As of 2022[update], the Sorento is positioned between the smaller Sportage and the larger Telluride in Kia's SUV global lineup.

An optional four-wheel drive system with low range received praise for adding to the vehicle's off-road ability.

The Sorento received a mid-cycle refresh for the 2014 model year, unveiled in 2012 at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, and went on sale in first quarter of 2013.

[15] The second generation Sorento was awarded New Zealand Autocar magazine SUV of the Year, "great looker, does absolutely everything as it should.

[16] The Kia Sorento EX V6 model earned an “Excellent” overall score by American magazine Consumer Reports’ July 2010 issue.

[17] As part of 2014 Sorento market launch in the US, a campaign titled "It has an answer for everything" was unveiled during Super Bowl XLVII.

"Space Babies" (directed by Jake Scott) commercial was premiered in the fourth quarter, featuring the existence of a faraway planet known as "Babylandia" and follows infant boys, girls, dogs, pandas and more on their journey to Earth to join their new families.

After taking it all in, the curious child begins to offer an alternative theory passed on by a friend but his quick-thinking father calls upon UVO's voice-activated jukebox feature to hurriedly change the subject and survive another day in the adventures of parenthood.

"Tight Space" (directed by Peter Darley Miller and Colin Jeffery) showed two of the CUV's available features – power-folding mirrors and power liftgate – help a determined father make the slimmest parking garage space manageable while his skeptical wife and children look on.

Kia claims a rigidity strengthening of 14% on its high tensile steel and the Sorento scored good evaluation in small overlap crash test by IIHS.

The L, LX, EX and SX trim levels received refreshed projector beam headlamps with LED positioning lights.

The event was held at Lucky Motor Corporation's production plant, where various personalities from the automotive sector were invited.

[25] In November 2014, Kia collaborated with 20th Century Fox to create a Wolverine-themed Sorento to promote the home media release of X-Men: Days of Future Past.

The custom Sorento made its debut at the 2015 Australian Open, with a series of videos featuring Rafael Nadal teaming up with the X-Men to save the tennis event from the Sentinels.

[26] In January 2015, Kia released their Sorento Super Bowl XLIX commercial featuring Pierce Brosnan.

There are two engine options: a hybrid (a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and single electric motor, amounting to 227 hp (230 PS; 169 kW) and 258 lb⋅ft (350 N⋅m; 35.7 kg⋅m) of torque) and a traditional petrol-only engine (a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, matched with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, output at 281 hp (285 PS; 210 kW) and 311 lb⋅ft (422 N⋅m; 43.0 kg⋅m).

A plug-in hybrid variation and additional petrol engine options are also being planned, along with a multi-collision brake system and a remote smartphone surround view monitor.

Made for the 2024 model year, the facelift adds vertically stacked LED headlamps which gain a slimmer design.

In 2021, Kia announced the introduction of the Sorento PHEV[37] which gets 261 hp from its 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder mated to an electric motor.

Kia continued to build the North American-market Sorento at its assembly plant in West Point, Georgia, United States.

In North America the Sorento's standard third-row seating distinguishes it from the related Hyundai Santa Fe (4th gen) which is only offered in a two-row configuration.

[38][39] The fourth-generation Sorento went on sale in Australia in August 2020, with four trim levels available at launch: S, Sport, Sport+ and GT Line.

Two powertrains were available at launch: a 3.5-litre MPi V6 petrol and a 2.2-litre CRDi turbocharged diesel; the latter options comes with all wheel drive as standard.

[42] In January 2024, the facelifted Sorento range debuted in Australia with variants and powertrain choices remain unchanged.

[47] The fourth-generation Sorento was launched in Vietnam on 14 September 2020, in four trim levels: Deluxe, Luxury, Premium and Signature.

All Sorento variants are locally assembled at the Kia THACO plant located in Chu Lai, Quảng Nam.

[citation needed] The fourth-generation Sorento was launched in Chile on 22 April 2021, in two trim levels: Standard and Full.

[57] The fourth-generation Sorento was launched in South Africa on 24 January 2022, in three trim levels: EX+, SX and SXL.

[59] The fourth-generation Sorento was launched in Colombia on 18 October 2023, as a sole variant, powered by a 3.5-litre MPi V6 petrol engine and all wheel drive is standard.