- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 7 seats
- Engine
2.2DT, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
148kW, 440Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 6L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
7 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2020)
2024 Kia Sorento GT-Line review: Australian first drive
It was once the best in its segment, but do the updates Kia has applied to the 2024 Sorento make this large SUV even better? Tom Fraser finds out.
- Gorgeous (and easy to use) new infotainment system
- Ride and handling are top-tier
- Diesel powertrain is smooth and frugal
- Petrol engine lacks oomph, thirsty
- Seats lack side support
- Still no airbags for third row
2024 Kia Sorento GT-Line
Cards on the table, we here at Drive love the Kia Sorento. When it comes to all-round space, strong value, choice of powertrains, and equipment levels – the big Kia is the best way to go about a large, seven-seat SUV solution for the family.
In fact, we were such fans after its initial launch, we crowned it the overall 2021 Drive Car of the Year.
But in the here and now, the South Korean car maker has just brought the model back into the shop for a nip-and-tuck facelift, aligning its styling with the brand’s wider design strategy.
After we first saw glimpses of the redesign midway through 2023, the model made its Australian debut at the start of 2024 – and Drive was invited along to sample the new facelifted iteration. Let’s dive in to find out whether it’s still the seven-seat SUV segment supremo.
How much does the Kia Sorento cost in Australia?
These latest design changes (seen primarily at the front) bring the Kia Sorento in-line with its current, newer range siblings. These include the vertical, stacked headlights first seen on the EV9 electric vehicle and adopted on the Picanto and Carnival passenger cars since.
It also stocks a subtly redesigned front grille and minor tweaks around the rear that join the two vertical tail-lights together.
Trainspotters might also notice top-of-the-range variants equip a larger, curved display screen made up of twin 12.3-inch screens. This runs the latest ccNC infotainment system being rolled out in Kia (and Hyundai) cars going forward. Plus, there are now USB-C ports throughout (as opposed to USB-A) and wireless smartphone mirroring is now a thing for top-spec variants.
Engines stay the same, meaning a choice of either a 3.5-litre petrol V6 or a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine. This choice of powertrain is available on all four model grades, as before.
Prices are up by at least $3000 compared to the previous generation, with the range kicking off from $50,680 before on-road costs for the Sorento S. Then comes the Sorento Sport and the Sorento Sport+. The most amount of money you can spend on a Kia Sorento is $68,590 (plus ORCs) and that’s for the flagship GT-Line variant with a diesel engine. Kia charges $695 for premium paint and there are now two new colours: Cityscape Green and Volcanic Sand Brown.
This GT-Line diesel variant is the one we’ll be focusing on in this review, but I will give some insight on what the petrol motor’s like too. Like before, this new Sorento will eventually come with fuel-sipping hybrid powertrains, expected sometime between April and June 2024.
Talking styling and equipment on the GT-Line model grade, it’s obvious that this midlife facelift is much more evolution than revolution, but the subtle changes bring the model in-line with the brand’s newer models. T-shaped headlights are the defining styling aspect of the front, but to my eye I actually prefer the sharp front-end looks of its predecessor.
Along down the side profile little is changed – the same chrome-matte motif is seen next to the side mirrors, a reverse shark fin is seen at the C-pillar, and 18-, 19-, or 20-inch wheel options are available depending on the variant.
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The GT-Line spec gets 20-inch wheels, four-cube projector LED head lamps, suede interior trims for the headlining, nappa leather upholstery for the seats, roof rails, heating and ventilation for the front seats (rear outboards get heating only), a digital rear-view mirror, rear sun shades, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, Highway Driving Assist, access to Kia Connect functionalities, and a broader spread of ambient lighting.
That’s just the start of it – if you want a full list, be sure to read our pricing and specification story. I’ll discuss how this equipment feels from hereon in.
Key details | 2024 Kia Sorento GT-Line diesel |
Price | $68,590 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Volcanic Sand Brown |
Options | Premium paint – $695 |
Price as tested | $69,285 plus on-road costs |
Drive-away price | $74,138 (Melbourne) |
Rivals | Nissan Pathfinder | Mazda CX-90 | Hyundai Santa Fe |
How much space does the Kia Sorento have inside?
Open the doors and the Sorento’s cabin undergoes similar incremental changes, much like the outside. I love the fact that Kia’s stuck with much of the old Sorento’s interior design because it was – and remains – a hugely practical cabin. I personally think the too-big-to-miss door handles are awesome, but I could do without the shift-by-wire gear selector – give me a traditional T-bar gear selector any day of the week.
Everything sits within arm’s reach and feels well built. Even when you’re on the move, there’s little creaking or squeaking from the panels or instruments, while the nappa leather seats feel great to the touch. There’s also heating and ventilation that work a treat.
Kia says that the ambient lighting array is now wider spread and is configurable to your colour tastes, but I was more wowed by the huge panoramic sunroof that lets in a lot of light despite a dark, suede headlining.
I was able to sort out a nice, lofty driving position in no time (which can be recalled using memory function), and the steering wheel is easy to place.
Note, on all model grades the Sorento now comes with USB-C ports, paddle shifters, and tyre-pressure monitoring tech.
Throughout the Sorento’s interior is a series of handy spots for storing odds and ends. The centre console bin is deep for hiding bigger items from opportunistic eyes, and there are dual cupholders too. This GT-Line variant gets a wireless phone charger under the dash so you can charge your phone while you drive.
Much like the current-generation Kia Sportage, the Sorento now has a switchable display beneath the infotainment screen that cycles between infotainment shortcuts and air-conditioning controls. It’s easy to use and remains a nifty little feature, like it operates in the Sportage.
In the second row there’s copious space despite my 194cm height. I wasn’t too encroached by the headlining and sunroof, but leg room and foot room were massive. I love the adjustability of the sliding seat base (and reclining backrest). The GT-Line variant gets sun shades in the rear. It also comes with map pockets, air vents, USB ports, and dual cupholders in the fold-down centre armrest.
Sliding into the Sorento’s third row is easy. The brand makes it exceedingly easy with the simple one-touch button that catapults the backrest out of the way and slides the base forward.
Once you’re in the third row, it feels like more than an afterthought. Even though I’m tall, the space isn’t ridiculously cramped and I could spend small amounts of time back there. There are also air controls, USB ports, and cupholders.
The boot opens electrically on GT-Line variants to reveal a 179-litre space with the third-row seats in place, a 608L space up to the back of the second row, or a full 1996L of room if all seats are down.
Also, there are one-touch buttons to fold down the second row, which makes its adaptable interior a breeze to reconfigure on the fly.
2024 Kia Sorento GT-Line diesel | |
Seats | Seven |
Boot volume | 179L to third row 608L to second row 1996L to first row |
Length | 4815mm |
Width | 1900mm |
Height | 1700mm |
Wheelbase | 2815mm |
Does the Kia Sorento have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
On the GT-Line variant we’ve now got dual 12.3-inch screens (the digital cluster was previously smaller) that seemingly join together within a single pane of glass. It runs the latest Kia ccNC infotainment system with big, blocky icons for menus, and clear and appealing graphics for things like integrated satellite navigation.
In fact, despite the lower-rung variants in the Sorento range getting smaller screens, it still presents like a full-length panel because all accompanying screens (speedo, rev counter) are housed within the same display.
The system now has the capability to run wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto after lagging its competitors too. Funnily, Kia offered wireless smartphone mirroring on lower-grade models in the range (with smaller screens), but the higher-spec offerings were made to connect using a wire. It seems like a small thing, but the fact Kia has introduced wireless functionality with this update greatly improves ease of use.
There’s a configurable digital instrument cluster to view all kinds of drive-related information, or you can also view certain read-outs on the colour head-up display.
I appreciated the Bose sound system’s booming base while we drove out to the Yarra Valley, and the clarity of sound is particularly impressive even when volumes go high.
A new aspect of the 2024 Sorento GT-Line (and its ccNC infotainment software) is the ability to use Kia Connect. Kia Connect is the app-based interface for Kias going forward and allows remote access for air conditioning, lock/unlock, fuel level information, windows, remote engine starting, navigation preparation, and window controls.
Is the Kia Sorento a safe car?
While the 2024 Kia Sorento has not been retested with ANCAP, the brand states it is aiming for a carryover five-star rating of its predecessor.
In detail, the pre-facelift Sorento scored 82 per cent for adult occupant protection, 85 per cent for child occupant protection, 63 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 89 per cent for safety assist.
2024 Kia Sorento GT-Line diesel | |
ANCAP rating | Untested |
Safety report | Link to predecessor's ANCAP report |
What safety technology does the Kia Sorento have?
As above, it’s obvious that Kia takes the safety credentials of its cars seriously.
Regarding passive safety, the Sorento comes with front driver and passenger airbags, front-side airbags, a front-centre airbag, and curtain airbags for first and second rows.
It’s fitted with autonomous emergency braking (for car, pedestrian, cyclist, junction), lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitor, blind-spot camera view, Highway Driving Assist, driver attention alert, parking collision avoidance assist (reverse), rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, lane-following, speed sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control.
They’re only just some of the call-outs too.
In practice, our driving experience was aided by these systems rather than annoyed. That is, apart from the speed sign recognition system. Thankfully it’s now 3dB quieter than before, but the system continues to chime whenever you go over the recognised speed limit.
We’ve levelled complaints at the speed sign recognition system before (which can falsely alert to incorrect speed limits such as 40km/h school zones) so we won’t dwell on the matter, but here’s hoping Kia introduces extra updates to keep it quieter in the future.
How much does the Kia Sorento cost to maintain?
Kia used to have a point of difference to the rest of the market with its strong seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. But these days it’s matched by several other car makers. In any case, it’s still generous and is matched by seven years of capped-price servicing.
Every time you service (which should be every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever is sooner) at a Kia dealership, the brand will award an extra 12 months of roadside assistance, up to a total of eight years.
Service costs are $1308 over the first three years (for the GT-Line diesel), or $2427 over five. By way of comparison, a Mazda CX-90 diesel costs $2096 over three years, or $3217 over five.
Full comprehensive insurance for the 2024 Kia Sorento costs $2077 per year based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates will vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
We also searched for a quote for the Mazda CX-90 Touring diesel which came out at $2357 per year.
At a glance | 2024 Kia Sorento GT-Line diesel |
Warranty | Seven years, unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
Servicing costs | $1308 (3 years) $2427 (5 years) |
Is the Kia Sorento fuel-efficient?
Officially, Kia claims the new Sorento sips diesel fuel at a rate of 6.0 litres per 100 kilometres on a combined cycle. We couldn’t quite match that claim while on the launch event – our figure hovered around 7.0L/100km. However, that’s still decent for a large seven-seat SUV.
The petrol was noticeably fuel-inefficient. Compared to Kia’s claim of 9.8L/100km, the petrol V6 on test returned a 13–14L/100km rating. This is very thirsty for a seven-seat SUV. Luckily, it only takes 91-octane petrol.
Fuel Consumption - brought to you by bp
Fuel Useage | Fuel Stats |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 6.0L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | 7.0L/100km |
Fuel type | Diesel |
Fuel tank size | 67L |
What is the Kia Sorento like to drive?
As before, the Kia Sorento is available with either a diesel or petrol engine under its bonnet. Our time at launch was primarily spent behind the wheel of a GT-Line diesel variant.
Diesel engines are notoriously loud, shaky, and gruff in their nature. Thankfully, the Kia Sorento does not exhibit those attributes. In contrast, the Sorento is perky, quiet, and smooth in its power delivery, and its torquey surge of outputs are appreciated whether zipping through town or powering up a hill in the country.
Despite its power and torque outputs being seemingly low on paper (148kW/440Nm), the Sorento was able to perform swift overtakes and get up to speed quickly when merging onto highways. This is the better engine by far if you’re thinking about loading your family inside a Sorento (with associated equipment and belongings) or are interested in towing something behind.
Kia’s tow rating for the facelifted Sorento remains at 2000kg (braked) for now, but the brand did say it intends to improve that number to 2500kg in time.
Whereas the petrol V6-equipped Sorentos get an eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox (now with paddle shifters), the diesel Sorento comes with a wet-type eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Awkwardly, this didn’t work properly when I first got in the car at the launch. The system was labouring over shifts and skipped certain gears before the car intermittently lost power and displayed a “check engine” light on the dash. After 10 minutes on the side of the road, the Sorento went back to normal operation.
Kia’s technicians were quick with a cause and attributed the error to a measly, errant cable tie within the engine bay. These things happen in cars from time to time, and it was unfortunate that it happened at the vehicle’s launch, but if an issue like this persisted it would be covered and fixed under warranty.
In any case, the gearbox went on to operate in fine order. It was quick to shift and reactive to changing throttle inputs, while power is put down through the connected all-wheel-drive system without slip or traction loss.
I spent some time behind the wheel of the petrol V6 too, which serves up 200kW/332Nm through the front wheels. The petrol V6 does its best work around town, despite the thirsty fuel economy, with smooth power outputs and an enjoyable engine note. It feels out of its depth further afield and the gearbox needs to sift between gears to extract the most of the engine.
Ride control is a highlight for the Kia Sorento. Kia’s persistence with a local ride and handling tune pays dividends when driving around the country especially, with impressive absorbency of all kinds of road imperfections. Going over large impacts such as road joins or potholes, even with the GT-Line’s 20-inch wheels, is smoothed over to a high degree.
Its body control is similarly impressive as we threaded up the hills through the Yarra Valley – the Sorento isn’t upset by mid-corner undulations and its light steering weight communicates traction levels underfoot. No one thinks of the Sorento as a sports car, but it’s actually a lovely car to drive.
Key details | 2024 Kia Sorento GT-Line diesel |
Engine | 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel |
Power | 148kW @ 3800rpm |
Torque | 440Nm @ 1750–2750rpm |
Drive type | All-wheel drive |
Transmission | Eight-speed dual-clutch automatic |
Power-to-weight ratio | 75kW/t |
Weight (tare) | 1974kg |
Spare tyre type | Full-size |
Tow rating | 2000kg braked 750kg unbraked |
Turning circle | 11.6m |
Should I buy a Kia Sorento?
We were already fans at the start of this review, but the incremental updates that Kia has made to the 2024 Sorento make an already great car that little bit better.
Its styling updates and visual tweaks aside, the update to the car’s infotainment system not only looks great, but also improves ease of use.
The petrol engine doesn’t give much pause for consideration – especially with its thirsty fuel economy – but the diesel-equipped Kia Sorento is a brilliant thing. I look forward to trialling the hybrid versions soon and putting the new Sorento up against its segment rivals.
How do I buy a Kia Sorento – next steps?
I spent a majority of my time driving the Kia Sorento GT-Line diesel flagship offering, but other variants in the range offer better value for money. Particularly, buyers can get into a Sport+ variant for a little less money, while not giving away too much in equipment.
But generally, the fact that Kia makes the diesel or petrol option available at every variant level means buyers have great choice across the board.
Kia is working to bring down its wait times, but still quotes a 3–4 month wait for the new Sorento. Interestingly, the brand said 30 per cent of orders are made up of the flagship GT-Line variant, and 20 per cent of buyers come for the Sorento S entry-level version. The diesel-to-petrol buyer split sits around 80-20 per cent traditionally.
To get in touch with Kia dealerships near you, visit the site to find your closest Kia dealer to start the conversation.
You can also find Kias available for purchase at Drive.com.au/cars-for-sale. Stay up to date with all things Kia by bookmarking this link to our news and reviews.