Kia Sorento

Kia Sorento MQ4 at a glance

Why the fourth Sorento went electrified

The MQ4 replaced the third-generation Sorento (UM) and grew by 10 mm in length and 35 mm in wheelbase, which Kia used for more space in the second and third rows. The launch had been planned for the Geneva Motor Show in March 2020; after the show was cancelled, Kia revealed the car through images on 17 February 2020. European sales began in August 2020, while North American buyers got the SUV in September 2020 from the West Point plant in Georgia.

The bigger change sat under the bonnet. The previous generation had sold in Europe mainly as a diesel. The new car arrived with a 1.6-litre turbo petrol hybrid, and the plug-in hybrid followed across Europe in the first quarter of 2021. The diesel stayed, now paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Our page on the Kia Sorento Prime (UM) covers the predecessor.

Platform, hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology

The Sorento rides on the N3 mid-size platform of Hyundai Motor Group, the same base as the fourth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe. Both electrified versions use the 1.6 T-GDi petrol engine with an electric motor between engine and six-speed automatic gearbox. The full hybrid uses a small battery of 1.49 kWh in the facelift specification (Wikipedia lists 1.62 kWh for the launch car); the plug-in hybrid has 13.8 kWh.

At launch in 2020 the hybrid produced 169 kW (230 PS) and 350 Nm, the plug-in hybrid 195 kW (265 PS). The 2.2 CRDi diesel gave 148 kW (202 PS) and 441 Nm. With the 2024 facelift the European figures dropped to 158 kW (215 PS) for the hybrid, 185 kW (252 PS) for the plug-in and 142 kW (194 PS) for the diesel, as published for the German launch in February 2024.

For 2026 Kia upgraded the plug-in hybrid again. ADAC lists the version available from January 2026 with a 132 kW (180 PS) petrol engine and a 79 kW (107 PS) motor, 212 kW (288 PS) and 380 Nm in total, 0-100 km/h in 8.0 seconds and a top speed of 206 km/h. Kia UK quotes about 175 kW (235 bhp) for the current hybrid.

Versions and powertrains

The hybrid and the diesel come with front-wheel or all-wheel drive; the plug-in hybrid has all-wheel drive as standard. In other regions the MQ4 also uses 2.5-litre petrol engines and, in North America, a 2.5 T-GDi with 210 kW (285 PS); none of them was offered in Europe.

Plug-in hybrid in daily use

The plug-in hybrid charges only from AC at 3.3 kW, which takes about four hours from empty. There is no DC fast-charging socket. ADAC measured 54 km of electric range in its test, close to the 55 km WLTP figure, and about 26.4 kWh/100 km when the car is driven on electricity. In hybrid mode the test car used 7.8 kWh plus 5.8 l/100 km, and the total range came to 646 km.

That makes the PHEV a car for short daily trips with a home wallbox. For long motorway runs the 2.2 CRDi remains in the German range: ADAC still listed it from EUR 53,190 in 2026.

Seven seats, boot and towing

The facelifted Sorento measures 4,815 mm (189.6 in) long, 1,900 mm wide and 1,695 mm high. The wheelbase of 2,815 mm (110.8 in) is 35 mm longer than on the UM. Kia offers five, six or seven seats; the six-seat layout uses two captain's chairs in the middle row.

Kia UK gives 179 l behind the third row of the hybrid, 813 l with five seats in use and 1,996 l with both rear rows folded. The plug-in loses a few litres to its battery: 175, 809 and 1,988 l. ADAC measured 520 l in a five-seat PHEV, plus about 70 l under the floor, which shows how much depends on the method.

Towing is where the versions differ most. Kia UK lists 2,000 kg braked for the hybrid and 1,700 kg for the plug-in hybrid, which ADAC confirms, with a 100 kg nose load and 750 kg unbraked.

Safety and equipment after the facelift

Euro NCAP awarded five stars in December 2020, valid for the hybrid, plug-in hybrid and diesel. The scores were 82% for adult occupants, 85% for child occupants, 63% for vulnerable road users and 87% for safety assist. Seven airbags are standard, including a front centre airbag between the front seats, and Multi-Collision Brake applies the brakes after an airbag deployment.

The facelift, revealed on 25 July 2023, brought vertical LED headlamps and connected light clusters in the style of the electric EV9. European specification lists a 12.3-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch instrument display, a 10-inch head-up display, a digital rear-view mirror, fingerprint recognition and Digital Key 2.0. Kia gives seven years or 150,000 km of warranty.

Prices, sales and rivals

German orders opened on 19 February 2024: EUR 53,190 for the diesel with front-wheel drive, EUR 53,690 for the hybrid with two-wheel drive and EUR 59,640 for the plug-in hybrid with all-wheel drive. Diesel deliveries started in March 2024 and the hybrids followed in June 2024. In 2026 ADAC listed the PHEV Spirit AWD at EUR 66,140.

Kia sold 280,705 Sorentos worldwide in 2024, including 94,538 in South Korea, 95,154 in the United States and 14,660 in Europe. The best European year so far was 2023 with 18,384 cars.

The closest relative is the Hyundai Santa Fe with the same 1.6 T-GDi hybrids. A cheaper five-seat plug-in alternative is the second-generation MG HS: in Belgium it cost from EUR 37,990 in April 2025 and offers 103 km of WLTP electric range against 55 km in the Sorento. The Kia counters with up to seven seats and 1,700 kg towing. More choices are in our list of the best 7-seater cars, and all models of the brand are in the Kia catalogue.

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