trims only.

Combined system torque from the turbo four and electric motor working together through the 6-speed automatic.

Manufacturer-published sprint figure; independently reviewed sources describe the Hybrid as adequately but not quickly powered for a 3-row mid-size SUV.

Reviewers (Digital Trends, Clean Fleet Report, Cars.com) praised the hybrid system for feeling effortless and quiet in normal driving with none of the CVT drone rivals exhibit, but several noted a stutter or hesitation when shifting between reverse and drive at low speed.

The conventional 6-speed automatic (rather than a CVT or DCT) was singled out by reviewers as a strength versus hybrid-CVT rivals like the Highlander Hybrid, shifting decisively with no droning; the low-speed reverse/drive stutter is a minor deduction.

The 2021 Sorento Hybrid is FWD-only with no tow package option, unlike gas AWD trims which reach 3,500 lbs; this is a genuine, well-documented limitation of the scored hybrid configuration.

The 2021 Sorento Hybrid was sold exclusively as front-wheel drive in S and EX trims — AWD was not offered on the hybrid powertrain until the following generation update, so a buyer of this configuration has no AWD option at all.

FWD-only crossover with 6.85 in of ground clearance, standard street tires, and no off-road hardware, skid plates, or dedicated off-road trim — pavement-oriented with no meaningful off-road provision.

For the 2021 model year specifically, Kia offered the Sorento with a naturally aspirated 2.5L four, a 2.5T turbo four, and the hybrid — two-to-three mainstream choices, but the plug-in hybrid variant was not yet available (it followed for 2022), so 2021 predates the fuller electrified lineup.

EPA-certified combined rating for the FWD-only 2021 Sorento Hybrid (S/EX trims), scored against the hybrid-class SUV band.

EPA city rating; the hybrid system's electric-only low-speed operation is where it gains the most versus the gas-only Sorento.

EPA highway rating for the 2021 Sorento Hybrid.

EPA does not publish a range figure directly for this trim (listed as 'not available'); estimated from the commonly cited 17.7-gallon fuel tank capacity multiplied by the EPA combined rating, consistent with dealer/spec aggregator figures.

EPA's standard 15,000 mi/yr estimate at assumed fuel pricing for the 2021 Sorento Hybrid.

Runs on regular unleaded (87 AKI); Kia recommends but does not require premium (91 AKI) for optimal performance, so ownership cost is unaffected for owners who use regular.

NHTSA tested the redesigned MQ4-generation Sorento (including the Hybrid variant) for MY2021 and awarded 4 stars overall.

IIHS rated every crashworthiness test Good (small overlap front driver/passenger, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, head restraints/seats) for the redesigned Sorento generation, but the Top Safety Pick award applies only to SX/SX-Prestige trims with the Good-rated LED projector headlights — trims the Hybrid was not offered in for 2021 (Hybrid was S/EX only). So the Hybrid's crashworthiness is best-in-class, but it does not itself carry an IIHS award.

Even the base Hybrid S trim carries forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, driver-attention warning, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert as standard; the volume Hybrid EX trim adds standard Smart Cruise Control (stop-and-go) and Lane Following Assist. Only the more integrated Highway Driving Assist package (reserved for the gas SX 2.5T) and Blind-Spot View Monitor (SX-Prestige only) sit above what the Hybrid offers.

IIHS rated the standard and optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention Superior (avoided collisions at both 12 and 25 mph). Pedestrian daytime prevention is Advanced on the standard FCA-Ped system fitted to the Hybrid S, stepping up to Superior with the optional cyclist-detection system on EX. No IIHS nighttime pedestrian test is published for this generation.

Blind-Spot Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist are standard from the base Hybrid S trim onward, with braking intervention available, plus Safe Exit Assist. The more advanced camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor is reserved for the SX-Prestige trim, which the Hybrid does not offer.

Lane Following Assist is standard on the Hybrid EX and keeps the vehicle centered on detected lane markings; period reviews describe it as functional but with occasional over-corrections and edge cases typical of this Kia generation rather than best-in-class smoothness.

Smart Cruise Control with stop-and-go is standard on the Hybrid EX, working alongside Lane Following Assist, but the more integrated Highway Driving Assist system (which combines the two under one branded, more refined behavior) is reserved for the gas-only SX 2.5T trim and was not offered on the 2021 Hybrid.

Kia offered no hands-free highway driving system in the US lineup for MY2021; all adaptive-cruise/lane-centering systems on the Sorento require hands on the wheel.

IIHS rated the LED reflector headlights fitted to LX, S and EX trims Poor — inadequate visibility on both sides of the road on the straightaway and in curves. Since the Hybrid was sold only in S and EX for 2021, every Hybrid buyer got the Poor-rated headlights; the Good-rated LED projector units were exclusive to SX/SX-Prestige, which the Hybrid did not offer.

The redesigned MQ4 Sorento's more upright greenhouse and larger glass area earned praise in period reviews for good forward and three-quarter visibility for a three-row crossover; standard rear parking sensors compensate somewhat for the thicker C-pillar.

The Sorento seats 7 (or 8 with the bench second row on some trims), well above the 4-seat minimum for this item. Reviewers describe accessible second-row LATCH anchors and a wide-opening rear door making multiple car seats workable, though the tighter third row limits simultaneous 3-across installs typical of the segment.

The 2021 Sorento Hybrid launched only in S and EX trims with second-row captain's chairs standard; unlike the gas Sorento's optional 7/8-seat bench, no bench seat was offered on the hybrid, capping capacity at six.

Front headroom is shared across the MQ4-generation Sorento lineup including the hybrid, sitting above the mid-point of the SUV band.

41.4 in of front legroom sits in the lower third of the SUV band — adequate but unremarkable for a mid-size three-row.

Second-row headroom of 39.1 in is near the top of the SUV band, a benefit of the boxy MQ4 roofline shared with the gas Sorento.

At 41.7 in, second-row legroom is near the top of the segment — a genuine strength for the hybrid's captain's-chair configuration.

Reviews are split: the third row seats are set low to the floor and best suited to kids or short adult trips, though access is easier than most rivals thanks to a sliding/tumbling second row.

12.6 cu ft behind the third row is at the low end of the mid-size three-row SUV band, typical for the class since the seats-up figure is squeezed by the rearmost row.

75.5 cu ft with all seats folded is a mid-pack figure for the segment.

Second-row captain's chairs add a center pass-through and storage cubby versus the bench, plus a deep console and second-row USB/power outlet, but nothing that stands out as segment-leading innovation.

Front seats with standard heating are comfortable for daily use; reviewers were more mixed on the low-set, thinly padded third row over longer stints.

One instrumented test found the redesigned 2021 Sorento's ride less composed than its predecessor, though highway ride was called comfortable elsewhere with imperfections absorbed without jolts — a mixed but roughly average showing.

Multiple road tests flagged road-noise intrusion at highway speed as a specific letdown for the redesigned Sorento, despite the smooth hybrid powertrain itself being quiet.

Heated front seats and second-row vents/USB/power outlet are standard on both hybrid trims, but ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel are not offered on the hybrid's S/EX-only lineup.

2021 was the launch year of the Sorento Hybrid, sold in only two trims (S and EX); S is the entry hybrid trim.

EX is the higher of the two 2021 hybrid trims and the one most commonly equipped/reviewed, making it the representative volume configuration for the launch year.

Edmunds' True Cost to Own model projects above-segment-average combined maintenance and repair spend for the Sorento Hybrid over the first 5 years/75,000 miles, partly reflecting the added hybrid drivetrain complexity in its first model year.

Third-party residual trackers put 5-year Sorento depreciation in the high-40s to high-50s percent range; splitting the difference between iSeeCars' 48.4% depreciation (51.6% retention) and CarEdge's steeper 57% depreciation (43% retention) gives a mid-pack mainstream-SUV retention figure.

Kia's basic bumper-to-bumper coverage sits at the top of the segment norm.

Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty is class-leading and applies to the hybrid drivetrain for the original owner.

2021 Sorento Hybrid includes 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance and a complimentary trial of Kia's UVO connected-car services, but unlike some rivals (e.g. Toyota's 2-year scheduled maintenance) Kia does not include free scheduled maintenance — owners pay for all service visits from day one.

$37,765 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (46% retained, or about $17,372) leaves about $20,393 in depreciation. Add the projected $11,047 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $31,440 in total.

Mixed signals across sources for the redesigned generation's first year: Consumer Reports rated the 2021 Sorento 3/5 for predicted reliability (a middling score, not top-tier), while U.S. News aggregated a predicted reliability score of 77/100 (its 'average' band) and J.D. Power rated the model year 'Great' for quality/dependability. No source flags it as top-tier or below-average.

Kia's multi-year dependability trend was strongly positive heading into this model year: the 2021 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study ranked Kia the #1 mass-market brand (97 problems per 100 vehicles), a 35-PP100 improvement over 2020 and the brand's first time topping mass-market dependability rankings, with the Sorento nameplate itself besting its segment.

The first model year of a full redesign carries typical-to-elevated recall activity. Two of the three NHTSA campaigns for MY2021 Sorento (transmission fail-safe/oil pump on the 8-speed DCT, and a fuel-rail leak on the 2.5T engine) are specific to the gas powertrains and do not apply to this hybrid's 1.6T/6-speed-automatic drivetrain, but the tow-hitch-harness fire recall (2016-2022 Sorento, all trims) does apply and is a serious defect class (electrical short/fire risk), keeping this out of the top band despite most campaigns being powertrain-specific.

The 1.6L turbo-hybrid/6-speed-automatic combination is new for this generation with no long-term high-mileage track record yet, but early NHTSA complaint data shows a lower complaint density for the 1.6T than the 2.5T, and no systemic hybrid-specific failure pattern (the reported engine complaints — rattles, lost-acceleration codes, inverter-coolant errors — concentrate more in the broader Sorento complaint pool than in the hybrid specifically). Fits 'newer powertrain, no red flags yet'.

Reviewers consistently praised the redesigned cabin as upscale-feeling for the price, with an attractive layout (vertical vents, toggle switches) and a near-luxury impression in higher trims, ahead of typical mainstream mid-size SUV competitors.

No pattern of rattles, panel-gap, or assembly complaints turned up for the redesigned generation, and J.D. Power's 'Great' initial quality/dependability rating for the model year corroborates solid assembly consistency; scored just above the segment median rather than class-leading for lack of a dedicated IQS figure.

Kia's dealer network is dense nationwide, but service satisfaction is mixed rather than class-leading: Kia placed 5th among mass-market brands in the 2021 J.D. Power Customer Service Index (855/1000), behind several rivals, and separate reporting has criticized Kia dealer service satisfaction as below the mass-market pack.

Sorento repair costs run below the segment average and the platform (shared broadly across Kia/Hyundai) supports wide OEM and aftermarket parts availability, though hybrid-specific components (battery, inverter) are dealer-sourced rather than aftermarket like standard mechanical parts.

Kia limited the 2021 Sorento Hybrid to the base 8-inch touchscreen across both its S and EX trims; the larger 10.25-inch screen offered on gas Sorentos was not available on the hybrid this year.

The 8-inch touchscreen's UI is logical and quick to respond with a mix of physical shortcut buttons, but the smaller screen and reduced graphics versus the 10.25-inch system make it feel like the entry-level version of an otherwise strong system.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on both Hybrid trims (S and EX) with no wired-only tier.

The 2021 Sorento Hybrid has no built-in navigation system at all — owners rely entirely on phone-projected maps via wireless CarPlay/Android Auto — and voice control is the basic Bluetooth-command level tied to that 8-inch system.

The Sorento Hybrid's S/EX-only lineup does not reach the SX Prestige trim where Kia offers the 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium system, leaving hybrid buyers with the standard speaker set only.

The Hybrid uses Kia's 'Supervision' cluster with a 4.2-inch color TFT trip-computer screen flanked by analog gauges; the fully configurable 12.3-inch digital cluster available on upper gas-Sorento trims is not offered on the hybrid.

Kia's UVO telematics in the 2021 model year handled remote services and map data only; there is no whole-vehicle or infotainment-software OTA update capability on the 2021 Sorento Hybrid.

The Kia Access app covers remote start, lock/unlock, vehicle locate, and status, standard with a limited trial and then subscription-gated — competent but not best-in-class.

USB ports and a 12V outlet are provided in the second row alongside front USB ports, and a wireless charging pad is available on the EX trim, but there is no third-row power and no USB-C throughout.

Proximity smart-key entry with push-button start and remote start are standard on the EX and available on S, but there is no phone-as-key feature on the 2021 model.

A rear-view camera is standard on both hybrid trims and front parking sensors are added on EX, but the 360-degree Surround View Monitor is reserved for SX Prestige/X-Line trims not offered on the hybrid.

No head-up display was offered on any 2021 Sorento trim, hybrid included — it was not introduced to the Sorento lineup until a later model year.

Second-row captain's chairs with a wide walk-through to the third row and accessible LATCH anchors make loading kids and car seats easier than a bench, though the tumble-forward mechanism to the third row is less generous than segment leaders.

The 2021-22 Sorento earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick with standard forward-collision warning/AEB, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, safe-exit assist, and rear occupant alert on both hybrid trims (S and EX) — a strong package at family-affordable trims, though adaptive cruise is EX-only.

Second-row captain's chairs, vents, and USB/power ports support multi-hour family trips, but the small, low-set third row and only 12.6 cu ft of cargo behind it limit comfort and gear capacity with all rows occupied.

The hybrid's non-CVT six-speed automatic gives smooth, low-fatigue low-speed behavior with strong mid-range response for gaps in traffic; the tradeoff is FWD-only availability and road noise that becomes noticeable on rougher pavement.

EPA-rated 39/35/37 mpg city/highway/combined is exceptional for a three-row mid-size SUV and translates directly into low per-mile commuting costs versus the segment's V6 and turbo-only rivals.

A curb-to-curb turning diameter of roughly 37.8 ft is mid-pack for the class, and a standard backup camera helps, but the mid-size three-row footprint and lack of a surround-view camera on hybrid trims make tight urban parking more deliberate than in smaller crossovers.

The FWD-only 2021 Sorento Hybrid has no published braked tow rating and only a 1,653-lb unbraked capacity — far below the turbo gas Sorento's 3,500-lb tow package — making it essentially unsuited to towing or work duty.

The 1.6L turbo-hybrid powertrain was new for 2021 with no long-term fleet track record yet, and the vehicle is marketed and equipped as a family crossover rather than a work-duty platform.

No onboard power inverter, no tie-down/upfit ecosystem, and minimal wash-out durability features are offered on the Hybrid's S/EX trims, consistent with its family-crossover positioning.

Good highway fuel economy extends range between fill-ups and the hybrid powertrain stays composed at speed, but adaptive cruise is EX-only and reviewers flagged highway road noise as fatiguing on longer hauls.

The 2021 Sorento Hybrid was offered front-wheel-drive only with no AWD option, sharply limiting light off-pavement and foul-weather capability versus the gas Sorento and most three-row rivals.

Fold-flat second and third rows and 75.5 cu ft of max cargo volume handle typical gear loads reasonably well, though roof rails and a hitch are not standard equipment across the hybrid lineup.

Reviewers found the redesigned Sorento composed and fluid through tight back-road corners without being genuinely sporty — a secure, unremarkable showing typical of the class.

The electric power steering was praised in one road test as neutral, accurate, and with genuine road feel — better than the class norm of numb, over-boosted steering.

No instrumented stopping-distance data was found specifically for the 2021 Sorento Hybrid; regenerative-braking blend is not called out as an issue in road tests, so a mid-pack score reflects segment-typical hybrid brake-pedal tuning.

Kia paired the 1.6L turbo-hybrid with a conventional 6-speed automatic rather than a CVT, and reviewers specifically noted the powertrain doesn't feel or sound like a hybrid — it drives like a strong, responsive turbo four with none of the rubber-band feel common to CVT hybrids.

The powertrain itself is inoffensive under load, but overall highway NVH was singled out as a weak point due to road noise rather than engine/motor noise specifically.

A curb-to-curb turning diameter of about 37.8 ft is roughly mid-pack against the SUV band, reflecting the Sorento's mid-size three-row footprint.

The redesigned cabin was praised for its logical control layout, upright seating position, and good outward visibility typical of the Sorento's boxy new styling — solid ergonomics without a standout flaw.

The Sorento Hybrid is competent and responsive but is engineered as a comfortable family hauler rather than a driver's car — pleasant to operate but not memorable or engaging.

The all-new 4th-gen Sorento's hybrid trims (S and EX) carried a strong standard list for the money — 19-inch wheels, dual-zone climate, 8-inch touchscreen, LED lighting elements and a full suite of driver-assist features — undercutting the price of comparably equipped Highlander Hybrid and RAV4 Hybrid trims.

Reviewers (Green Car Reports, Fox News) called the launch-year Sorento Hybrid a strong-value alternative to the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, combining nearly 40 MPG, three-row space and Kia's long warranty at a lower price than most hybrid mid-size rivals.

In its 2021 launch year the Sorento Hybrid was offered in only two trims (S and EX, both FWD-only) versus the five trims and turbo/AWD choices available on the gas Sorento — a narrow lineup for buyers who specifically want the hybrid.

The redesigned Sorento nameplate was a strong seller through 2021 as part of Kia's best-ever US sales year, a steady mid-size-SUV mainstay, though the hybrid variant itself was a low-volume, supply-constrained addition rather than a high-volume seller in its first year.

Kia's brand image was climbing in 2021 on the strength of the Telluride and improving quality perceptions, giving the Sorento a moderately positive halo without the aspirational pull of a premium marque.

The all-new 2021 Sorento launched into the semiconductor shortage, and buyers reported dealers holding close to MSRP with only modest discounts (roughly 5-6% off in documented deals) — little room for negotiation in its first year.

2021 is the first model year of the all-new fourth-generation (MQ4) Sorento and the debut year of the hybrid powertrain — as fresh as a nameplate gets.

The redesigned Sorento was a 2021 North American Car/Truck/Utility of the Year semifinalist and made the WCOTY top 10, and the hybrid drew favorable single-model reviews for efficiency and value, but it did not win a marquee award and non-hybrid trims drew some criticism for their dual-clutch transmission.