I Drove the 2025 Kia Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige. Here's My Brutally Honest Review originally appeared on Autoblog.
From ruggedness to comfort
The Kia Sorento has always been a bread-winning model for the brand since it was first introduced in 2002. In the beginning, it was offered with a more robust 4WD system with a low-range transfer case, a solid rear axle, and, in some trims, a limited-slip differential that made them quite appealing to those who enjoyed the great outdoors. As the Sorento became more modernized, it gradually shifted away from the tough yet comfortable SUV it used to be. Instead of 4WD, some models had AWD, and interior quality and passenger space became the priority. In 2011, Kia announced the Sorento could be configured as a 3-row vehicle, and now all Sorentos come with a third row.
Now, the Kia Sorento seems to be circling back to its rugged roots with the X-Pro and X-Line trim levels, which still prioritize space, comfort, and style but feature more off-road-ready features, like AWD, multiple terrain modes, all-terrain tires, and, surprisingly, a center locking differential. For the price, Kia packed a lot of safety features, creature comforts, and off-road readiness into the top-tier 2025 X-Pro SX Prestige. Starting from $31,990 and maxing out at $47,390, it directly competes with other AWD three-row SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Palisade, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Subaru Ascent, Nissan Pathfinder, and the Mazda CX-90. After driving one for the week, here are my thoughts.
The interior is the best part
Kia and Hyundai, in my opinion, have some of the better interiors in the industry. The windows are large and open, so visibility is excellent, and all of the color choices are vibrant and complementary. The Kia X-Pro SX Prestige I drove had the optional olive brown leather seats, which looked handsome in the primarily black interior. Faux wood was used to highlight the dashboard under the dual-screen setup, making the interior feel like it belonged in an $80,000 car and not a $47,390 car. Paired with the Dawning Red exterior, the Sorento had me feeling spoiled.
The 12.3-inch central screen is mated to a 4.3-inch digital gauge cluster and driver information screen, and both were bright, customizable, and quick. Connecting to the wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay was simple and worked flawlessly with the 12-speaker Bose sound system. Everything could be adjusted precisely, from the steering wheel to the driver’s seat, and I loved it. From the moment I stepped into it, the Kia Sorento was very easy to become acquainted with.
Power was decent, but I longed for the V6
Unlike many others it competes with, the Sorento can be purchased as a mild hybrid or as a PHEV. Some trims can come with Kia’s 3.3-liter V6, which is a more rugged and tougher engine. Sadly, the X-Pro SX Prestige cannot be built with the V6. Instead, the only engine option available is the 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which produces 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. That's not bad, as you get slightly better mileage than you would if you got the V6 (but not by much–I averaged 19.2 mpg during my week with it), but I wish the family hauler had the V6, at least as an option. The automatic transmission worked with the four-cylinder well enough, though, and the turbocharger gave it a bit of bite when accelerating. Even with two fewer cylinders, proper equipment gives it a towing rating of 4,500 pounds.
Sport mode helped give a little more life during the day-to-day, and had a very decent pull from a stop. There are a few short freeway on-ramps that require a car to get to speed quickly, and I was very glad to have the AWD, the peppy engine, and the responsive automatic transmission. Even with my husband, two kids, and their car seats, the Kia Sorento was no slouch.
It had a long list of family-friendly features, too
The model I drove had captain’s chairs, which made installing my toddler daughters’ car seats a breeze. The lower anchors were slightly buried in the seat, but it wasn’t hard to secure the anchors at all. Installing the upper tether point was easy enough, too, since I could push a button at the top of the seat to have it fold (but stop if it felt any resistance). With the fold feature, I was able to fasten the top tether without climbing into the trunk. The X-Pro SX Prestige came with a tinted sunroof so long it almost spanned the length of the car, which not only helped let in lots of natural light to accentuate the tan interior, but would help ease and prevent car sickness for third row passengers. My toddlers loved the sunroof, especially when it was raining.
Second- and third-row passengers have access to their own A/C vents, USB-C charging ports, and cupholders. The second row seats had plenty of legroom, and could slide forward by a few inches to give the third row passengers a bit more space (though it’s still too tight for adults, but great for teens and kids). The second row came with window shades that covered the entire window, which was especially helpful with toddlers living in Central Oregon. With the third row folded flat, the cargo space was generous, leaving plenty of space for the family’s luggage, a stroller, a diaper bag, and even the dog. The X-Pro came with roof rails, too, so if you had to add a cargo box or basket, doing so would be easy.
Then there’s the off-road readiness
The X-Pro SX Prestige came with 17-inch glossy black wheels with BFGoodrich AT tires, a blacked-out grille, black badges on the front and back, as well as black mirrors and door handles. With the Dawning Red color, the Kia Sorento looked rugged and premium at the same time, which I absolutely loved. It has a few drive modes to choose from, like Normal, Eco, Sport, Smart, and Snow. It comes standard with Kia’s torque vectoring AWD system, the same one that made the Kia Telluride so popular after the Moab campaign launched. There’s no factory lift or underbody protection, but since it’s made to haul the family, it won’t need it. It’s better for getting around in the snow on the way to the family’s annual camping spot, or dealing with the aftermath of a seasonal rainstorm. Otherwise, the Jeep Wrangler isn’t competing for trail space.
Interestingly, though, it does come with a center locking differential. In case you’re not familiar with how they work, they help lock the front or rear axle, which aids in gaining or regaining traction on ice, snow, or mud. This gives it a leg up on most of its competitors, none of which have a center locking differential. So, if you live in a climate that sees deep snow or you deal with mud after torrential rainstorms, the Kia Sorento’s locking center differential will definitely be appreciated. Kia also claims the radiator is bigger in the X-Line and X-Pro models, which helps keep it cool when you’re off-roading.
Final thoughts
The Kia Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige may be a little more trail-ready than the FWD or lower level trims, but don’t let those BFGs fool you–it’ll get you to the trailhead and back, but it’s not a hardcore off-roader. Aside from the locking center differential, which is an upgrade that comes on any AWD model of the Sorento, not just the X-Line or X-Pro trims, there’s not much that makes it much more capable than the SUVs it competes with. I loved the styling, the interior design, and the layout the most. Off-road, though, I’d have to experience the locking differential to fairly judge it against the likes of the Subaru Ascent or Nissan Pathfinder. For the price, it’s incredibly hard to pass up–especially when the others easily cost over $50,000 at the top of the line.
I Drove the 2025 Kia Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige. Here's My Brutally Honest Review first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 20, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
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