Kia Sorento Generation 2 (2011–2015)

Kia Sorento Generation 2 (2011–2015) — production years, market prices by model year, NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, and live listings for sale on VehiSales.

Kia Sorento — body generations

Generation Produced Facelift
Generation 2 2011–2015 —
Model-year brochures (6)

Model-year reference; equipment varies by market and trim. This is not a VIN build sheet. Browse library

Generation 3 2016–2020 —
Model-year brochures (5)

Model-year reference; equipment varies by market and trim. This is not a VIN build sheet. Browse library

Generation 4 2021–2024 —
Model-year brochures (7)

Model-year reference; equipment varies by market and trim. This is not a VIN build sheet. Browse library

Generation 5 2025–present —
Model-year brochures (5)

Model-year reference; equipment varies by market and trim. This is not a VIN build sheet. Browse library

Vehicles within one generation share the same platform and body style.

Kia Sorento fuel economy: every year & engine (EPA) →

Used Kia Sorento prices by year →

About this generation

A redesigned Sorento (codename XM) was launched in South Korea in April 2009. The second generation was Kia's first model to be manufactured in the United States, in Kia's new US$1 billion West Point, Georgia, factory (which also builds the sister vehicle to the Sorento, the Hyundai Santa Fe). The second generation used Kia's corporate Tiger Nose grille, and was the first Kia vehicle to offer Kia UVO. Furthermore, unlike its body-on-frame predecessor, the new Sorento adopted a unibody platform with fully independent suspension.

The vice president of marketing for Kia Motors America said that Kia initially considered changing the name due to the radical change in the Sorento's body style. The 2010 model year ended up being skipped, since the 2011 model year released early. The second-generation Sorento introduced Kia's new design language, and introduced new features and technology that would later become available on other Kia models. The four-cylinder model returned to the lineup for North American models after being absent between 2007 and 2010.

The engine was transverse, and the suspension all-independent. The change in body construction as well as the loss of a low-ratio transfer case made the Sorento 475 pounds less than the old one model for model, to gain in performance and economy. The second generation Sorento was originally available in four models – the Base, LX, EX and top-of-the-line SX models. The SX is only available with the 3.5-litre V6. The Base and LX both come standard with the 2.4-litre straight-4 and EX has the GDI version of the same engine which is rated 191 hp.

The V6 is available as an upgrade for both the LX and EX. The SX Limited model became available in 2012. 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. Major changes included a revised instrument panel, front and rear end with new tail lights modeled after the Optima, as well as several other mechanical and interior changes.

For 2015, the six-speed manual transmission option, previously only available on the Base and LX models, was discontinued, leaving the six-speed automatic transmission as the only transmission option for the Sorento. The 2011 Sorento received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 2011 Sorento was awarded the maximum five-star safety rating from the crash safety experts, European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) and Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

The XM Sorento awarded 'Top Safety Pick' from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States. The second generation Sorento was awarded New Zealand Autocar magazine SUV of the Year, "great looker, does absolutely everything as it should. Engine is world class". The Kia Sorento EX V6 model earned an “Excellent” overall score by American magazine Consumer Reports’ July 2010 issue. 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.

Source: Wikipedia — Kia Sorento — Second generation (XM; 2009), CC BY-SA.

Market by model year

Year Units for sale Median price Vs newest Avg mileage
2015 179 $9,800 100% 111,413 mi

Inventory and price data refreshed daily; last updated .

Recalls & complaints by year (NHTSA)

Year Recalls Complaints Most reported
2011 8 1,518 Engine, Structure, Power Train
2012 5 880 Engine, Electrical System, Service Brakes
2013 5 981 Engine, Electrical System, Structure
2014 6 983 Engine, Structure, Electrical System
2015 3 750 Engine, Unknown Or Other, Structure

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

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