The 2022 Kia Sorento is Kia’s large but not Telluride-large SUV. It’s easy to maneuver and has three rows, making it a popular choice among families. However, there is a caveat with that third row. It’s pretty small, meaning if you plan on using the Kia Sorento‘s third row regularly you just might want to take a test drive and make sure that third row will meet your needs.

What is the problem with the Kia Sorento?

One of the biggest problems with the 2022 Kia Sorento is its third-row seat. While the Kia Sorento is overall a pretty great SUV – it’s ranked #4 by J.D. Power – its third-row leaves something to be desired. In fact, getting in and out of the third row is one of the three main problems that current owners complained about during the first 90 days of ownership.

So how does J.D. Power decide how big of a problem something like a tight third-row is? It looks to the people actually driving the SUV. J.D. Power says that “The J.D. Power 100-Point Score is based on hundreds of thousands of independent and unbiased opinions of verified car owners.” That should give you a pretty good idea of how big of a problem the third row really is.

The Kia Sorento is nimble

Okay, so the 2022 Kia Sorento has a not-so-great third-row. If you don’t plan on using it regularly, this might not be a deal-breaker for you. Plus, there are many good things about the Kia Sorento, too. For example, it’s easy to drive. One of the things that current 2022 Kia Sorento owners like about their SUVs is “How easy it is to safely maneuver your vehicle in and out of traffic and tight parking spaces.”

In addition, the fuel economy is a positive attribute of the Kia Sorento. The 2022 Kia Sorento gets 22-24 mpg in the city and 25-29 mpg on the highway. The third major thing that owners of the Sorento like is its engine noise, which is a definite plus if you’ll be spending a lot of time driving.

Tech is a downside of the Sorento

Besides the somewhat small third row, there are a couple of other things that current owners of the new Kia Sorento say are problematic. They both have to do with the Sorento’s technology. One is the SUV’s audio system. People driving the Kia Sorento don’t like the sound quality that comes from their sound systems.

The other problem is related to the SUV’s screens and displays – in particular, how they look. J.D. Power lists the “Attractiveness of your vehicle’s screens and displays” as one of the major downsides to owning the 2022 Kia Sorento. Is this a reason to not buy the Sorento? That depends on how much of a priority the look of your SUV’s screens and displays is.

Overall, the 2022 Kia Sorento is a solid SUV that has an awful lot going for it. Yet if you plan on using the third row on a regular basis, you’ll definitely want to check it out in person before committing to it. If you find it to be too small, you could always check out the Kia Telluride instead.