Greg Carloss: The Kia Sorento has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a rough and ready body-on-frame utility that was Kia’s first entry into the midsize SUV segment. 

After heading in a more car-like direction, the all-new 2021 Sorento sees the pendulum swinging back towards a more rugged course for its 4th-generation, following the lead of the Telluride and Seltos...at least as far as looks are concerned...

New powertrain choices include a 281-horsepower 2.5-liter I4 turbo with an 8-speed DCT, a 227-horsepower hybrid, and even a 261-horsepower plug-in hybrid.  It remains front-wheel-drive with all-wheel-drive available.

Jessica Ray: What caught my attention was the hybrid engine. It’s supposed to get an estimated 37 miles-per-gallon combined fuel economy. That’s just under some of the 5-seater hybrids that we’ve recently tested and the Sorento is now officially a 7-seater as the third row comes standard. Of course if you want to take it up a notch, you can always get the plug-in hybrid which should have an all-electric range of 30 miles. So it seems like there is a powertrain for just about everybody.

Greg Carloss: Opt for new X-Line trim and you’ll not only get a more advanced all-wheel-drive system, but a beefier roof rack, better approach and departure angles, and 1-inch of additional ground clearance. 

There’s increased space and flexibility for the 3-row interior; as well as new tech features, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 10-inch touchscreen, up to 8 USB charging ports, and more driving assistance systems of course.

Brian Roberts: It’s been almost 20 years since we saw the first generation Sorento…and there’s no doubt that it has evolved quite a bit over the years. Kia clearly wants it to continue as one of the best-selling vehicles in their lineup as they've listened to consumers who want a bolder design, more technology, interior flexibility and more options when it comes to the engine.

Greg Carloss: We’ll have much more on the all-new 2021 Kia Sorento soon!