This is a great question and one we’re asked pretty often, particularly by customers who are somewhat familiar with the Sorento and have heard that the S is the trim to choose. Once you start looking for a Kia Sorento for sale, you’ll notice that the S is neither the starting point nor the pinnacle trim; it doesn’t even fall in the middle. The S is the second trim level of the Sorento, just above the starting LX model, and yet it’s the one we often start with when showing a customer what the Sorento has to offer. 

The LX might seem like the better choice for those with a tighter budget, but for the slightest price increase, you'll be shocked to find just how many extra features you can access with the Sorento S. Let’s take a closer look at this humble trim and examine what it offers compared to the baseline Sorento LX, and you’ll see exactly what we mean.

Outstanding Performance With the Sorento S

Similar to the LX, the S has access to the Sorento's baseline engine, a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine that clocks in at 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission for a smooth and responsive drive and four standard selectable drive modes: Comfort, Eco, Sport, and Smart, with Snow as an available addition. With the same max towing capacity of 2,000 lbs, we haven't seen anything extraordinary compared to the LX.

What’s notable here, however, is that while you get standard front-wheel drive (FWD) on both models, the S has all-wheel drive (AWD) available—an option you can’t get on the LX trim. Kia’s torque-vectoring AWD delivers a fantastic driving experience that includes an extra drive mode for added control and greater traction in a wide range of situations. If you’re not interested in AWD, this might not make much of a difference to you, but we love that the S gives you the freedom to get the drive you want. If you decide to stick with FWD, you'll still take the most advantage of the Sorento's superior fuel economy, getting an estimated 23 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway.

Exterior Features and Options

It’s easy to assume that all versions of a particular model are the same from the outside, but that’s not always the case. The Kia Sorento S gives you great exterior features and many more options than the standard LX model. Looking at the exterior colors available, for example, the starting LX and the S have options for Everlasting Silver, Ebony Black, Glacial White Pearl, and Dawning Red, but with the S, you can choose more colors like Wolf Gray and Midnight Lake Blue that aren’t available for the starting model.

Similarly, other minor adjustments make the S shine over a standard model; it comes with roof rails that the LX doesn’t and features 18-inch wheels in Gloss Black with a machined finish over the LX's 17-inch wheels. You get LED projector headlights and taillights on the S, LED daytime running lights, and High Beam Assist (HBA) that can switch off your brights to help you avoid blinding other drivers. To go along with its wheels, the S has a number of other Gloss Black exterior details, including the front grille and rear spoiler, that further set it apart from the LX trim.

Driver Assistance and Safety Tech

Much like the LX, the S comes equipped with Kia's premier DriveWise safety suite. Notable features of DriveWise include a Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, a Blind Spot Collision Warning (BCW), and a Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA) system. You also get a Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) with a Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go (SCC), and a Driver Attention Warning (DAW), which are all standard.

While maintaining a bare minimum safety standard across the whole lineup is expected, the S trim provides a few additional standard safety features you won’t find on the LX model. You get both Forward and Reverse Parking Distance Warning (PDW-F&R) with the S model, which makes it easier to maneuver in parking lots as it helps you avoid obstacles you might not be able to see. The S trim also comes with navigation-based Smart Cruise Control, which includes Highway Driving Assist (HDA) to make your daily commute and long road trips less stressful. Every Sorento comes with fantastic safety features; the S trim gives you a bit more to make driving even easier.

Interior Comfort and Convenience

Looking inside the Kia Sorento S, there are a few important things to note regarding how it compares to other Sorento models. Although every Sorento is a three-row SUV, the LX and S have seven-passenger seating with a middle bench seat, while higher trims come with a pair of captain’s chairs in the middle for six-passenger seating. The standard LX model features basic air conditioning, while the S has dual-zone auto climate control to keep you and your passengers more comfortable, which we prefer. Rather than the standard six-way manual driver’s seat, the S gives you a 10-way power driver’s seat with two-way power lumbar adjustment.

You get heated front seats in the Sorento S, perfect for cold winter mornings, along with SynTex seating that’s undeniably more comfortable and durable than the standard cloth seats. You can choose from Black or Gray seating, both of which feel great, plus the S comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob. LED interior lighting is available for the S, as is a panoramic sunroof with a power sunshade—neither of these options is offered for the LX model. You get Kia’s Smart Key system and push button start in the Sorento S, a day and night rearview mirror, and heated, power-adjustable side mirrors with integrated turn signals.

Infotainment Tech to Enhance Your Drive

The interior of the Sorento S has more than just comfort and convenience features; it also provides a complete digital landscape that helps you stay connected and makes driving more enjoyable. A 12.3-inch infotainment display is standard in every model, but the Sorento S gives you Navigation functionality that the standard LX lacks. You get a four-inch instrument display that provides you with the info you need while driving, along with support for over-the-air system updates for the Sorento and a six-speaker sound system. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support are standard for the Sorento across the board, but the S model comes with an additional wireless charging pad that you don’t get in the LX trim. With more USB ports throughout the S cabin than the LX, it’s easier than ever for you and your passengers to keep connected and charged while driving.

The Kia Sorento S Brings It All Together

As you can see, although the standard features of the baseline Kia Sorento are pretty impressive, the enhancements and extra options of the S trim take things to another level. We would love to showcase the S as the perfect starting point for our customers interested in Sorento for this very reason: it beautifully brings all of these great features together to create an SUV you’ll love driving each day. Don't cheap out on your next SUV; the Sorento S is the perfect choice to help you enjoy every moment you spend on the road.