What is Kia’s biggest SUV available in the UK?
There are plenty of Kia SUVs to choose from, all of which offer something valuable to different drivers. But which is Kia’s biggest SUV?
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Kia is no stranger to producing quality SUVs that not only look great, but also drive and function superbly.
If you’re looking for your own used Kia SUV, you’ll likely come across big names including the Kia Sportage, Kia Sorento, and Kia Niro.
Each one regularly receives high ratings for reliability and quality.
In 2021, the Kia Sorento won Best Large Family Car at the Parkers New Car Awards, while the Kia Niro won the 2023 UK Car of the Year for Best Crossover.
Kia SUVs are also often regarded as having great fuel efficiency. If size matters to you, you might be wondering which Kia SUV is the biggest.
Technically, it’s the Kia Telluride. However, this hefty beast (5,000mm long, 1,990mm wide, and 1,750mm tall) is not available to purchase in the UK.
So, let’s explore which is the largest Kia SUV that’s available in the UK.
Which Kia SUV is the largest?
Although the Kia Sorento is classed as a ‘midsize SUV’, it’s the largest available to purchase here in the UK.
To be fair, there isn’t a huge difference between the size of the Kia Sorento and Kia Telluride (the manufacturer’s overall biggest SUV).
In terms of length, the Sorento is just roughly 190mm shorter, and 55mm lower.
It’s a striking vehicle that isn’t shy of competing against big rivals like Land Rover Discovery and Nissan X-Trail, and its seamless drivability makes it an attractive option for city-centre drivers and country explorers alike.
It’s worth noting that there’s a bigger Kia in the pipeline called Kia EV9. As you may have guessed, it’s an electric SUV and it comes with seven seats.
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Kia Sorento dimensions
The Kia Sorento is technically classed as a midsize SUV, but it still spoils you in both cabin and boot space.
It can seat seven passengers, making it a fantastic choice of car for big families and groups of friends.
Length: 4,810mm
Width: 1,900mm
Height: 1,695mm
Wheelbase: 2,815mm
Ground clearance: 176 mm
Despite its strapping size, the Kia Sorento can still put in the work when it comes to how fast it can move from 0-62mph.
The official time will vary depending on the engine and transmission combination – here are the figures:
2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with eight-speed automatic transmission: 8.5 seconds
3.8-litre V6 engine with eight-speed automatic transmission: 7.1 seconds
2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine with eight-speed automatic transmission: 8.0 seconds
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Kia Sorento boot space
Boot space matters, whether you regularly enjoy family trips that demand lots of luggage, or just want to make your weekly shopping trips as faff-free as possible.
As the UK’s biggest Kia SUV, the Kia Sorento makes big promises. Luckily, it keeps those promises.
It has a cargo capacity of 187 litres behind the third row of seats, which could leave you a little tight with space – this puts the space in the same league as a supermini like the Peugeot 108 (196 litres).
If you can get away with folding the third row of seats down, your space expands to 821 litres. Fold the second row down too and then you can enjoy 1,676 litres.
This means that, with all seats folded, the boot space of the Kia Sorento can compete with the Skoda Superb Estate (1,760 litres) and Ford Mondeo Estate (1,630 litres).
Kia Sorento interior space
How much space you have inside the car will first depend on how many people are inside.
Overall, the Kia Sorento is typically quite comfortable and spacious.
Adults assigned to the second-row seats will appreciate ample legroom and headroom – even if they’re on the tall side.
Any adults that draw the short straw and end up in the third row, however, might have a bone to pick with you.
Due to the available space, it’s probably best you keep children only in the third row – especially if there’s long-distance driving involved.
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Is a Kia Sorento fuel-efficient?
As the Sorento is Kia’s largest SUV in the UK, you may be (rightfully) wondering if the fuel efficiency is any good.
Fortunately, the answer is yes – despite its size, it’s still regarded as a
The diesel promises a combined 42.8mpg, the hybrid offers 39.7mpg and the PHEV will give you 176.6mpg if you charge every night.
However, even the older models get a combined 41.5mpg for the manual and 39mpg for the automatic.
If you’ve got your hands on a hybrid powertrain, this figure shifts to 39mpg in the city and 35mpg on the motorway.
The plug-in hybrid version is perfect for regular trips into town or commutes to work and school. It can also manage just over 30 miles in electric-only mode.
The fuel efficiency of the Kia Sorento is estimated to be better than that of the Toyota Highlander (21mpg in the city, 29mpg on the motorway).
Currently, the Kia Sorento does not have an electric model, but if you want something similar that’s a tad more eco-conscious, you can go for the Soul EV.
It comfortably seats five and has a roomy, generous boot. The all-electric EV6 comes with a range of up to 328 miles and the EV9 should be just as high-performing even with a heavier load to pull.