Model comparison
Hyundai Santa Fe vs Kia Sorento
Depreciation, used prices, ownership costs and model-year data compared
See the comparisonAverage depreciation
Kia Sorento Depreciation & Resale Value
Buying a 2016 model instead of new saves roughly $16,450 off the original sticker.
The Kia Sorento is a midsize crossover that spans two- and three-row configurations depending on model year and trim.
Market context: The cohort provides continuous coverage from 2015 through 2020.
Compare With
Compare the Kia Sorento with its closest rivals
Open a side-by-side comparison of five-year value retention, depreciation by model year, used asking prices, repair costs, MPG and safety data.
At a glance
Key takeaways
Biggest drop
2017→2016
+7.2% in one year
Smart-buy year
2016
~$9,950 median
Depreciation by Model Year
| Model year | Depreciation from MSRP |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 48.4% |
| 2019 | 53.5% |
| 2018 | 59.7% |
| 2017 | 62.0% |
| 2016 | 69.2% |
| 2015 | 70.9% |
Based on 1,164 real used-car listings. Each listing's price is adjusted to a standard 12,000 mi/year for its age and compared to the vehicle's original MSRP; figures reflect a 5% asking-to-sale estimate.
Resale Value by Age
Estimated value of a typical Kia Sorento as it ages, from a ~$28,090 new price.
| Age | Retained | Est. value | Lost that year | Total lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 yr | 89% | $24,918 | −$3,172 | −$3,172 |
| 2 yrs | 79% | $22,311 | −$2,607 | −$5,779 |
| 3 yrs | 71% | $19,976 | −$2,335 | −$8,114 |
| 4 yrs | 64% | $17,886 | −$2,090 | −$10,204 |
| 5 yrs | 57% | $16,014 | −$1,872 | −$12,076 |
| 6 yrs | 51% | $14,339 | −$1,675 | −$13,751 |
| 7 yrs | 46% | $12,838 | −$1,501 | −$15,252 |
| 8 yrs | 41% | $11,495 | −$1,343 | −$16,595 |
Interactive tool
What's your Sorento worth?
Estimate a used Sorento's value from its year and mileage, using our depreciation model.
Estimated value
$9,200
about typical mileage
At 120,000 miles (about typical for a 10-year-old car, ~120,000 mi). Estimate only — actual value depends on condition, trim, options, and local demand.
Should You Buy a Used Kia Sorento?
If you're shopping for a Kia Sorento, it's an average bet for resale. The smartest pick is a 2016 (around $9,950) — it sits just past the steepest depreciation, so the first owner already absorbed the biggest loss. Favor the LX V6 trim for the best resale, and always pull a vehicle-history report before buying.
Pros
- Proven longevity — examples regularly list past 150,000 miles and still sell for around $8,999.
- The LX V6 trim holds its value best if resale matters to you.
Watch-outs
- The steepest single-year drop hits between 2017 and 2016 — buying brand-new costs you that loss.
What Affects Kia Sorento Resale Value
The steepest single-year drop happens between the 2017 and 2016 model years, when depreciation jumps 7.2% points. That makes the 2016 Sorento a value sweet spot — the previous owner absorbs the worst of the drop, and you still get a relatively recent car.
Not all trims age alike — the LX V6 retains the most value (~53.8% depreciation) and the SX the least (~75.5%), a gap worth thousands when you resell.
Which Kia Sorento Trims Hold Value Best
Share of original MSRP retained, averaged across model years.
LX V6
46.2% kept· 179 listings
L
43.9% kept· 102 listings
EX Sport
43.1% kept· 16 listings
EX V6
40.2% kept· 123 listings
LX
38.8% kept· 492 listings
SX V6
37.7% kept· 111 listings
SX Limited V6
34.5% kept· 41 listings
How Long Does the Kia Sorento Last?
Mileage profile across 1,164 listings.
Over 100k mi
55.1%
Over 150k mi
7.5%
Highest mileage
276,165 mi
Price at 120k+ mi
$8,999
Roughly 55.1% of listed Kia Sorentos have already crossed 100,000 miles, and 7.5% are past 150,000 — a sign these go the distance with maintenance.
Smartest Year to Buy
The 2016 Kia Sorento sits just past the steepest depreciation drop, with a typical asking price around $9,950 — about $16,450 off its original MSRP.
View 2016 details →Price & Depreciation by Year
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year to buy a used Kia Sorento?
The 2016 Sorento is the value sweet spot: it sits just past the model's steepest one-year depreciation drop, so the first owner has already absorbed the biggest loss. Expect to pay around $9,950 for a typical example, and the LX V6 trim will hold its value best from there. As always, a well-maintained, accident-free example with average mileage for its age is worth paying a little more for than a cheap car with a questionable history. Whatever year you settle on, budget for a pre-purchase inspection — at a couple hundred dollars, it's the cheapest insurance against an expensive surprise down the road.
Which Kia Sorento trim holds its value best?
The LX V6 retains the most value, depreciating about 53.8% on average across model years in our data. Trim choice can swing resale by thousands of dollars over a few years, because desirable trims stay in demand on the used market while stripped-down or niche trims sell at a discount. It's also worth comparing the trim premium new versus used — a pricier trim sometimes depreciates enough to become the smarter used buy. If you expect to resell, the LX V6 is the safer bet; if you're keeping the car long-term, buy the trim with the features you actually want and worry less about resale.
Methodology
Depreciation is computed from 1,164 real used-car listings. Each listing's asking price is normalized to a standard 12,000 miles per year for the vehicle's age, adjusted by a 5% asking-to-sale estimate, and compared against the original base MSRP for that VIN's trim. Headline 1/3/5-year figures reflect a smoothed retention curve fitted across all model years (the typical trajectory); individual years in the table above can run above or below it with market conditions. Full methodology. Updated August 2026.