Kia Sorento S V6 2022 Review

The 2022 Kia Sorento is now more than two years into its fourth generation and has impressed as carsales’ 2020 Car of the Year and Best Family SUV in both 2021 and 2022.

We’ve driven a variety of model grades and have run comparison tests with key rivals (see the links at the bottom of this review), but revisions to the line-up and price rises have prompted us to take a closer look at the most affordable model in the range: the 2022 Kia Sorento S with the 3.5-litre petrol V6.

This is your ticket of entry into Kia’s accomplished seven-seat large SUV – starting at $47,650 plus on-road costs.

That’s $1800 higher than it was at launch in 2020 and leaves the S petrol as the only Sorento model with a sub-$50K sticker price. The excellent 2.2-litre turbo-diesel version still adds $3000 to the equation, now from $50,650 plus ORCs.

Further up the line there’s now hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, both carrying higher specifications and, in the case of the PHEV, pushing the starting price beyond $80,000.

Back down at this level, the list of standard equipment still looks pretty generous.

There’s 17-inch alloy wheels (including a full-size spare), LED headlights, LED fog lights, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windscreen wipers and an 8.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, digital radio and Bluetooth – to name a few headline items.

What do you miss out on? Mostly, it relates to comfort and convenience features, such as smart entry with push-button start, electric-adjust seats, a powered tailgate, sat-nav and nicer upholstery.

The Sorento, as with all Kia models, is covered by an excellent seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, with roadside assistance included over this period.

Capped-price servicing at the scheduled 12-month/15,000km intervals range from $345 to $733 for the petrol-powered Sorento, with the first three years combined costing $1304.

Even the most affordable 2022 Kia Sorento S is filled to the brim with safety features that all modern family SUVs should offer.

That includes a high level of driver assist systems, such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction turn assist, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist with blind spot detection, driver attention alert and adaptive cruise control.

Opting for the Sorento S means you forgo some of the higher-tech gear, such as a 360-degree parking camera and more advanced blind spot monitoring system.

In terms of passive safety equipment, there are seven airbags across the range including a front centre airbag designed to prevent head-clash between the driver and front passenger in the event of a collision.

Unfortunately, the head-protecting curtain airbags do not extend to the third row, but the Sorento still qualifies for a maximum five-star safety rating from ANCAP, tested under the latest protocols introduced in 2020.

You still feel safe and well protected when driving the Sorento.

Apart from an occasionally overzealous lane assist system – dependent on the road and its markings – none of the assistance aids detract from the driving experience.

Powering the entry-level 2022 Kia Sorento S is a gutsy 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine that produces 200kW and 332Nm of torque.

It drives the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission and makes relatively light work of everyday driving duties.

There’s no escaping the fact that this is a large and heavy vehicle, tipping the scales at 1835kg, but the V6 is certainly capable and gets its power down to the ground well.

That traditional torque-converter eight-speed transmission is smooth and shifts cleanly, while the engine is easy to live with and more economical than you might expect.

Kia’s official claim is 9.7L/100km on the combined cycle (using regular unleaded), but we averaged 9.2L/100km across our week-long test, which had a mix of city and country driving thrown in but never saw the Sorento fully loaded.

Even when pushing the V6 to its 6500rpm redline, the Sorento’s cabin remains very quiet, with plenty of sound deadening doing its job.

Likewise, the base-grade Sorento’s suspension is just as well sorted. Riding on 17-inch alloys and spongy Continental rubber, the family wagon soaks up harsh road surfaces with ease.

There isn’t a great deal of body roll to contend with either, and from the driver’s seat the seven-seater’s considerable proportions – it’s 4.8m long and 1.9m wide – feel smaller, making it easy to place on road and within narrow lanes.

Indeed, the 2022 Kia Sorento S will be easy for both drivers and families to mesh with.

Storage is fantastic, with huge door bins, an assortment of pockets and covered storage sections within the centre binnacle and a large glove box.

The cabin is filled with lots of hard plastics, but that’s an expectation at this price point and actually makes the Sorento feel more robust – especially for those hauling kids, pets and equipment often.

With no shortage of cup holders (eight in total) and an assortment of USB ports and 12-volt outlets scattered throughout the cabin (although you get more in higher-spec models), the kids won’t have too much to fight about.

The standard fabric-lined seats on Sorento S are comfortable up front, with plenty of foam cushioning, however you’ll probably notice a distinct lack of lumbar support, particularly after a long drive.

Where cargo-lugging capabilities are concerned, the Sorento offers an acceptable 187 litres of luggage space with all seven seats occupied, 616 litres with five passengers onboard and a huge 2011 litres once the second and third rows are folded flat.

All seven seats are easily accessible and are a cinch to fold up and down. Even the third row offers acceptable transport for adults, should they venture that far back into the vehicle!

The Sorento S offers a really easy and comfortable drive for all involved, so long as you can live without the convenience of smart entry or an electric tailgate – both of which can be admittedly hard to live without once you’ve had them.

The 2022 Kia Sorento S ticks a lot of boxes for those after a spacious, no-frills, affordable family wagon.

We’ve been impressed by Kia’s large SUV in a variety of settings and model grades, but the base-spec Sorento S is a good reminder that having the best of the best isn’t what every family needs.

It might not get all the tech gadgetry and luxuries of its siblings that cost more than $60,000, but the Sorento S does fuss-free and family-friendly motoring well.

Really well.

2022 Kia Sorento S at a glance:
Price: $47,650 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 3.5-litre V6 petrol
Output: 200kW/332Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 222g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2020)