Offroading With “SUV-perior confidence:” A First Drive Experience With the 2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro

The dreadful and boredom-inducing lockdowns are thankfully far behind us here at Jim Butler Kia of St. Louis, and this was when many of our customers curated their appetite for thriving off-road! The 2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro joins our illustrious lineup with the upgrades to tackle the trail properly. The Motor Trend group tested this model to see if its upgrades were merely cosmetic, or if they were fit for the demands of deep ruts and loose sand. 

Introduced formally for 2021, the Sorento is built for those who have use for a third row but may feel that the Telluride is just a touch too large for their taste. This year’s model offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, in addition to a 281-horsepower, 311-lb-ft turbocharged 2.5-liter I-4 gas engine which resides in the Sorento X-Pro and higher. First on the list of upgrades is a larger and more upright grille, along with nicely-accented LED lights. The cabin now features reshaped air vents and a modernized HVAC control panel, which first made its appearance in the all-electric EV6. 

Most trims roar heartily off the pavement with a 12.3-inch touchscreen that runs the brand’s new ccNC user interface. This provides the very convenient option of over-the-air updates along with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sorento X-Line trim brings about more rugged-looking bumpers, faux skid plates, and 20-inch Continental CrossContact all-season tires. The all-terrain tires that the X-Pro package starts things off with have a tread pattern that is inspired by BF Goodrich’s K02 off-road offerings. 

The 2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro comes aggressively swinging at inclement terrain with 8.2 inches of ground clearance, along with a notable towing capacity of 4,500 lbs. This beats out any other Sorento model by 1,000 pounds and is all made possible with upgraded cooling-system hardware. The Motor Trend team embarked on a beautiful and snowy I-70 west to the Rocky Mountains from Denver, where the Sorento fared excellently on roads heavily populated with potholes. The new Trail Terrain tires bit into soggy dirt better than all seasons could, while also providing a good deal of ride comfort while navigating “the normie route” on the pavement. 

The steering response was consistently crisp, and acceleration was peppy even when tried from leftover standing mud. The brake-pedal travel felt adequate while traversing up and down steep inclines, with a superior and consistent buildup of stopping force during your stroke. Once the 8-speed transmission is fully engaged and underway, it takes advantage of the engine’s torque to dole out acceleration that is excellent when held up to any other 3-row family SUV on the market. The driver-assistance features performed flawlessly, and there are useful USB-C ports all over the cabin. 

The interior upholstery is finished in a very nice two-tone leather upholstery, along with a very cool microsuede headliner surrounding the huge moonroof. To properly take on chilly St. Louis winters, the heated steering wheel can comfortably emit two grades of warmth. Concluding that this finished package offers more than just a “meek people mover”, the Motor Trend gang was thrilled with the Sorento’s performance geared to those needing something a bit tougher. The Edmunds.com auto review crew praised the Sorento post-test-drive for its “mix of quality, performance, and practicality, as an enticing option with above-average versatility.”

A Footprint Fit for Formidable Escape: Get to Know the Enhanced 2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro!

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!