Here at Jim Butler Kia of St. Louis, we are always commandeering a front-row seat to emerging trends, and we’d all have to agree that “rugged is in!” Pretty much every automaker out there is coming out with new trims that are attempting to toughen up their trail-ready image, and our 2024 Sorento X-Pro now enjoys this treatment directly after the Sportage and Telluride. The trim line is a highlight of this year’s mid-cycle refresh for the Sorento, which starts the awesome new look off with completely redesigned front and rear ends.
Base Sorento models are equipped with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder which cranks out 191 horsepower, with upper trim levels boasting the turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four cylinder churning out 281 ponies. There are two very efficient hybrids paired with a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor good for 227 horsepower in the standard hybrid.
The plug-in hybrid cranks out 261 horsepower, and the X-Pro is available as an option on the SX-Prestige trim. Towing capacity is a very important stat for anyone looking to bring power toys along for the next lake excursion, which the X-Pro’s new radiator fan helps boost up to 4500 lbs. Ride height is also boosted from 6.9 to 8.2 inches, along with the standard 20-inch alloy tires being traded up for 17-inch wheels.
These are neatly wrapped in BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A all-terrain tires, which the crew deemed were “perfectly suited for eating up highway miles on a family road trip or jogging around town completing errands.” As soon as the group abandoned the pavement and sampled some tried-and-true Rocky Mountain terrain, the X-Pro really proved its worth in the snow and slush. Snow mode immediately distributes more power to the rear wheels, while Sorento's overall steering performance was rendered way above par.
Switching the dial mode to “Sport” preps things for aggressive driving, allowing for spirited enjoyment of every turn! The Olive Brown leather package and faux wood on the dash stepped up the aesthetics a notch, and EX trims and above replaced the second-row bench seat with extra-comfy captain’s chairs.
The entire Sorento lineup now comes with twin 12.3-inch display screens, with Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay coming standard to stay connected and fully musically inclined on all trims. The Edmunds.com review staff praised the Sorento for its abundance of standard and optional features, awesome amounts of legroom, and sharp infotainment system. Here it was noted that the Sorento is nearly 3 seconds faster than the VW Tiguan and the Honda Passport when it comes down to 0-60 mph time.
The visibility inside is excellent, thanks to excellent sightlines and large windows. The Edmunds team was able to nail down 24 mpg combined during testing, and a 25.2 mpg average during their mixed-evaluation drive route. Thoughtful detailing and premium touches allow the Sorento to look on point when it comes to value for the money, along with impressive power that is addictive. The experts on staff at Autoblog were adamant about the 2024 Kia Sorento having “the best technology suite around”, and we guarantee that the fallen roots on a trail near you are beckoning to come and instigate exciting exploration!
