2025 Kia Sorento Trim Levels: A Guide To Find The Right SUV

The Kia Sorento continues to impress with its versatile lineup of trim levels, each offering a unique blend of features, performance, and style. Whether you’re seeking a practical family hauler or a premium SUV experience, there’s a Sorento model tailored to your needs. 

LX: The Capable Foundation

The LX trim is the entry point to the Sorento lineup, but don’t let that fool you – it’s far from basic. This model sets a strong foundation with many standard features that prioritize safety, comfort, and connectivity.

Key Features:

• 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine (191 horsepower, 182 lb-ft of torque)
• 8-speed automatic transmission
• Available All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights and taillights
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster
• Cloth seating surfaces
• Seven-passenger seating configuration
• Heated front seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control

Safety Suite:

The LX comes equipped with an impressive array of advanced driver assistance systems, including:

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
• Lane Following Assist (LFA)
• Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
• Rear Occupant Alert (ROA)
• Rear View Monitor with Dynamic Parking Guidance

The LX trim makes an excellent choice for those seeking a well-rounded SUV with essential features and a strong value proposition.

EX: Elevating Comfort and Convenience

Stepping up to the EX trim brings a noticeable upgrade in amenities and performance, making it a popular choice for those who desire a more refined driving experience.

Key Upgrades:

• 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine (281 horsepower, 311 lb-ft of torque)
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Power liftgate
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
• SynTex (leatherette) seating surfaces
• 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support
• Heated steering wheel
• Wireless phone charger
• Rear passenger air conditioning controls
• Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA)
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA)

The EX trim strikes an excellent balance between luxury and practicality. Its turbocharged engine offers a significant performance boost while enhancing everyday usability with features like the power liftgate and upgraded seating materials.

X-Line EX: Adventure-Ready Style

For those who crave a more rugged aesthetic and enhanced off-road capability, the X-Line EX trim delivers with its distinctive styling cues and all-terrain focused upgrades.

X-Line Exclusive Features:

• X-Line specific grille and exterior accents
• 20-inch dark-finished alloy wheels
• Bridge-type roof rails
• Upgraded AWD system with center locking differential
• Increased ground clearance (22 mm higher than standard models)
• Downhill Brake Control (DBC)
• Drive Mode Select with unique X-Line “Terrain” mode

The X-Line EX combines the comfort and technology of the standard EX trim with an adventure-ready appearance and improved capability for light off-road excursions.

SX: Elevate the Premium Experience

The SX trim takes the Sorento into luxury territory, building upon the EX’s features with additional technology, comfort, and styling enhancements.

Key Upgrades:

• 20-inch alloy wheels (unique design)
• Panoramic sunroof
• LED fog lights
• Power-folding side mirrors
• 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster
• 10.25-inch touchscreen navigation system
• Bose premium audio system with 12 speakers
• SynTex and cloth combination seating surfaces
• 14-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory function
• 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated second-row seats
• Highway Driving Assist (HDA)
• Parking Distance Warning – Forward (PDW-F)

The SX trim elevates the Sorento experience with many premium features, making it an attractive option for those who prioritize comfort, technology, and a touch of luxury in their daily drives.

SX Prestige: The Ultimate Sorento Experience

At the pinnacle of the Sorento lineup sits the SX Prestige, offering the most comprehensive package of features and refinements for the discerning SUV buyer.

Exclusive SX Prestige Features:

• Nappa leather seating surfaces
• Premium headliner and pillar trim
• Heated and ventilated second-row captain’s chairs (reducing seating capacity to 6)
• Head-Up Display (HUD)
• Surround View Monitor (SVM)
• Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM)
• Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist – Reverse (PCA-R)
• Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA)

The SX Prestige transforms the Sorento into a true luxury SUV, rivalling premium brands with its extensive feature set and high-quality materials.

X-Pro: Maximizing Off-Road Potential

For the ultimate blend of luxury and off-road capability, the X-Pro trim combines elements of the SX Prestige with enhanced all-terrain features.

X-Pro Exclusive Features:

• 18-inch black alloy wheels with all-terrain tires
• X-Pro specific grille and exterior accents
• Increased towing capacity (up to 1,814 kg)
• Enhanced AWD system with additional drive modes
• Heated windshield wiper de-icer

The X-Pro trim is designed for adventurers who refuse to compromise on luxury, offering a unique combination of premium amenities and genuine off-road prowess.

Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Options

Kia offers hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains on select Sorento trim for the eco-conscious buyer. These electrified options improve fuel efficiency without sacrificing the versatility and capability that make the Sorento so appealing.

Hybrid (HEV) Powertrain:

• Available on EX and SX trims
• 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine + electric motor
• Combined output: 227 horsepower
• 6-speed automatic transmission
• Standard AWD

Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) Powertrain:

• Available on EX and SX trims
• 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine + electric motor
• Combined output: 261 horsepower
• 6-speed automatic transmission
• Standard AWD
• All-electric range: Up to 51 km

Both hybrid variants offer impressive fuel economy while maintaining the comfortable ride and spacious interior of the Sorento. The PHEV model, in particular, provides the flexibility of all-electric driving for short trips and efficient hybrid operation for longer journeys.

Choose Your Perfect 2025 Kia Sorento

With such a diverse range of trim levels and powertrain options, selecting the ideal Kia Sorento comes down to your specific needs and preferences. Here are some factors to consider:

• Performance Requirements: If you prioritize fuel efficiency, consider the hybrid or PHEV models. The turbocharged 2.5-litre engine in EX trims and above offers robust performance for those needing more power.
• Off-Road Intentions: The X-Line and X-Pro trims cater to adventure seekers with their enhanced AWD systems and rugged styling.
• Luxury Preferences: For a premium experience, the SX and SX Prestige trims offer high-end features and materials that rival luxury-brand SUVs.
• Technology Must-Haves: Higher trims provide advanced tech features like the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, larger infotainment screens, and additional driver assistance systems.
• Seating Configuration: Most trims offer seven-passenger seating, while the SX Prestige with second-row captain’s chairs provides a more luxurious six-passenger layout.
• Budget Considerations: While we haven’t discussed specific pricing, it’s important to balance your desired features with your budget constraints.

The wide-ranging trim levels of the Kia Sorento ensure a model suited for nearly every lifestyle and preference. From the well-equipped LX to the feature-packed SX Prestige and the adventure-ready X-Pro, the Sorento lineup demonstrates a commitment to versatility and value in the competitive midsize SUV segment.

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