2021 Kia Sorento Review

2021 is going to be a huge year for the automotive industry. With so many new models slowly getting released, today we bring you the latest from Kia with their impressive new 2021 Kia Sorento.

As a highly popular car brand amongst Australians, we thought it was time to check out their latest model in this review. In this review we will be analysing the key aspects of this car including, features, interior and exterior design, engine specs, technology elements, safety standards, pricing and some final pros and cons.

Features

The Kia Sorento is a vehicle that certainly stands out on the road. As a big seven-seater SUV it rarely doesn’t have other motorists turning heads. In the past few years, KIA has won over a large part of the market with their impressive warranty and value for money across their new car range. So how does the 2021 Kia Sorento stack up?

The Kia Sorento is marketed towards your larger family. The family who has multiple kids or friends who simply cannot do without the impressive space. With efficiency, size and safety a main feature of this model, we are certain that the 2021 Kia Sorento will make for an excellent choice for those wanting a powerful and impressive companion on the road.

In terms of features, the 2021 Kia Sorento sets itself apart. This impressive, revamped model is packed with the latest in tech and improved features from its 2020 model. There are four grades in the Sorento range: The S, Sport, Sport + and top-of-the-range GT-Line.

All grades come with the choice of a diesel or petrol engine making it a great choice for any preference. The only thing to keep in mind when choosing between petrol or diesel is that the diesel version is equipped with all-wheel drive, whereas the petrol variant is front-wheel drive only. Not a major hiccup, but something to be aware of.

The 2021 Kia Sorento has evolved with a new interpretation of the unmistakable ‘tiger nose’ grille, displaying a wider shape which organically wraps around the integrated LED headlights on each side. This stand out feature is sure to turn heads. The sharper, more assertive appearance is complemented beautifully by a wider lower air intake, book ended by wing-shaped air curtains to channel air around the car.

Across this review, we’ve broken up each element of the car's features below.

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Interior and exterior design

As car lovers, we couldn’t look past the interior of the 2021 Kia Sorento. They have taken the 2020 model and totally reimagined the best parts of it. In the 2021 Kia Sorrento, you will notice the stunning 8 inch colour head up display, impressive mood lighting and smart charging capabilities. Not to mention the sound. 

The powerful 12-speaker BOSE® surround-sound audio system delivers an immersive sound to all three rows so no matter where you are sitting the quality is perfect to blast your favourite road trip tunes.

However, what we love about the design is how they’ve managed to create a family car feel so luxurious. It seems like the two shouldn’t go together, but they certainly do. With a beautiful quilted Nappa leather-appointed seats throughout, you’ll feel right at home behind the wheel. Comfort is also a key feature with impressive heated and ventilated seating to match. All this amounts to peak comfort and a greater drive.

In terms of exterior design, the 2021 Kia Sorento has some great additions in this space. Features include panoramic sunroof (depending on your model) for when you want to let the sun shine on through.

Not to mention the very clever hands-free smart power tailgate. This also doubles as a huge safety feature simply by if you stand behind the vehicle for three seconds for the tailgate to automatically open then you’ve got straight away access to 187L of cargo space behind the third-row seats. Need a little bit more? Well, luckily they’ve thought of that too. All you need to do is drop the third-row flat to increase cargo space to an incredible 616L. This car was made for long road trips! 

Engine

The engine behind the 2021 Kia Sorento is one of the best we’ve seen. With either a 3.5-litre petrol engine or 2.2L diesel, the choice is yours. Both options have a slightly different transmission with the petrol version having 8 8-speed automatic (Sports-matic) with 2WD (Front Wheel Drive) and diesel has 8 speed Dual Clutch Transmission (Wet-type) with Active AWD (Part-time with lock mode).

Again, no matter whether you choose petrol or diesel the fuel consumption across both is quite good. With the petrol version reaching a maximum power of 200km across 6,300 rpm or the diesel version reaching 148km across 3,800 rpm.

Technology

The 2021 Kia Sorento really takes tech to another level with this model. With a huge touchscreen built into the car’s dashboard, you really can’t go wrong. This includes Apple Car Play, Android Auto and voice control so that any device can be used. The touch screen LCD screen also has impressive traffic info and regular map updates, so you’ll never be stuck in traffic or lost on the roads.

What we also love about modern SUVs is that it isn’t just about the driver anymore. We love to see tech in the back and the 2021 Kia Sorento has the kids covered. Not just 1st row of USB ports, not just 2nd row of USB ports but would you believe there are even USB ports in the third row! Making it three in the front console, three in the middle and two in the rear cargo area. If this wasn’t enough, there is also wireless charging capabilities.

Safety

You simply can’t look at a new car without evaluating the safety features. The 2021 Kia Sorento is no different with safety features such as ABS, multi collision braking, blind sport view monitor, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, parking collision avoidance assist, safe exit assist, rear view camera and a 360 degree camera view. This car ticks all the boxes.

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Pricing

Below is the pricing structure of the 2021 Kia Sorento. These costs have been taken as their drive away costs from the Kia Australia website.

• Sorento S petrol: $46,990
• Sorento S diesel: $49,990
• Sorento Sport petrol: $49,990
• Sorento Sport diesel: $52,990
• Sorento Sport+ petrol: $54,390
• Sorento Sport+ diesel: $57,390
• Sorento GT-Line petrol: $61,990
• Sorento GT-Line diesel: $64,990

Pros and Cons

If you’re still unsure on whether the 2021 Kia Sorento is the right car for you, we hope that this review has detailed some interesting features to consider. If you are still unsure, we’ve combined our top three Pros and Cons so you can easily navigate this features list.

Pros

1. Technology features including wireless charging, Apple Car Play, Android Auto and USB ports in front, middle and rear of the car
2. Touch screen LCD including up to date maps and traffic information 
3. Safety features such as the 360 degree motion camera giving you more confidence on the road

Cons

1. Difference between features in models such as the Panoramic Sunroof not as a standard across all Kia Sorento models
2. Disappointing colour options of the KIA range. Standard mix of greys, silvers, blacks and whites. No red, blue or green.
3. A frustrating lack of interior storage in the front of the car as the surface space is taken up by the large wireless charger and huge LCD screen.