On October 10, Kia took center stage at the monthly New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) meeting, with the 2025 Kia Sorento X-Pro on full display. The event was attended by NEMPA’s wide-ranging membership, with attendees both in person and via Zoom. The evening featured presentations from this month’s guests, including James Hope, National Manager for Product Communications and Mark Savino, Kia’s Sorento product line manager.
Savino highlighted key elements of the 2025 Sorento, particularly its competitive edge in the three-row SUV segment. As one of the lowest-priced plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) with three rows, and boasting the title of the most efficient in its class, the Sorento continues to carve out a niche for itself. According to Savino (below), “For a vehicle of this size, we’re basically in a class of one.”
Among the updates for 2025 are four new colors for the gasoline models and three new shades for the hybrid variants, adding more personalization options for customers. The gas-powered Sorento models are produced in Georgia, while the hybrid versions hail from Korea, showcasing Kia’s global production capabilities.
The 2025 Sorento X-Pro, a rugged off-road-oriented trim, has attracted attention for its bold features. While the Telluride and the EV9 may offer just one powertrain each, the Sorento takes a different approach, with a variety of options to suit a range of needs. Starting with a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and moving up to a turbocharged variant that produces 281 horsepower, the Sorento’s powertrains are quite versatile.
For those seeking adventure, the X-Pro trim comes with enhanced off-road capabilities, including increased ground clearance (now at 8.2 inches) and 17-inch wheels fitted with BFGoodrich all-terrain tires. These features make it a solid choice for navigating both New England’s winding and rugged roads and trails. It also features a Snow mode, which redirects power to the rear wheels when needed. It’s these kinds of innovations that resonate with NEMPA members, who evaluate vehicles year-round and are particularly attentive to such features and attributes when considering contenders for the prized NEMPA Winter Vehicle Awards.
With its robust towing capacity of 4,500 pounds, the Sorento X-Pro is edging closer to the larger Telluride, giving buyers more flexibility without sacrificing performance. Despite all the upgrades, Kia has managed to keep the X-Pro’s price relatively affordable, with the package being available as a $1,000 option on the $47,765 SX-Prestige trim. As NEMPA members consider the Sorento for potential accolades, its combination of innovative features, rugged off-road capabilities, and efficiency make it a strong contender for winter driving in the region.
No comments yet.