Last Updated on: 30 Oct 2026

User Expectations

Variants

Kia Sorento User Expectations

Based on 3 responses

67%Love the look

67%Willing to wait

67%Finds price fair

Vasanth•10w

I am hoping its 3rd row is comfortable for adults like Carens and there is no DCT

Divay Gupta•11w

Overall I think it's a fairly priced

Divay Gupta•12w

I hope it has good boot space.

Kia Sorento Images

Full Cabin View (Top Angle) Image - 38462

Digital Instrument Cluster Image - 32010

Digital Instrument Cluster Image - 39878

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Questions you may find useful

•4d

Hey guys! We’ve been using a 2019 Kia Seltos 1.4 DCT and are now planning to change our car. I’m leaning towards a sedan, particularly the VW Virtus, mainly for its performance, driving comfort, and overall build quality. I’ve also driven the VW Vento 1.0 TSI before, so I’m familiar with the driving experience. However, the Virtus doesn’t quite feel like a significant upgrade from our current car, especially considering that the interiors feel a bit dated compared to what’s available today. I’ve also been looking at the Toyota Camry, which I think is a beautiful car and offers a more premium experience, but it’s a little too expensive for our budget. We drive around 15,000 km a year, with a mix of city driving and highway trips. I’m looking for a car that offers an engaging driving experience, good performance, comfortable long-distance cruising, and a premium feel. A sedan would be my first preference, but I’m open to an SUV if it makes more sense. What would you guys recommend? Are there any cars worth considering that would feel like a genuine upgrade from the Kia Seltos ?

•10h

Unfortunately, there are only few sedans to choose from. Aside from the Volkswagen Virtus that you're familiar with, there's the Skoda Slavia, Hyundai Verna, and Honda City. While all models are good in their own right, none of them would feel like a significant upgrade over your 2019 Kia Seltos 1.4 DCT. The Toyota Camry is a great product but would be too much of a stretch. With sedans out of the question, we'd shift our focus to SUVs. And the first model that comes to mind is the new Kia Sorento. It's significantly larger than the Seltos, offers the flexibility of a third row of seats and feels genuinely premium on the inside. Your kind of use makes the Sorento Hybrid worth a look. It's got more than adequate power, and you'll also get great fuel economy over your mix of city and highway drives. If your priority is more towards the highway experience, we's guide you towards the Sorento diesel. The diesel is strong and punchy and works really well with the dual-clutch gearbox. It makes for a refined highway cruiser that you'd happily spend long hours in. Of the other models, you could also consider the Mahindra XUV7XO petrol. Again, it's got the flexibility of three rows of seating, feels plush and packs in loads of features. The 200hp petrol engine is also very impressive. However, if you've been happy with the Kia experience, the Sorento would be our pick for you.

Toyota Camry

Volkswagen Virtus

Skoda Slavia

Hyundai Verna

Honda City

Kia Sorento

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•3d

My budget is between Rs. 40-50 lakh (on-road) for a car in Surat. I need a premium 6-7 seater automatic car for city driving and highway trips. The third row will be used occasionally. My driving pattern involves driving around 20,000 km over six months and 3,000 km over the other six months. It results in driving approximately 23,000 km annually. This is why I’m confused between petrol, diesel and hybrid options. Please help me compare the Skoda Kodiaq, Kia Sorento, Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid and Toyota Fortuner, considering real-world mileage, performance, comfort, safety, features, maintenance, resale value and long-term ownership costs. Which is the best overall choice for my usage, and are there any better alternatives within my budget?

•1d

We'd recommend the Kia Sorento if you’re looking for a premium seven-seater within Rs 50 lakh, particularly if comfort and refinement are priorities. The diesel makes more sense if most of your driving is on the highway, where its strong torque and relaxed cruising ability should come in handy. However, if your usage is predominantly in the city, the hybrid would be the better choice, offering a smoother, quieter and more refined experience.The Skoda Kodiaq is arguably the better driver's car, but it doesn't quite match the Sorento for ride comfort. The Toyota Fortuner, while rugged and capable, also falls short in terms of ride comfort and overall refinement. The Sorento strikes a better balance for someone who wants a comfortable, upmarket family SUV that can handle daily commutes as well as long-distance trips. The interior feels plush, the feature set is extensive and the ride comfort is class-best.

Kia Sorento

Skoda Kodiaq

Toyota Fortuner

•3d

Hi Autocar, I currently own a Swift ZXi (2013 model) and it still runs well in Bangalore traffic. I’m looking to upgrade to a big car that has a spacious second row that can be used as a 5 or 7 seater. My budget is around 30 lakh (on-road) but if it is worth increasing my budget, I can consider it. I’m looking for a performance car that will be primarily used for highway driving that will be around 1000km per month. I have taken the test ride of Harrier, XUV 700 (not 7XO), Jeep Meridian (which is my friend’s car that I took for 1000km+ drive and it did not cause any fatigue). I really liked the looks of Sorento but it seems little out of my budget. Is it worth considering now or should I give it some more time? Let me know if I can consider any other car for my requirement that does not have manufacturing or service issues. Also, please suggest whether I should choose diesel, petrol or EVs. I am fine with any fuel but my usage is not that much. Please advice accordingly.

•1d

Given your requirements the best choice would be a Mahindra XUV 7XO. Compared to the 700, there are substantial changes in the 7XO with regard to the suspension and ride quality. It also has a lot of tech and with your Rs. 30 lakh budget you can actually get a top-spec AX7 in luxury trim, which gets all the bells and whistles. It gets a very smooth and powerful petrol engine, a smooth gearbox, and a lot of space in the second row. It is also a seven-seater, so the third row is also spacious. If not you can even always fold it and use it as a massive boot. The Sorento is also a good choice but its starting price of over 30 lakh is hard to justify especially when you consider your requirements, which the 7XO fulfills properly. The Mahindra would be the best recommendation.Between a diesel and a petrol, it depends on your usage. If you don't travel a lot and you don't cover a lot of kilometers over a year, a petrol is always better so we would recommend you go for the petrol.If an EV is something you want to choose, then the Mahindra XEV 9S is the best choice as you get the same space as you do on the 7XO, but in an all-electric guise.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Sorento

•1w

Vento owner · 105,000 km

Hello Autocar India team, I want to thank you for your First Impression articles, detailed reviews, podcasts and other content. Please continue with your impartial reviews. I currently own a 2015 Vento Highline Petrol and still fall in love with the car whenever I take it on long drives. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be much movement in the sedan segment. We can stretch our budget to Rs 40 lakh on-road. Our primary use will be planned or unplanned road trips, with limited city driving. EVs concern me because of battery life and charging infrastructure. Petrol cars are a concern because of E20 and the possibility of higher ethanol blending in the future. Hybrids haven't convinced me either. I also don't want to consider premium hatchbacks like the Creta and Seltos. We have narrowed our choices to the Jeep Meridian Overland or Compass 4x4, although Stellantis' long-term commitment remains a concern; the Kia Sorento Diesel AWD; and the Mahindra XUV 7XO Diesel 4x4. Please share your unbiased recommendation. Thanks and regards, Yashodhan Patel

•1w

Thank you for your kind words on our content.Of the vehicles on your shortlist, the Kia Sorento Diesel AWD is the best. It's got a strong diesel engine and a smooth gearbox, which make long journeys absolutely effortless. Kia has also packed the Sorento with features that uplift comfort levels inside. The third row isn't the best, though the Jeep Meridian and Mahindra XUV 7XO are also not great in this regard. Kia's proven reliability also makes the Sorento an easy model to recommend for your usage.

Kia Sorento

Jeep Meridian

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•1w

I own a 2018 Hyundai Creta 1.6 diesel manual and have been very happy with it. It suits my family of three for city use as well as long road trips, including journeys from Kashmir to Kerala and Jaisalmer. However, I now want to upgrade to something bigger. I don't like the looks of the Toyota Innova HyCross, Mahindra XUV 7XO or Tata Safari. I also have reservations about ladder-frame SUVs I test-drove the Mahindra Scorpio N briefly in traffic and found it moved around more over bad roads than my monocoque Creta. I want something imposing, like the Toyota Fortuner, but am unsure about moving to a ladder-frame SUV. Should I wait for the JSW Combat, which will have monocoque construction, or would that be a risk in terms of reliability? Please advise.

•1w

The Kia Sorento seems to be an ideal fit for you. It is a feature-loaded offering with hybrid and diesel engine options, and it comes with the flexibility of three rows of seats. Being a monocoque, ride quality is good, the engines are smooth and refined, and its cabin feels richly appointed.The JSW Combat is set to make its debut in India in December. It is a butch-looking plug-in hybrid, five-seater SUV, and is likely to be stuffed with features. You will have to wait to find out how it drives and performs, but on first impressions at least, it seems like a promising option.The Toyota Fortuner is the obvious choice if you want a butch, imposing SUV with proven reliability and a strong ownership track record. It is a proper ladder-frame SUV with excellent road presence, and Toyota's reliability is a major advantage for long-term ownership. The downside is that it is expensive for what it offers, and the ride is not as composed as a monocoque SUV.

Kia Sorento

JSW Motors Combat

Toyota Fortuner

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