Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
15 -16 City / 20 -22 HWY
Horsepower
242 -262
Seats
5
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Lisa B
Excellent air bags. The airbags and seatbelt saved my life.
I have owned three Kia Sorento's. They are affordable, nice body style, comfortable seats, no mechanical issues ever.. I do not like how the gas tank is on the passenger side. That is it..
accountCircle Charlotte A
My Kia is dark blue. Is a 6 cylinder.
I love my Kia. It took me all the way across the US to WA Or CA. It has seating for 6. It is very comfortable.
accountCircle Wanda L
It is easy on fuel usage and it is easy to drive.
It is easy on fuel. Gets me there and back. Looks stylish on the road. Has room for what I need to haul.
accountCircle Debra A
It is comfortable to ride in.
No complaints. The Kia Sorento is the best vehicle I have ever owned. Over 200,000 miles on it and it still runs like brand new..
accountCircle Trinity R
Four door, travel rack, running boards, fold down back seats, good gas mileage.
My car is very comfortable and very Versatile. I have never had any major mechanical issues. Runs well and performs well, easy to handle. Back seats fold down for extra room. Four doors and has a traveling rack on the roof. Running boards were factory stock making it easier to get in and out of vehicle.
accountCircle Susan A
Will not let you down. Always starts.
Reliable good on gas I can put a lot of stuff in it.. Always starts, minimum maintenance. Plastic inside is easy to break.
accountCircle Sherry S
Perfect SUV for any type of load
I really love my car. Its big enough to carry my family and animals but still easy for me to drive and park. Gets great gas mileage on the highway but not that great in town. I will be purchasing a newer model when I get the funding too. I would recommend to everyone
accountCircle L P
The most interesting detail is the gas mileage to me
I really love my Kia Sorento, it is very reliable I haven't had any major issues with. It is a very sporty and comfortable SUV. It's great for taking trips with and the nest best part of all is the gas mileage that's what turned my interest in kiss because I like to travel with my kids.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Becky G
Not a vehicle I wanted, husband bought.
The car squeals while driving. Have been told it isn't the brakes but they aren't sure what it is. The rubber around the doors does not hold up. The screws in the doors strip out causing the doors not to close properly. Have had issues with lights not working properly. Can't turn lights on if key isn't in the car and turned on.
accountCircle Steve
Liked this car until the motor went
Had mine for 6 months when the motor started to go with 81000 miles on it
accountCircle Valentine L
It save on gas so you do not have to spend a lot of money on that.
It is too small for me and all my friends. Need something bigger for me to drive like a Tahoe with a 3rd row.
accountCircle Nikki H
Was in an accident so cosmetic repairs needed, the back hatch does not come open.
I do not like the cheap plastic and a/c does not work. I do like the 4 wheel drive, sunroof, easy to maintain.
accountCircle Jill D
It is a good family car with lots of space. Great for road trips.
It is a great SUV, lots of space ad pretty comfortable. However, we have had many mechanical internal issues with it.
accountCircle Meredith L
It is fun to drive. Good gas and I like it.
Good gas. Rough upkeep. Stored lots of stuff and very safe. Easy to drive. User friendly. Good weather vehicle.
accountCircle Kara S
The best I think Kia Sorento and the best that have made.
My SUV have been a good one I hate that gas prices are high but I still love my SUV it have space for just about anything I wouldn't want a different one it great it you have kids and like to take trip it great for any family and friends looking to buy a family car couldn't ask for a better one it the best I think Kia have made.
accountCircle Bryan B
The works and has good space for big items by putting the back seats down.
Due when it was made, I don't have much to complain. It's gets me from a to b. The age of bluetooth wasnt as big back then as it is today. Although, gas mileage is as good.

Kia Sorento Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Base
242 HP 19-19 MPG 5 Seats
car
LX
242 HP 19-19 MPG 5 Seats
car
EX
262 HP 18-18 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2008 Kia Sorento Owner Reviews

4.21
85 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 47%
4 stars 33%
3 stars 16%
2 stars 1%
1 star 2%
accountCircle Kendra W on March 30, 2021
The most important thing people need to know about my car is that is it reliable, sturdy, and come a long way!
I like the size of the car. It has a decently sized trunk to allow a lot of cargo. It requires a lot of maintenance which I do not like.
accountCircle Sara M on March 10, 2021
Ups and downs of my Kia Sorento
I have had to replace the alternator several times, apparently this make and model is notorious for this. Also the handles tend to break quite easily, there are thousands of videos on how to replace them. I do enjoy the space of the vehicle, it is comparable to most other SUVs. I went with a Kia because of the price, it was suitable for my single mother income and is reliable other than the alternator situation. I have learned how to change one out on my own now, thanks to my mechanic brother! I would most definitely say that there are more positive aspects to my vehicle than negative.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Letitia N.

Since I have owned my Kia I have traveled out of state and the car drives smooth and it is a very comfortable ride. The gas mileage is impressive also. I am very satisfied with the vehicle for what I paid for it. I have not had any issues with the vehicle mechanically.

likeFilled Amy H.

It has a great undercarriage package, it is four wheel drive and great in the snow. It does cost a lot to put gas in it, but is good on gas. It is 4 door and has a lot of space for storage and traveling.

likeFilled Haylie B.

Comfortable seating. Can fit 3 car seats in the back seat. Nice fabric interior. Great heating/cooling system. The radio and sound system are really great. Can play CDs. Has a car lighter, and a little storage drawer on the console. Spacious glove box and center console.

likeFilled Nicole E.

It is reliable, great on gas, is a great car for long distances and also short small distances like running errands, it is a great car for learning how to drive in, and has been great even after many years of use.

likeFilled Jessica B.

My vehicle is a midsize SUV and it has lots of room in the cab and passenger areas. It also has a very large trunk which is nice if you travel a lot, or if you like to hike and camp, or if you have kids.

likeFilled Laken H.

The vehicle is very roomy. There is a lot of trunk space and legroom inside of the car. The vehicle gets very good gas mileage, and it has a very smooth ride. It is a very nice car if you are looking to buy.

likeFilled Rebecca B.

I love the shift gear. I also love how easy it is to park. It is one of the main reasons I decided to buy this car. I am a very bad parker but because of this car, I can park much better and easier. I would very much recommend.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Letitia N.

I wish the vehicle had more room than it does towards the back for extra flip up seats. That would be a great feature for the unexpected passengers like grandchildren. A deer ran into the driver's side and I was surprised how easily the damage was done. This concerns me with future accidents.

dislikeFilled Amy H.

It costs a lot to put gas in to fill it up. Costs a lot to replace tires, also costs a lot to replace anything electrical. Other than that there is nothing I can say is bad about this vehicle. It is a good buy.

dislikeFilled Haylie B.

The cons of the vehicle are that it does not always register when you push the gas. You could have it to the floor and it will just keep on turtling along. Mainly on hills, but sometimes on other areas. Cruise control makes going up and down hills really noisy.

dislikeFilled Nicole E.

That it is an older model, it does not have an aux cord, the radio is the only source of music which is frustrating, the battery has died a couple of times in stops that are far from convenient and the interior is not my favorite.

dislikeFilled Jessica B.

The cons of my vehicle are that the 2008 model of my car does have some issues. My headlights burn out often and I have to replace the bulb. Also, my air conditioning has stopped working, and my tail lights are continuously burning out.

dislikeFilled Laken H.

It does not have a Bluetooth connection or an auxiliary port to plug in an auxiliary cord, which means you cannot play music from your phone or any other audio device. It is a very bulky vehicle, which means it can be hard to navigate for first time drivers. It would be very convenient if it had a backup camera.

dislikeFilled Rebecca B.

I don't like how expensive it is every though I believe it was worth the price of the car. However I still believe that it is expensive though. But I know the manufacturers need to get their bag so I do not mind paying the amount.

Ranks #11 Midsize SUV by Owners

The 2008 Kia Sorento has an average owner rating of 4.29 out of 5 which ranks it #11 of 20 other Midsize SUVs.

1
car
4.64
2
car
4.61
11
car
4.21

Ranks #4 Midsize SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2008 Kia Sorento has a combined MPG of 22 which ranks it #4 of 22 other Midsize SUVs.

1
car
26 MPG
2
car
24 MPG
4
Tie
car
22 MPG

Is The 2008 Kia Sorento A Good Car?

Yes overall a good vehicle that is reliable, trustworthy and good on gas. Kias are known to be reliable and this definitely proves right.
Nicole E.
Yes, this is a very reliable vehicle with relatively low maintenance costs. The inside is roomy and comfortable. The fold down seats are an added bonus in this year model.
deborah K.
Yes the Kia Sorento is a good vehicle. It looks nice and is a gas saver. I bought it cause the ac was working awesome.
J A.
I bought it used 3 yrs ago with 85000 miles. It now has almost 143,000 miles. I have issues with the wiring on the dim lights and a squealing noise while I drive. It has held up well though.
Lauren C.

How Reliable Is The 2008 Kia Sorento?

Yes overall the Kia Sorento is reliable. The only issues are the tires that often need to be replaced. But overall, no major problems have been prominent.
Nicole E.
No problems have been experienced with this vehicle, very reliable and dependable. We have not experienced any problems with the vehicle but have maintained it well.
Bill F.
I am having issue with the locking mechanism. It makes an extra loud noise when you turn on and off the car. Also seems like the hub bearings will need to be changed soon.
Laurie Q.
Wiring on dim lights is an issue along with a squealing we can't find out cause to. Other than that no major issues
Grace B.

Is The 2008 Kia Sorento A Good Value?

I am unsure if the cost currently (maybe approximately$10,000), but when purchased used the price was reasonable and definitely a good value.
Nicole E.
We purchased this vehicle new in 2008 at the price of $28,000. We believe it to be a very good value for the money we spent.
Laura P.
Mine costed 6900. I thought it was a good value but now seeing that the car has a few problems maybe I should have gotten the price a little lower.
Marina O.
I would buy another Kia but not brand new. I think for the brand to still be updating the performance it is a little high price but I think you can find a good priced used Kia.
Trevor G.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2008 Kia Sorento thermostat location?

Answer: The thermostat in the 2008 Kia Sorento is located at the point where the radiator hose connects to the engine. This component regulates the flow of coolant for the engine. If the thermostat is stuck in an open...

What's the 2008 Kia Sorento camshaft position sensor location?

Answer: The 2008 Kia Sorento camshaft position sensor location is found by watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QCVd9hWYuc You will come across many issues with an engine. A spark plug may pop off, causing engine...

What's the 2008 Kia Sorento aux input location?

Answer: The 2008 Kia Sorrento will come standard with an AUX input that is located inside of the glove box. It will be in a small section on the left hand inside of the box. Once You connect Your preferred device in to...

How do i perform the 2008 Kia Sorento tpms reset?

Answer: Reseting the TPMS on the 2008 Kia Sorento is simple enough to do. First, make sure that the vehicle is on level flat ground. Check the tire pressure for each of the tires, and make sure they are within the...

2008 Kia Sorento: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The 2008 Kia Sorento came standard with a 3.3L V6 engine but Kia also made available an upgrade option to a more powerful 3.8L V6 engine. If You have the standard model it will have a capacity of 5.5 US quarts...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety