This is a great question, although the answer to it is not necessarily as simple as you might think since it comes down to what you need from your next SUV. You have several different powertrains to choose from with the 2025 Kia Sorento, with each offering different levels of performance and fuel efficiency.
As you go looking for a Kia Sorento for sale, it can make things a lot easier for you if you already know which engine is right for you since this will also change up a lot of other options. Let’s take a look at each of the available engines and some of the options that go along with them to figure out which one is right for you.
Differences in Performance With These Engines
Today, we’re going to focus on the standard gas engines and the traditional hybrid powertrain that Kia offers for the 2025 Sorento and leave the plug-in hybrid for another day. You actually have two different options available if you’re interested in a traditional gas engine; one of them is turbocharged for enhanced performance.
So we’ll see three different options for performance that you should have in mind, even though you can think of it as just two main engine types: traditional gas and hybrid. The engine you choose has a big impact on a number of other options, so it is important to take a moment to think about it.
The standard engine for the 2025 Kia Sorento is a 2.5L I-4 that provides 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, which is very good for an SUV like this. This is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission to provide you with a smooth and responsive driving experience.
If you are looking for something with boosted performance, then there’s a 2.5L turbocharged I-4 engine that delivers a fantastic 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. This is the most powerful engine available for the Sorento, making it an ideal choice if you are looking for a spacious SUV that feels great on the road; this engine also gives you up to 4,500 lbs of towing capacity while the standard powertrain tops out at 2,000 lbs of towing.
For something a bit different, Kia offers a hybrid engine for the 2025 Sorento, which delivers impressive power and fantastic fuel efficiency (more on that in a moment). This is a 1.6L I-4 hybrid that provides 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque and comes paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
You can see that this is better performance than the standard 2.5L engine offers, though not quite at the level of the turbocharged option. Just like the standard engine, the hybrid allows for 2,000 lbs of towing if that’s something you’re looking for and ensures you have a great time on the road while driving each day.
What Kind of Fuel Efficiency Do You Want?
While overall performance is important when considering which engine you want for your 2025 Kia Sorento, fuel efficiency is just as vital since each powertrain is different.
Looking at the standard 2.5L I-4 engine, you get an estimated 23 MPG in the city, 31 MPG on the highway, and 26 MPG combined gas mileage if you choose a model with front-wheel drive (FWD); going with all-wheel drive (AWD) lowers your highway mileage slightly. The available turbocharged engine provides an estimated 20 MPG in the city, 29 MPG on the highway, and 23 MPG combined fuel efficiency with FWD; choosing AWD again lowers highway mileage a bit.
Those numbers are already quite good for a large SUV like this that has three rows of seating inside for up to seven passengers. But if you want truly remarkable gas mileage, then it’s no surprise that the hybrid powertrain is the way to go. The 2025 Sorento hybrid with FWD gets an estimated 36 MPG in the city and on the highway; choosing AWD lowers that just slightly to an estimated 34 MPG in the city and on the highway.
You can see that you get your choice of FWD or AWD with any of these engines, which we love, so you can get the kind of driving experience that’s most important to you. The boost in fuel economy is undeniable with the hybrid, making it the clear winner if you want an SUV that lets you go much further between stops for gas.
Other Options to Consider Based on Engine
One final point to keep in mind is how your choice of engine impacts the features available to you because each powertrain is tied to certain trim levels. If you want to keep things simple and go with the standard 2.5L I-4 engine, then you have the LX and S trim levels to choose from.
The LX is the standard model. It starts at the lowest price and comes with three rows of seating for seven passengers, manual air conditioning, a six-way manual driver’s seat, a 12.3-inch infotainment display, and a four-inch instrument panel screen. Going with the Sorento S gets you the same engine along with upgrades like dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and heated front seats.
If you want the added power and performance of the turbocharged gas engine, then you have a huge selection of trim levels to choose from. This engine starts with the EX trim, which adds to the features of the S with an auto-dimming rearview mirror, an eight-way power front-passenger seat, and second-row captain’s chairs. That last detail is important to note because it means the EX has six-passenger seating rather than room for seven people; in fact, all models with the turbocharged engine have room for six passengers.
You can get incredible luxury and tech features in some of these models, however, like a 14-way driver’s seat with four-way power lumbar, embossed and perforated leather seating, and a 12.3-inch curved instrument display—not to mention a 12-speaker Bose Premium sound system.
Looking at the hybrid powertrain, it’s offered with only two trim levels, much like the standard engine, but they include more refined features. The starting Sorento Hybrid EX comes with dual-zone climate control, a 10-way power driver’s seat, an eight-way power front-passenger seat, and heated front seats. If you go with the available SX Prestige trim for the hybrid model, then you get upgrades like the 14-way driver’s seat, 10-way front-passenger seat, ventilated leather seating, and the 12.3-inch curved instrument display.
One thing we should note, however, is that all hybrid models feature second-row captain’s chairs for six-passenger seating inside. Keep that in mind when exploring your options, especially if there’s a good chance you’ll need to have seven people all pile into your SUV.
Which Engine Is Right for Your Kia Sorento?
As you can see, choosing the right engine for the 2025 Kia Sorento is about more than just fuel efficiency and performance, although those details are certainly important. One important thing to figure out is how much seating you need inside your vehicle; every model can fit six people, but only those with the standard engine have room inside for seven passengers. Beyond that, consider the luxury, comfort, and tech features you want inside your three-row SUV because your choice of engine impacts which trim levels are available to you.
Of course, it’s also vital that you decide on the kind of performance you’re looking for and consider how fuel efficiency will impact your daily drive and expenses for years to come; finally, for more than 2,000 lbs of towing from your SUV, the turbocharged engine is the way to go. If you’re still not sure which powertrain is right for you, then we’re here at Lupient Kia Brooklyn Park to answer all of your questions and make sure you get the perfect vehicle.
Connect with us
Recent Blog Entries
Categories
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.