I’ve got a new car (and a new guest) on deck with me today! The 2025 Kia Sorento is our family car in question and I have Libby, my newborn, with me to help show off what each row of the Sorento has to offer. While I am really excited about this car from the outside, the question, as always, stands: is it family-friendly?

If you’re new here—welcome! I’m Kelly the Car Mom, and as a mom of four and car enthusiast, I’m here to help you figure out if the Kia Sorento could be the right fit for your family.

Before you dive in and start car shopping, make sure you’re fully prepared to tackle today’s market with confidence. To learn everything from dealership prep to a complete negotiations strategy, check out my Car Buying Course!

2025 Kia Sorento Highlights

The Sorento X-Line model features sporty blacked-out accents and a really nice green color.
Available as a hybrid!
Each seat in the second and third rows has its own set of lower anchors and tether anchors, except neither is available in the middle seat of the second-row bench.
Easy access with tilt-and-slide seats to the third row.
Limited trunk space with all rows up, but a ton of space when the third row is folded down.

2025 Kia Sorento Exterior

The Kia Sorento underwent a major redesign in 2021, shifting from an optional third row to making it standard. While Kia offers a range of SUVs, including the Soul, Sportage, Seltos, and Telluride, the Sorento stands out for its sporty design elements.

The X-Line model we’re reviewing today features sleek blacked-out accents and a striking green color that contrasts beautifully with the black wheels and mirror caps. It's also available as a hybrid, which is a plus considering some competitors still lack hybrid options.

Price

The 2025 Kia Sorento has a starting price of $33,365 for the base LX model. Prices can go up to $48,765 depending on the trim level and options you choose.

Kia offers the Sorento in various trims, including the S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige, with various features and amenities catering to different needs and preferences. The hybrid version of the Sorento starts at $38,690 and can reach up to $46,890 for higher trims like the SX Prestige.

2025 Kia Sorento First Row

Inside, the Sorento has an interior color I’ve never seen before! Throughout this car, there is a seafoam green interior that matches the car's exterior for a monochromatic look. The seats are beautifully stitched and padded; in this green color, there is no hassle of maintaining tan or white seats.

As for the driving experience in terms of comfort, the driver's seat is spacious with good head clearance, making it a nice experience for taller drivers like myself.

Infotainment System

The digital dashboard of the Kia Sorento flows smoothly into the infotainment display, giving the interior a sophisticated look with its two-tone steering wheel, piano black accents, and chrome details.

The infotainment system itself is loaded with features, including a rearview camera, which is crucial for maintaining visibility when the car is packed with passengers or taller car seats. However, the climate control system could be more intuitive; it requires switching between volume and climate controls using the same knob, which can be confusing while driving.

On the plus side, there are ample charging options available, with two USB-C ports and wireless charging which I always like to see for flexibility purposes.

2025 Kia Sorento Second Row

The second row of the Sorento is offered in both captain's chairs and bench seat options. I, unfortunately, did not get to play around with three across in the bench, but its smaller length makes me assume it would be difficult for three car seats across, especially the middle seat.

I had the captain’s chairs with me today and each seat comes equipped with its own set of lower anchors and tether anchors. This setup allows you to configure car seats in various ways as your family’s needs change over time, which makes it a much more practical purchase for the long term.

In terms of amenities back here, built-in sunshades are included for added comfort, along with heated seats in this trim level. I love seeing this added, especially because there are luxury cars at double this price point not offering these features.

Additional storage pockets are available, along with innovative charging ports on the back of the seats to prevent cords from dangling awkwardly. However, there are only two side-panel vents in this row, which is not optimal for rear-facing car seat ventilation on hot days.

2025 Kia Sorento Third Row

The 2025 Kia Sorento has tilt-and-slide seats that can be activated by buttons located conveniently for children on both the side and back of the outboard seats. When the seat is slid forward, there is actually a good amount of clearance to get into the third row, which is an underrated feature a lot of families do not consider at the dealership.

Getting into the third row, there are two seats instead of three, which I love and highly recommend to a lot of families. This setup provides more comfort with two complete seats meaning you do not cram passengers together and have a better car seat setup.

Each seat has its own cup holder and USB-C charging port but lacks air vents, which could make it uncomfortable during summer, especially if your children are in car seats back here.

As for the car seat setup, each seat has its own lower and tether anchors which is excellent, especially combined with the removable headrests. This is a rare feature that simplifies installing forward-facing car seats or booster seats without interference from protruding headrests like those found in some competitors.

Overall, while legroom isn’t fantastic back here, I am happy with the two seats and LATCH setup.

2025 Kia Sorento LATCH Diagram:

Second Row LATCH: lower and tether anchors on the outboard seats, but if you choose a bench there is neither.
Third Row LATCH: lower and tether anchors in both seats.

Trunk Space

Trunk space in the Sorento is tight with all rows up—suitable only for small items like an umbrella stroller. However, folding down the third row creates a flat cargo area that significantly increases storage capacity.

It’s important to note that folding down one seat for extra cargo space while keeping the other seat up for a passenger is not considered safe. This practice creates significant safety risks in the event of a collision, as unsecured items in the cargo area can become dangerous projectiles, potentially injuring passengers in the third row or even those in the second row.

While many families might resort to this setup in a pinch, it’s strongly advised to avoid it. If the Kia Sorento cannot safely offer all the trunk space you need, I recommend looking at other competitor models or larger options within Kia’s lineup.

2025 Kia Sorento Wrap-Up

The 2025 Kia Sorento is a great option for families who occasionally need a third row, but don't require extensive trunk space or daily use of all seating positions. I’d see this as a great family car for parents with one or two kids or those with older children who can manage tighter spaces.

However, tall drivers using rear-facing car seats or those needing frequent third-row access might find larger models, like the Kia Telluride, to work way better for their needs.

Would you consider the Kia Sorento as an option for your next family car? Let me know in the comments! And to see all the latest cars on the market, check out my recent reviews:

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