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Kia

Sorento

UM· 2015-2020 suv-soft Value
Price (AUD)
$15k-$38k
Body styles
5-door wagon (7-seat)
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive (petrol V6), On-demand AWD (diesel)
Origin
Korea
Built in
South Korea

Overview

The third-generation (UM) Sorento was Kia's move upmarket into a genuinely refined large 7-seat family SUV, sold here as Si, SLi and Platinum at launch and reshuffled to S, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line after the 2018 facelift. It is a soft-roader monocoque, not a ladder-frame 4WD: the only true all-wheel-drive models are the diesels, while the petrol V6 is front-drive only. Powertrain choice splits cleanly - the 2.2L R-series D4HB common-rail turbo diesel (147kW/441Nm) is the volume seller and the engine people actually want, paired with a 6-speed auto pre-2018 and an 8-speed auto after; the petrol is a naturally aspirated Lambda II V6, 3.3L (199kW) to 2017 then enlarged to 3.5L (206kW) with the facelift. The diesel is a strong, chain-timed engine that comfortably runs past 250,000km when serviced on time, but it has the usual modern-diesel caveats - DPF regen needs highway running, EGR and injectors are wear items, and high-pressure fuel-pump failures (though rare) are catastrophically expensive. Australia's long 7-year Kia warranty (from 2014) covers many early examples and is a big part of the value story. Watch for the gearshift-cable/park recall, low-speed transmission shudder, and electrical gremlins on infotainment.

Engines & variants

2.2L R-series CRDi diesel (AWD)

Engine
2.2L R-series common-rail turbo diesel I4 (DPF, Euro 5)
Config
I4 turbo
Displacement
2199cc
Power
147kW @ 3800rpm
Torque
441Nm @ 1750-2750rpm
Drivetrain
On-demand AWD (electronic coupling)
Economy
7.0-8.5 L/100km combined
Tow (braked)
2000kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
6AT (2015-2017), 8AT (2018-2020)
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven

Pros

  • Strong, torquey, well-proven R-series engine
  • Only way to get AWD in a UM Sorento
  • Comfortably exceeds 250,000km when serviced on time
  • 8-speed auto (2018+) is smooth and economical
  • Long 7-year Kia warranty covers many examples

Cons

  • DPF dislikes short urban-only running - needs highway regen
  • EGR and injectors are wear items on common-rail diesels
  • Rare but catastrophic high-pressure fuel-pump failures
  • Only 2000kg braked tow - well short of ladder-frame 4WDs
  • Low-speed transmission shudder/surge reported on some cars

Known problems

high
High-pressure fuel pump failure (debris through fuel system)
An HP fuel-pump failure can send metal debris through the common-rail and injectors, contaminating the entire fuel system. Rare, but documented AU cases have run into many thousands of dollars and even full engine replacement; often covered by the 7-year warranty when in period.
Fix: Use quality fuel and change fuel filters on schedule. If it occurs, full fuel-system flush plus pump and injector replacement by a diesel specialist; check warranty eligibility.
From Any (rare but documented) · ~$3000-8000 (up to engine replacement)
medium
DPF clogging from short-trip / urban driving
The close-coupled DPF needs regular sustained driving to passively/actively regenerate. Stop-start city-only use leads to incomplete regens, soot loading, oil dilution and eventually a blocked filter or forced limp mode.
Fix: Regular highway runs to allow regen; forced/manual regen at a dealer; clean or replace the DPF if heavily loaded. Avoid as a pure short-trip school car.
From Any (urban use) · ~$300-2500
medium
Injector wear / EGR carbon
Piezo injectors wear and can cause rough running, smoke and hard starting; EGR and intake soot build up over time as on any modern common-rail diesel.
Fix: Injector test and replacement by a diesel specialist; EGR and intake clean. Quality fuel and filtration extend life.
From 150k+ km · ~$1500-3500
medium
Low-speed transmission shudder / surge
Some owners report a shudder on low-speed upshifts or a surge when accelerating after prolonged slow driving, attributed to torque-converter/sensor behaviour and ageing fluid.
Fix: Transmission fluid service (some recommend ~50,000km intervals); ECU/TCU update where available; specialist diagnosis if persistent.
From Any · ~$300-1500

3.3L Lambda II V6 petrol (FWD)

Engine
3.3L DOHC V6, multi-point port injection (MPI)
Config
V6 NA
Displacement
3342cc
Power
199kW @ 6400rpm
Torque
318Nm @ 5300rpm
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive
Economy
9.9-11 L/100km combined (official); 12-14 real world
Tow (braked)
2000kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
6AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven

Pros

  • Smooth, quiet, refined naturally aspirated V6
  • Port injection (MPI) avoids GDI intake-valve carbon issues
  • No diesel emissions complexity (no DPF/EGR headaches)
  • Cheaper to buy than the diesel
  • Chain-driven timing

Cons

  • Front-wheel drive only - no AWD with petrol
  • Thirsty for a family SUV, especially loaded
  • Less low-down torque than the diesel for towing
  • Weaker resale than the sought-after diesel

Known problems

low
Fuel thirst / running cost
Real-world 12-14 L/100km, more when loaded with seven people; not a fault but the main reason buyers chose the diesel.
Fix: Accept it, or buy the diesel if economy matters.
From Any · ~Running cost
low
Ignition coils / spark plugs at higher km
Standard V6 ignition maintenance - coil packs and plugs eventually need replacing, causing misfires if neglected.
Fix: Replace plugs on schedule; replace failed coil packs.
From 100k+ km · ~$300-900
medium
Cooling-system attention (Lambda II caution)
The Lambda II V6 family has overseas reports of cooling/head-related issues (notably on GDI versions). Keep the cooling system healthy - water pump, coolant condition and any overheating must be addressed promptly.
Fix: Maintain coolant and water pump; investigate any temperature rise or coolant loss immediately rather than running it hot.
From 120k+ km · ~$300-2000

3.5L Lambda II V6 petrol (FWD, facelift)

Engine
3.5L DOHC V6, multi-point port injection (MPI)
Config
V6 NA
Displacement
3470cc
Power
206kW @ 6300rpm
Torque
336Nm @ 5000rpm
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive
Economy
10.0-10.5 L/100km combined (official); 12-14 real world
Tow (braked)
2000kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
8AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven

Pros

  • Larger, slightly stronger V6 than the pre-facelift 3.3
  • 8-speed auto improves refinement and economy slightly
  • Smooth and quiet - well suited to the upmarket cabin
  • Port injection (MPI) avoids GDI carbon build-up
  • Cheaper to buy than the diesel

Cons

  • Front-wheel drive only
  • Still thirsty for the segment
  • Less torque than the diesel for towing/loaded work
  • Lower demand and resale than the diesel

Known problems

low
Fuel thirst / running cost
Real-world 12-14 L/100km; the larger 3.5 is no more economical than buyers expect. Not a fault.
Fix: Accept it, or choose the diesel for touring economy.
From Any · ~Running cost
low
Ignition coils / spark plugs at higher km
Routine V6 ignition wear - plugs and coil packs eventually need replacing.
Fix: Replace plugs on schedule; replace failed coils.
From 100k+ km · ~$300-900
low
Cooling-system maintenance
As with any V6, keep the water pump and coolant healthy; address any overheating promptly.
Fix: Maintain coolant/water pump; investigate temperature rises early.
From 120k+ km · ~$300-1200

Common problems (all variants)

high
Gearshift cable / park recall (roll-away risk)
A recall covered a gear-selector/shift-cable concern that could allow the vehicle to be shifted out of Park or roll away. A defective shift cable can mean the indicated gear does not match the actual transmission position.
Fix: Check the VIN against Kia/PMVA recall lists and have any outstanding shift-cable/park recall completed free of charge.
From Any · ~Recall (free if outstanding)
medium
Infotainment / electrical gremlins
Owners report head-unit/touchscreen freezes and reboots, Bluetooth dropouts, reversing-camera glitches and assorted electrical faults, more common on facelift cars with the larger screen.
Fix: Software updates at the dealer; reseat/replace the head unit if faulty. Test every electronic function thoroughly pre-purchase.
From Any · ~$200-1500
low
Underbody scrape rust (AWD off the bitumen)
It is a soft-roader, not a 4WD - the low monocoque underbody is easily scraped on rough tracks, and the damage can start surface rust on subframe/underbody components.
Fix: Inspect the underbody; touch up scrapes; keep it to formed roads and gravel, not serious off-road work.
From Any · ~Varies
low
Front brake wear (heavy 7-seater)
A heavy 7-seat SUV, especially when towing or fully loaded, wears front pads and rotors faster than a lighter car.
Fix: Quality pads/rotors; check rotor thickness at each pad change.
From 50k+ km · ~$400-900
low
Suspension bushes and links at higher km
Control-arm bushes, sway-bar links and shocks wear with age and our rough roads, causing clunks and vague handling.
Fix: Replace worn bushes/links and tired dampers as needed during routine servicing.
From 120k+ km · ~$300-1000