Kia didn't skimp on safety for its budget-minded first SUV: every US-spec first-generation Sorento came standard with dual front airbags and side-curtain airbags front and rear.
Lead trim: 4WD · 5-spd auto · 3.5L · AWD · up to 263 hp
Kia SorentoBL · 2003–2009
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Kia Sorento yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactKia didn't skimp on safety for its budget-minded first SUV: every US-spec first-generation Sorento came standard with dual front airbags and side-curtain airbags front and rear.
Collectors Spotted in the Kia Sorento Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Kia Sorento yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
10 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2WD · 4-spd auto · 3.5L · RWD | 2003–2004 | 3.5 L V6 | 192 hp | 217 lb-ft | — | RWD | Automatic 4-spd | — |
| 2WD · 5-spd auto · 3.3L · RWD | 2007–2009 | 3.3 L 6-cyl | 235 hp | 226 lb-ft | — | RWD | Automatic 5-spd | — |
| 2WD · 5-spd auto · 3.5L · RWD | 2005–2006 | 3.5 L V6 | 192 hp | 217 lb-ft | — | RWD | Automatic 5-spd | — |
| 2WD · 5-spd auto · 3.8L · RWD | 2007–2009 | 3.8 L 6-cyl | 263 hp | 257 lb-ft | — | RWD | Automatic 5-spd | — |
| 2WD · 5-spd manual · 3.5L · RWD | 2004–2006 | 3.5 L V6 | 192 hp | 217 lb-ft | — | RWD | Manual 5-spd | — |
| 4WD · 4-spd auto · 3.5L · AWD | 2003–2004 | 3.5 L V6 | 192 hp | 217 lb-ft | — | AWD | Automatic 4-spd | — |
| 4WD · 5-spd auto · 3.3L · AWD | 2007–2009 | 3.3 L 6-cyl | 235 hp | 226 lb-ft | — | AWD | Automatic 5-spd | — |
| 4WD · 5-spd auto · 3.5L · AWD | 2005–2006 | 3.5 L V6 | 192 hp | 217 lb-ft | — | AWD | Automatic 5-spd | — |
| 4WD · 5-spd auto · 3.8L · AWD | 2007–2009 | 3.8 L 6-cyl | 263 hp | 257 lb-ft | — | AWD | Automatic 5-spd | — |
| 4WD · 5-spd manual · 3.5L · AWD | 2004–2006 | 3.5 L V6 | 192 hp | 217 lb-ft | — | AWD | Manual 5-spd | — |
Owning one
An estimate, for the 2WD · 4-spd auto · 3.5L · RWD trim: fuel on its EPA figure and a dated national price, upkeep on a per-mile average for the kind of car it is.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
This Sorento and its Hyundai Santa Fe cousin share a platform, but not a floorplan — the Kia came standard with a third row while the Santa Fe was offered only as a two-row SUV.
Kia built a one-off Wolverine-themed Sorento with 20th Century Fox to promote an X-Men home-video release, debuting it at the 2015 Australian Open alongside Rafael Nadal.
The redesigned Sorento earned a 'Top Safety Pick' from the IIHS in just its second year on sale — a strong result for Kia's first unibody crossover built in America.
Kia didn't skimp on safety for its budget-minded first SUV: every US-spec first-generation Sorento came standard with dual front airbags and side-curtain airbags front and rear.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
IIHS only crash-tests the driver's corner; tested on the passenger side instead, the CX-5 showed far worse intrusion.
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Its range-extender variant is rated for 1,200 km on a tank and charge, over three times the car's electric-only range.