Kia has updated the Sorento SUV with fresh looks, revised infotainment and some tweaks inside the cabin.

The new styling makes the car look similar to the big Kia EV9 electric SUV, but the Sorento is powered by a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and diesel power. It’s the diesel that I’m driving for my test.

What are we looking for in the Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi ‘3’?

Is the diesel still the pick of the range for towing? Have the changes improved the Sorento?

Towing ability of the Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi ‘3’

Unlike some of its rivals, the Sorento is still available with diesel power. This is definitely the version for caravanners to choose. Unfortunately, Kia has followed the lead set by sister company, Hyundai, in reducing the maximum towing figures for the hybrid and plug-in hybrid powered big 4x4s.

The plug-in is approved to tow 1010kg, and the full hybrid tow car can only pull 1110kg. Those are very low limits for such a large car. It’s just as well the diesel’s towing capacity is unchanged, at 2500kg.

The Kia from the rear
The Kia is large, but doesn’t have the oversized feel that you can experience in some big 4x4s

The 2.2-litre diesel is a little grumbly at times, but that’s easy to forgive when it’s so well suited to towing. The 325lb ft of torque is unchanged by the mid-life update, giving the Sorento plenty of muscle to handle any sensibly matched caravan with ease.

When it came to the car/caravan match, I paired the Kia to an Elddis Crusader Mistral with a MiRO of 1397kg, which was borrowed from Raymond James Caravans in Atherstone, Warwickshire.

The Sorento immediately felt entirely at home towing the Elddis. We’ve previously covered why automatics make ideal tow cars, and here, the automatic gearbox is rarely caught in the wrong gear, and with so much pulling power, being in the ‘wrong’ gear hardly seems to matter.

There are quicker tow cars than the Sorento, but I thought the big Kia provided the strength and dependability of a cart horse.

A towball on the Sorento
Fitting a towball for the Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi ‘3’ comes in at about £833

Car and caravan are soon up to speed, and the engine is strong enough to hold its speed on hilly roads without needing to be revved hard.

I found hill starts simple too. With lots of pulling power, four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox, I think a novice will have no trouble starting on a slope.

There’s no sign of wheelspin in the dry, and the Sorento builds speed with purpose even against a gradient, the type of useful trail we look for in the best cars for towing a caravan.

On both motorways and dual carriageways, it is composed and controlled. While it might not have the unshakeable feel of the best luxury 4x4s, it’s not far off.

Arrive at your campsite and the Sorento is pleasantly easy to manoeuvre, with an automatic gearbox that allows for creeping at very low speeds.

I think the rear-view camera is a big help when hitching up a caravan again for the return journey too.

Solo driving the Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi ‘3’

Leave the caravan behind and the Sorento is an easy car to live with in everyday driving.

This is a heavy vehicle, and at times, it feels like it on a twisting country road. If you are looking for a more agile SUV, consider the BMW X3 or the Volkswagen Tiguan instead.

While you couldn’t call the Kia nimble, that’s unlikely to be a high priority for someone in the market for a seven-seat 4×4.

Comfort will be closer to the top of the list, and the Sorento will cope well with all but the sharpest of bumps in the road.

The second row of seats in the Sorento
Second row of seats tips and slides to provide access to the third row

Around town, the Kia might be large, but it doesn’t have the intimidating, oversized feel that you get in some big 4×4 tow cars.

With good visibility and parking sensors to the front, side and rear, it’s easy to judge the car’s extremities.

Longer trips on open roads suit the Sorento best. It’s an excellent motorway car, with a little wind and road noise, but not enough to become intrusive. With good seats and a quality stereo, long trips pass quickly.

Space and practicality in the Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi ‘3’

Aside from the way it tows, the Sorento’s biggest strength is the cabin. Changes to the updated car haven’t messed too much with the successful formula.

The most obvious differences are the new infotainment system and the dashboard. There’s now a dual-purpose touch panel running underneath the main screen, which switches between controlling the heating and ventilation and the stereo.

The cabin of the Sorento
Updates in the cabin include a new infotainment system and dashboard, with a dual-purpose touch panel running underneath the main screen

It’s not as easy to press the right section of the touchpad as it is to find a button without looking away from the road, but that is certainly preferable to having all of those functions buried in touchscreen menus.

The driver and front-seat passenger will have plenty of headroom and legroom, and there’s lots of adjustment to both seat and wheel. Those sitting in the middle row are almost as comfortable, with ample room to stretch out. The small transmission tunnel won’t be too much of a nuisance for whoever sits in the centre.

The second row of seats tips and slides to give access to the third row. Legroom is tight if the middle row is set fully back, but move the second row forwards on its runners and seats six and seven are more useful than they are in many of the Kia’s rivals.

The boot space with the third row lowered
Lower the third row of seats and the boot space rises to an ample 2011 litres

With all seats in place, there’s enough boot space for a weekly shop. Stash the third row and there’s room for holiday bags, ideal for those who like touring with their luxury caravan accessories.

Throughout the cabin there are USB-C ports, cupholders, air vents and storage. Dedicated space for the parcel shelf under the boot floor is another sign of thoughtful interior design.

Buying and owning

The new Sorento range includes three models, the ‘2’, ‘3’ and ‘4’. Prices for the diesel start from £41,995. We’ve been driving the mid-spec ‘3’, which comes with self-levelling suspension, heated front and rear seats, leather upholstery, 19-inch alloy wheels, a digital driver’s display, and a 12-speaker Bose stereo.

The official combined figure is 42.8mpg – I saw a highly commendable 27.6mpg while towing the Elddis, just one of the features which saw it win the best tow car for a 1500kg caravan at the Practical Caravan Awards 2025.

Alternatives to consider

If you like the idea of an estate tow car, how about the Škoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150PS SE L? Available as a diesel, it offers a spacious cabin, complete with good legroom, as well as a decent towing experience. Alternatively, the Nissan X-Trail e-4orce Tekna is a thoughtfully designed and well-built SUV that provides a practical and comfortable solo drive and a great towing experience.

Technical spec of the Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi ‘3’

  • Price: £46,195
  • What Car? Target Price: £46,195
  • Retained value after three years: N/A
  • Kerbweight: 1929kg
  • 85% of kerbweight: 1640kg
  • Gross vehicle weight: 2600kg
  • Max towing limit: 2500kg
  • Gross train weight: 5100kg
  • Towball limit: 100kg
  • Price of towball: £833
  • Boot size: 616-2011 litres
  • Payload: 671kg
  • Test conditions: Dry
  • Engine size: 2151cc
  • Power (hp/rpm): 191@TBC
  • Torque (lb ft/rpm): 325@TBC
  • Official combined economy: 42.8mpg
  • Towing economy: 27.6mpg
  • CO2 emissions: 173g/km
  • First year car tax: £1095
  • Second year car tax: £195
  • Insurance group: 31D
  • Euro NCAP overall protection rating: 5/5

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