DecodedCars2026 Kia Sorento
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2026 models.
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- 2.5l SUV, 2.5l Turbo SUV, Hybrid SUV
- Engines
- 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
- Horsepower
- 191–281 hp
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 37 combined · 37 city / 36 hwy
- Length
- 189 in
- Curb weight
- 3,825–4,120 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 2 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 37 MPG combined — 23% better than the average 2026 small SUV (30.2 MPG).
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well as gas.
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 41 similar 2026 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2026 Kia Sorento is a small SUV offered with 3 engines (1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl and 2.5L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 189 inches long and 75 inches wide on a 111-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,825 lb (2.5l SUV).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 37 MPG combined (37 city / 36 highway), 23% better than the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG, for an estimated $1,800 a year in fuel.
It has 2 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
What changed for 2026
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2025 Sorento — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2025; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2025 Sorento →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: West Point, Georgia · Hwasung, Gyeonggi Province
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2026 Sorento configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5l SUV | 189 in | 74.8 in | 66.9 in | 110.6 in | 65 / 65.4 in | 3,825 lb | 55/45 |
| 2.5l Turbo SUV | 189 in | 74.8 in | 66.9 in | 110.6 in | 65 / 65.4 in | 3,940 lb | 57/43 |
| Hybrid SUV | 189 in | 74.8 in | 66.9 in | 110.6 in | 65 / 65.4 in | 4,120 lb | 56/44 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sorento Hybrid FWD Hybrid | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 37 / 36 / 37 | +23% | $1,800 | 240 |
| Sorento Hybrid AWD Hybrid | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 32 / 35 / 34 | +31% | $1,950 | 264 |
| Sorento Plug-in Hybrid Plug-in Hybrid | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 33 / 34 / 33 | +27% | $2,050 | 110 |
| Sorento FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 31 / 26 | -14% | $2,600 | 339 |
| Sorento AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 23 / 28 / 25 | -3% | $2,700 | 357 |
| Sorento FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 29 / 23 | -24% | $2,900 | 382 |
| Sorento AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 27 / 23 | -11% | $2,900 | 388 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2026 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2026 Kia Sorento.
Similar 2026 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Kia Sorento (this car) | 37 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser | 23 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 43 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Honda CR-V | 40 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Toyota 4Runner | 23 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Ford Explorer | 24 MPG | Not rated | 15 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson | 38 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
Recalls (2)
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel · Jan 26, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V046000 · 42,677 vehicles
- Problem
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."
- Risk
- An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.
Tires › Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire · Oct 30, 2025
NHTSA campaign 25V745000 · 45 vehicles
- Problem
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Telluride and 2026 Sorento vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with an incorrect spare tire which, when installed, can impair the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
- Risk
- Anti-lock braking or traction control systems that do not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the spare wheel and tire assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 3, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC355. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 13, 2025.
Not every 2026 Kia Sorento is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Other Sorento years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Sorento | 37 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 Sorento | 36 | 189 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 135 |
| 2024 Sorento | 37 | 189 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 51 |
| 2023 Sorento | 37 | 189 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 165 |
| 2022 Sorento | 37 | 189 in | ★★★★★ | 9 | 227 |
| 2021 Sorento | 37 | 189 in | ★★★★★ | 5 | 275 |
| 2020 Sorento | 25 | 189 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 140 |
| 2019 Sorento | 25 | 189 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 434 |
| 2018 Sorento | 24 | 187.8 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 255 |
| 2017 Sorento | 24 | 187.8 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 808 |
| 2016 Sorento | 24 | 187.8 in | Not rated | 8 | 1,258 |
| 2015 Sorento | 23 | 184.3 in | Not rated | 3 | 743 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Kia. How we calculate this →