2024 Kia Sorento GT-Line Diesel Review

You certainly can’t accuse Kia of resting on their laurels.

Only a few years after its introduction as the 4th generation Sorento, Kia has updated their popular 7-seat SUV heavily to better fall in line with its new design language first debuted on their flagship EV9.

This facelift of the Sorento has dramatically changed the exterior, added a bunch of new interior and safety features but more importantly has quite significantly revised the way the Sorento drives.

Today we’re reviewing the top-spec GT-Line, which accounts for most Sorento sales at about 30%.

You’ve also got a choice of two engines across the range, with the diesel accounting for 80% and the petrol V6 accounting for the other 20%.

Those looking for hybrids - both the regular and plug-in variants - can expect a release sometime in the second quarter of the year.

How much does the Kia Sorento GT-Line cost?

The 2024 Kia Sorento facelift arrives with a revised pricing structure of about $3500 extra across the board. This update sees an increase in prices across the model range, which Kia attributes to the addition of more standard features in each variant.

Regarding engine options, the 2024 Sorento continues to offer the same choices as its predecessor: a 3.5-litre petrol V6 and a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, available across all four model grades.

The entry-level Sorento S starts at $50,680 before on-road costs, reflecting a noticeable increase from the previous model. The mid-range options, the Sorento Sport and Sport+, are priced at different points, each offering varying features and specifications.

At the top end of the range, the GT-Line variant, available in both petrol and diesel options, represents the highest price point in the lineup. The diesel version of the GT-Line is priced at $68,590 (plus on-road costs). 

For those interested in customization, Kia offers new color options like Cityscape Green and Volcanic Sand Brown, with an additional $695 charge for premium paint.

Here is a detailed list of the drive-away prices for the 2024 Kia Sorento variants:

• 2024 Kia Sorento S V6 FWD: $54,090
• 2024 Kia Sorento Sport V6 FWD: $57,090
• 2024 Kia Sorento S Diesel AWD: $57,090
• 2024 Kia Sorento Sport Diesel AWD: $60,090
• 2024 Kia Sorento Sport+ V6 FWD: $61,990
• 2024 Kia Sorento Sport+ Diesel AWD: $64,990
• 2024 Kia Sorento GT-Line V6 FWD: $69,690
• 2024 Kia Sorento GT-Line Diesel AWD: $72,690

Note: Prices do not include drive-away pricing.

What’s the interior and tech like of the Kia Sorento GT-Line?

The interior and technology of the 2024 Kia Sorento Facelift offer a blend of familiar and new elements. 

The cabin design retains a sense of the previous model's layout but introduces significant changes, particularly to the dashboard area.

A standout feature across all Sorento variants is the conjoined display, merging the driver’s cluster and infotainment touchscreen. However, the display quality varies by model. 

The base Sorento S has a 12.3-inch touchscreen featuring Kia Connect but lacks satellite navigation. All models include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as DAB radio. 

The S, Sport, and Sport+ grades feature a digital cluster with a 4.0-inch colour trip computer flanked by basic digital gauges, while the GT-Line boasts a more advanced twin 12.3-inch array akin to the EV9's digital cockpit.

In terms of advanced tech, the GT-Line enhances the experience with a larger 10-inch head-up display, capable of projecting navigation prompts from third-party apps. 

It also includes a digital rear-view mirror. The digital cluster in the GT-Line offers customisable themes and display styles, while the lower grades have more basic, albeit colour-changing, displays.

Kia’s latest software across the range includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android auto and the newest iteration of Kia Connect. This offers connected navigation (in Sport and above), over-the-air software updates, and cabin pre-conditioning, among other features. 

Extended functionalities like surround camera snapshots and window control via the Kia Connect smartphone app are available in the higher grades, specifically the Sport+ and GT-Line.

However, the GT-Line is the only model featuring a wireless phone fast charger, despite all models having wireless smartphone mirroring. 

The integrated touch bar, a feature shared with models like the EV6 and Sportage, serves as a versatile control panel for both climate and infotainment systems. But I found while driving, the lack of haptic feedback was rather annoying.

The Sorento has moved to a rotary selector for gear shifting in all models, replacing the traditional T-bar shifter. 

The GT-Line again stands out with luxury features like heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, manual rear sunshades, and an exclusive panoramic sunroof.

The 12-speaker Bose branded sound system is very good; it’s nice and loud without distortion. 

In terms of practicality and comfort, the Sorento’s cabin remains user-friendly and well-constructed, with little noise from the panels or instruments. In the GT-Line you can expect Nappa leather seats which offer a lot of comfort.

They also have heating and ventilation options. Ambient lighting is now more widespread and configurable, and the panoramic sunroof enhances the cabin's spacious feel.

All model grades now have USB-C ports, paddle shifters, and tyre-pressure monitoring tech. 

I will say storage is not the best. There is enough, with a good glovebox and deep centre armrest, but the doorbins are small, and there is no storage area under the centre console like some competitors.

What about the back seats of the Kia Sorento GT-Line?

The back seats retain their goodness, though in saying that - not much has changed.

Nappa leather adorns the rear, and the GT-Line benefits from heated outboard seats and manual sunshades.

You now get USB-C ports instead of USB-A, which are a little better for faster charging.

At 5’11”, I have plenty of leg-room, head-room and toe-room, with a fold down centre armrest as well.

Being 1.9m wide, the Kia Sorento also has plenty of width to take 3 adults with minimal squishing.

Pressing a single button the second row folds forward, revealing the third row.

It’s surprisingly easy to get into and fit into the third row, though it will never be the ideal choice. You’ll definitely want to slide the second row forward to maximise leg-room, however.

There is a fan controller for the third row, a couple more USB-C ports, phone storage areas, cupholders and a 12v socket.

It’s worth noting that all models include second-row air vents, but the base model S lacks third-row vents and fan controls.

How much can fit in the boot of the Kia Sorento GT-Line?

In the GT-Line variants of the 2024 Kia Sorento, the boot features an electrically operated tailgate. 

Upon opening, it unveils a cargo area offering 179 liters of storage space when the third-row seats are upright. 

If these seats are folded down, the space expands significantly to 608 liters up to the back of the second row. 

For maximum cargo capacity, folding down all rear seats opens up a substantial 1996 liters of storage room.

All in all, it’s quite a lot of cargo space especially for the segment.

What’s under the bonnet of the Kia Sorento GT-Line?

Under the bonnet of the 2024 Kia Sorento, the powertrain options remain consistent with the pre-facelift models, offering both petrol and diesel engines.

The standard engine is a 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 petrol unit. This engine delivers 200kW of power at 6300rpm and 332Nm of torque at 5000rpm. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission. 

For those preferring all-wheel drive, the 2024 Sorento offers a 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine. Producing 148kW at 3800rpm and a robust 440Nm of torque between 1750-2750rpm, this engine is paired with an eight-speed wet-type dual-clutch automatic transmission and sends power to all-wheels (AWD).

Both the 3.5L FWD and 2.2L AWD diesel variants can tow up to 2000kg with a braked trailer, and Kia aims to increase this towing capacity to 2500kg in the future.

Later in 2024, the Sorento lineup will be expanded with Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid options. The Hybrid version combines a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 44kW/264Nm electric motor and a 1.49kWh lithium-ion polymer battery, offering a total system output of 169kW and 350Nm. 

The Plug-in Hybrid variant steps up with a larger 13.8kWh battery and a more powerful 67kW/304Nm electric motor, delivering system outputs of 195kW and 350Nm. 

The PHEV also boasts an electric-only range of up to 57km on the WLTP combined cycle.

How does the Kia Sorento GT-Line drive?

We spent the majority of our time in the GT-Line diesel, and rather awkwardly during our launch drive we received a ‘check engine’ light and our tester essentially went into limp mode.

Waiting 10 minutes, we restarted the Sorento and it drove as if nothing had happened (though the light was still there).

The official explanation we got from Kia was that a factory installed cable tie had damaged a cable to (or from) the 8-Speed Dual-Clutch transmission.

This would be covered under the 7-year warranty, but still a little awkward…

That aside, our next tester which we used for filming had no such issue. And actually, was a joy to drive.

The 2.2L turbo-diesel is a fantastic power unit, building plenty of power and torque for the Sorento. In fact, we timed the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.46 seconds which for a diesel SUV is very impressive.

It’s worth noting that you could buy the V6 petrol, but I recommend against it. It has plenty of power, and drives totally fine - but it is extremely thirsty on fuel. On our test, driving mainly on Victorian backroads, we were receiving a whopping 14.0L/100km fuel return (which is bad).

For perspective, that same route in the diesel was returning about 8.2L/100km.

The AWD system paired with the diesel is an on-demand type, and although you can lock it you don’t need to. You have drive modes to swap through a bunch of modes, including off-road modes (though importantly, this is not an offroader).

Really the biggest change for the facelifted Kia Sorento is its suspension tune, which has been heavily revised with new ZF Sachs dampers. These are ‘frequency selective’, meaning they change depending on the frequency of bumps hit.

That may sound very technical, but all you need to know is that the Sorento has been upgraded specifically for Australian conditions and it makes a world of difference.

Although nothing was wrong with the pre-facelift Sorento, the facelifted one feels more sure-footed around corners while providing frankly unparalleled comfort at its price and size.

Everyone at the launch left pleasantly surprised by just how good the Sorento drives.

Is the Kia Sorento GT-Line Safe?

Yes, the 2024 Kia Sorento is safe. It scored a 5-Star ANCAP safety rating, which is a carry-over rating from the pre-facelift version and based on NCAP testing.

The 2024 Kia Sorento is equipped with a range of passive safety features. These include front driver and passenger airbags, front-side airbags, a front-centre airbag, and curtain airbags that cover the first and second rows, providing a standard level of occupant protection.

In terms of active safety and driver assistance systems, the Sorento includes autonomous emergency braking with detection capabilities for cars, pedestrians, and cyclists, and junction support.

Additional features are lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitor, blind-spot camera view, Highway Driving Assist, driver attention alert, parking collision avoidance assist in reverse, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, lane-following assist, speed sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control.

It's worth noting that these systems, while comprehensive, have their limitations. For example, the speed sign recognition system, which has been adjusted to be quieter by 3dB, still emits an alert when the vehicle exceeds the recognized speed limit. This feature has previously received feedback for occasional misinterpretations of speed limits, such as wrongly signaling 40km/h in school zones. While efforts have been made to make this system less intrusive, there is potential for further refinement to enhance its accuracy and reduce false alerts.

What are the specs and features of the Kia Sorento GT-Line?

2024 Kia Sorento S Standard Features:

• 17-inch alloy wheels (with full-size spare)
• Body-colored door handles with satin accents (NEW)
• Three-cell LED headlights (NEW)
• LED daytime running lights
• Rain-sensing front wipers
• Power-folding side mirrors
• Acoustic windscreen
• Push-button start (NEW)
• Shift-by-wire with paddle shifters (NEW)
• 4.2-inch digital instrument display (NEW)
• 12.3-inch infotainment screen (NEW)
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (NEW, retains wired connections)
• Over-the-air updates (NEW)
• DAB+ digital radio
• 6-speaker sound system
• Manual air-conditioning
• Second-row fan and vent control
• Proximity entry and push-button start
• Remote engine start
• Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel
• Embossed cloth seats
• 6-way manual driver’s seat adjustment
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Blind-spot monitoring

2024 Kia Sorento Sport (adds over S):

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Second and third-row privacy glass (NEW)
• Powered driver’s seat with two-way lumbar support
• Electrochromatic rear-view mirror (NEW)
• Satellite navigation (NEW)
• Third-row fan and vent control
• Automatic demister
• Highway lane-keep assist (NEW)
• Dual-zone climate control
• Automatic defog
• 10-way power driver’s seat incl. 2-way lumbar support

2024 Kia Sorento Sport+ (adds over Sport):

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Heated side mirrors
• Aero-blade type front wipers
• Leather heated front seats and steering wheel
• Auto up and down safety windows
• 12-speaker Bose sound system
• Second and third-row USB-C ports
• Power tailgate
• 2nd row sunshade blinds
• Black high-gloss interior trim
• Alloy door scuff panels

2024 Kia Sorento GT-Line (adds over Sport+):

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• LED projector headlights (NEW)
• Panoramic sunroof
• 14-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
• 10-way power-adjustable passenger seat
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated outer second-row seats
• Quilted Nappa leather upholstery
• Head-up display
• Digital rear-view mirror (NEW)
• 12.3-inch digital instrument display (NEW)
• 360-degree camera
• Side parking sensors (NEW)
• Safe exit assist (NEW)
• Rear autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot view monitor
• Remote parking
• Side mirror reverse dip function
• Passenger talk function
• Wireless charger
• Interior ambient lighting
• Alloy sports pedals
• Suede headliner
• Luggage net
• Electronic child safety lock
• Surround-view monitor
• Remote Smart Parking Assist

How much does the Kia Sorento GT-Line cost to run?

Maintaining the 2024 Kia Sorento involves a balance of warranty benefits and service costs. The vehicle comes with Kia's seven-year, unlimited-kilometer warranty, which is a competitive offering in the current market, matching several other manufacturers. This warranty is complemented by seven years of capped-price servicing.

For servicing, the Sorento requires attention every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. An added benefit for those servicing at a Kia dealership is the extension of roadside assistance by 12 months with each service, up to a total of eight years.

Here is a breakdown of the costs by engine type:

3.5 V6 FWD:

• 12 months/15,000km: $369.34
• 24 months/30,000km: $581.15
• 36 months/45,000km: $444.55
• 48 months/60,000km: $763.62
• 60 months/75,000km: $415.70
• 72 months/90,000km: $730.79
• 84 months/105,000km: $441.01
• Total over 7 years: $3,746.16

2.2D AWD:

• 12 months/15,000km: $370.36
• 24 months/30,000km: $582.26
• 36 months/45,000km: $445.67
• 48 months/60,000km: $817.19
• 60 months/75,000km: $416.85
• 72 months/90,000km: $712.95
• 84 months/105,000km: $442.24
• Total over 7 years: $3,787.52

What’s CarSauce’s take on the Kia Sorento GT-Line?

Kia have taken something already good, and have modernised it to make it great (in most areas).

I will say, the addition of the speed alert is incredibly annoying.

But putting that aside, the facelifted Kia Sorento is an incremental upgrade that keeps it at the top of its class in all areas.

Really it’s biggest threat will be the introduction of it’s diesel-less all-new sibling, the Hyundai Santa Fe. Stay tuned for that review soon!