Used 2019 Kia Sorento SX-Limited for sale 

The 2019 Kia Sorento is available in a total of 6 trim configurations. There are two engine options - L and LX trims get the 2.4L Inline-4 engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Kia Sorento LX and the trims above it get the 3.3 L V6 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. 

The pricing for the base L trim starts at $25,990 and it offers standard Apple Carplay and Android Auto, cloth upholstery, and seats 3 people in the second row and 2 in the third row. The Kia Sorento LX brings in safety features like Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Blind Spot Monitoring.

The Sorento LX V6 costs $5,300 more than the base Sorento L trim but offers a powerful V6 engine that suits the three-row crossover better. EX V6, SX V6, and SXL V6 bring in more premium features with increments in the price. The top-spec Sorento SXL V6 commands a price tag of $44,690 and puts the Sorento in the league of luxury crossovers.

Which trim should you buy?

Unless budget is a major issue, we would recommend buyers choose the Kia Sorento LX. This trim costs $31,290 in FWD configuration but brings a decent list of safety features cost lesser than most mid-spec three-row crossovers.

The 2019 Kia Sorento is powered by a 3.3-liter V6 engine in the case of the Sorento LX V6 and the upper trims. The Sorento's V6 makes 290 horsepower and this figure puts the Kia SUV along with the segment leaders. The base 2.4L Inline-4 engine on offer underperforms for a three-row vehicle, as it offers 185 horsepower, which just about adequate. The transmission duties on the V6-powered Kia Sorento are done by an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The newly introduced 8-speed takes gear shifting to a notch above the usual, with smooth and seamless shifts, and also improves fuel efficiency by a margin of 1 mpg.

When it comes to daily driving, the combination of the V6 engine and 8-speed transmission works well in urban conditions. On the highway, the Kia Sorento powertrain has exceptionally low noise and vibration levels, offering quite a refined driving experience. Only the Sorento SX trim comes with AWD as standard and you need to pay extra if you want an AWD upgrade on other trims. However, even if you opt for AWD, do not try your hands off the tarmac, as the 2019 Kia Sorento is no off-roading vehicle.

The Kia Sorento with the V6 engine has a towing capacity of 3500 lbs in FWD configuration and 5000 lbs in AWD configuration. Most people don't use their crossovers for heavy-duty towing. Even 3500 lbs. of towing capacity would be sufficient for regular use. If you want the maximum towing capacity then you can opt for AWD at an additional expense of $1800.

On paper, the Sorento takes its place among the segment leaders. The power output is second only to the Highlander's 295 hp that too by a margin of just 5 horsepower. However, the torque output is lowest in the segment at 252 lb-ft and this might be the reason for Sorento's sluggish behavior with a full load of passengers and cargo. The Mazda CX-9 takes the lead in terms of torque figure among the rivals on the list with a torque figure of 310lb-ft.

How fast is the 2019 Kia Sorento SUV?

The 2019 Kia Sorento LX weighs 3968 lbs, which comes equipped with the V6 engine. The SUV offers steady acceleration and a fairly brisk pace, managing respectable acceleration for daily driving conditions. The Kia Sorento sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds and manages the quarter-mile run in 15.7 seconds. There is enough power on tap for daily driving scenarios. Merging with traffic wouldn't be an issue with the V6 engine. The credit for the V6 engine’s performance should also be given to the eight-speed transmission which offers smooth and quick shifts.

The 2019 Kia Sorento is right there with the competition with its sub-7-second figure. Kia has dropped the turbocharged four-cylinder engine for the 2019 model year owing to less demand as most buyers in this segment prefer the V6 engine. The Volkswagen Atlas in its base configuration uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and manages to pull off a 7.2-second 0 to 60mph dash time. 

Ride and Handling

The 2019 Kia Sorento offers good all-around visibility and a well-implemented driving position. The SUV doesn't take well to sharp inputs from the driver though owing to the numb steering wheel at low speeds. The Sorento follows well-laid driving dynamics for a midsize three-row crossover. If you seek to maximize the Sorento's reaction then select the Sport mode and go for a spin. The transmission holds the gears longer and the steering weighs up decently, but do not mistake the Sorento with a sporty crossover. If you enter the corners aggressively, prepare for a considerable amount of body roll accompanied by screeching from the tires.

The Sorento is exceptionally good at providing a comfortable ride as it absorbs most bumps and potholes with a certain level of sophistication. The suspension has been tuned for comfort and there is good insulation from exterior noise. Sorento will easily level out the shock from road undulations and only the worst of the impacts would be filtered into the cabin. All in all, the suspension feels more centered towards sheer comfort, and the Sorento does not shy away from doing precisely what it has been tuned for. 

Braking performance

The 2019 Kia Sorento performs averagely for its size in terms of braking performance. The 2019 Kia Sorento stops from 0 to 60 mpg in 125 feet, showcasing acceptable braking performance. It is equipped with four-wheel antilock disc brakes but the stopping power is not up to the mark. With a full load of passengers and cargo, you need to be more careful with those brakes as the pedal does not offer a lot of feel or feedback. Also, due to the higher ground clearance, there is some amount of dive under hard braking. 

The Volkswagen Atlas has the best braking performance with a stopping distance of just 115 feet. The Toyota Highlander has the longest stopping distance of 128 feet, making it take the bottom position on the list. The Kia Sorento comes with 12.6" brakes at the front axle, much like most of the competitors. However, the Volkswagen Atlas features fat 13.2" brake rotors at the front, which are one of the largest in the segment. The Toyota Highlander also features brakes slightly larger than the competition, which helps it in achieving better braking results. 

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The 2019 Kia Sorento offers fuel economy standards that are fairly average for its class. Given that the Sorento can haul a family of seven comfortably, expecting outstanding mileage returns is rather unfair. The Kia Sorento LX returns a combined fuel economy of 22 MPG. Given the V6 engine's 290 hp output, these figures aren't too bad. Kia could have made the three-row Sorento more frugal by adding a start-stop function and cylinder deactivation technology, which can be expected with its future iteration. The newer eight-speed automatic transmission does offer a more fuel-efficient package, but it is not the best in its class. 

As evident from the table above, the V6 powered Sorento offers the least combined fuel economy numbers. Therefore, Kia has continued to offer the four-cylinder motor in the name of efficiency. However, we still would not recommend going for the same as it does not suit an SUV of its size. Among the competition, the Mazda CX-9 offers the best fuel efficiency, returning up to 28 MPG on highways. The Volkswagen Atlas comes close to the Mazda but does not manage to keep up with the Japanese SkyActiv technology. 

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• The 2021 Kia Sorento offers staggering MPG figures for its size!
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Kia has equipped the 2019 Sorento's interior quite well to take on the larger competition. The features have been distributed well across the trim levels. The quality levels of the interior are on the higher side. Kia has used soft-touch materials throughout the cabin. The Kia Sorento interior offers excellent materials and prominent spaces like the upper dashboard, door handles, and center console has been finished in leatherette. The Kia Sorento's front, as well as the second row of seats, offer excellent space as well as support. However, the third row is best left to kids due to its negligible under-thigh support and knee-room.

The center stack is sorted and Kia has followed separate layouts for the infotainment and climate control. The controls are organized and fall naturally to the hand. The cabin has ample storage space(s) for your miscellaneous items. The doors close with a strong thud, exhibiting a superior build quality. Dimensionally, the Kia Sorento is smaller than most three-row crossovers in the market. The first and second row has decent room for the passengers and the third row is better suited for kids but if you are traveling for a shorter distance then adults can sit there for a while.

Overall, the interior of the 2019 Sorento offers attractive styling and premium materials which creates an upscale feel. Prime competitors like the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas and the 2019 Mazda CX-9 offer more interior space. The Sorento is available in a 7 seater configuration. If interior space is a high priority on your list then there are better options available in the segment.

The Kia Sorento offers the lowest in segment rear cargo capacity of 11.3 cu-ft. The Sorento sacrifices rear cargo space for bringing in the third row, which is new for the 2019 model year. With the third row folded, the Kia Sorento offers 38 cu-ft. of space and with all the rows folded, the cargo capacity increases to 73 cu-ft.

What’s there to keep you entertained?

When it comes to the infotainment system, the Kia UVO system is one of the best in the business. The icons are large and the system is user-friendly. Apple Carplay and Android Auto are standard across all trims. The lower trims come with a 7-inch screen while the Sorento SX and SXL come with an 8-inch screen with a Harman Kardon premium sound system. For the 2019 model year, Kia is offering a wireless smartphone charging pad and a Harman/Kardon audio system as optional features.

Overall, we're pretty impressed with what the Kia Sorento infotainment system has to offer. The utilities are easy to use, are feature-rich, and offer excellent usability. has to The Kia Sorento has a decent list of interior features. Some of these features have been mentioned below:

• Front Bucket Seats with 8-way manual driver's seat
• 4-Way Passenger Seat with Manual Recline and Fore with Aft Movement
• 40-20-40 Folding Split-Bench Front Facing Manual Reclining Fold Forward Seatback Rear Seat with Manual Fore/Aft
• Power Rear Windows and Fixed 3rd Row Windows
• Fixed 50-50 Split-Bench YES Essentials Premium Cloth 3rd Row Seat Front, Manual Fold Into Floor and 2 Fixed Head Restraints
• Remote Keyless Entry w/Integrated Key Transmitter
• Illuminated Entry and Panic Button

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The 2019 model year Sorento has received minor design changes in terms of the exteriors. The Sorento's mature design beautifully blends into the crossover SUV segment. The 2019 model represents the third generation, it has standard LED headlights across all the trim levels. Kia has used a considerable amount of chrome in the front fascia. The changes make the Sorento look more premium but have been done in a very subtle way.

It might be hard for an onlooker to notice the changes in comparison to its predecessor. The higher trims offer bold LED fog lights and alloy wheels that grow up to 19-inches. The 2019 Kia Sorento LX comes with further exterior ornamentation that sticks on all trims LX onwards. The signature Tiger Nose grille sits elegantly in the front, which constantly reminds you of Kia's humble yet high-value offerings. All in all, the 2019 Kia Sedona is a beautiful vehicle to look at and gets all proportions right.   

The Sorento carves out a niche category, Kia has strategically placed the Sorento between two-row and three-row crossovers. The smaller dimensions bring help to make the Sorento more maneuverable than its competition. When it comes to size, the Sorento doesn't score well in comparison to the other three crossovers like Volkswagen Atlas and the Honda Pilot.

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• The 2019 Kia Sorento boasts impeccable Reliability Scores!

The 2019 Kia Sorento offers excellent crash protection. The Sorento has scored great results in all crash tests so far, which certainly adds points in the SUV's favor. Kia offers the Sorento with Automated Emergency Braking as an optional feature, but it adds another layer of safety in terms of driver-assistance features. The 2019 model year Sorento has been awarded a flawless 5-star safety rating by the NHTSA.

Additionally, the IIHS has acknowledged the Sorento's safety merit with a remarkable "Good" score in nearly all crash safety categories. The Kia Sorento comes equipped with a good list of standard safety features, even if you don't wish to opt for fancier ones. Some key safety features offered with the 2019 Kia Sorento include:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Roll Stability Control (RSC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
• Rear Child Safety Locks
• Back-Up Camera

Also Read:

• The 2019 Toyota Highlander, and the Toyota Safety Sense Plus!
• The 2021 Kia Sorento brings in even better Safety Features than its predecessor. 

Kia Sorento vs Volkswagen Atlas

Volkswagen has entered the three-row crossover market with a good product. The Atlas is immensely spacious inside with a third row that's easily amongst the most spacious in the segment. On top of that, the cabin is impressively quiet even at high speeds and rides of supple suspension. The VW Atlas isn't impressive when it comes to the powertrain department, but certainly disappoints with its low towing capacity. The V6 does not pack enough punch and is not particularly efficient either. Also, the base 2.0L TSI engine is not available with AWD.

Kia Sorento vs Mazda CX-9

The Mazda offers a well-built, class-leading interior, plush ride, and a well-engineered inline-four engine that puts the CX-9's among the better driving crossovers in the market. Like the Sorento, the CX-9 lacks a bit when we talk about third-row space. The Mazda CX-9 is one of those crossovers that will have you grinning ear to ear every time you get behind the wheel. At $32,280, the CX-9 is dearer to the Sorento by almost $7000.

Mazda CX-9 vs Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot produces 280 horsepower from its V6 engine. The base variant of the Honda Pilot is priced at $31,450. The 2019 Honda Pilot has incorporated many changes. The Honda has a very intuitive infotainment system on offer and Sorento's infotainment feels a bit dated. The Pilot's cabin feels more premium. The Pilot scores well on utility as it offers electrically operated second-row seats for convenient third-row access and if you need to seat 8 people then look towards the Pilot.

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• 2021 Kia Sorento vs 2021 Nissa Rogue: What our experts have to say.
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The Sorento should be on top of your list if you are looking for a pleasant driving vehicle with high reliability and a relatively inexpensive price tag than the competition. To make things even better, the Sorento comes with a segment-leading powertrain warranty of 10 years/100,000 miles. Therefore, If you are seeking a value-for-money crossover that can keep your family pampered, then you can go ahead with the 2019 Kia Sorento. However, If you need to seat 7 adult passengers on a regular basis, then the 2019 Kia Sorento isn't equipped to handle the task. It doesn't score high on utility due to a third-row seating that is suitable for kids.