Kia Sorento LX Towing Capacity

The Kia Sorento LX has a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 to 3,500 lbs., with a maximum tongue weight of 200 lbs.
Written by Andrea Barrett
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The towing capacity of the Kia Sorento LX ranges from 2,000 pounds with the standard four-cylinder engine up to 3,500 pounds with the turbocharged engine—all enhanced by Kia’s safety and driver-assistance features.
If you’re an outdoors person who loves to take trips into the wilderness, having a vehicle that can haul a small watercraft or pop-up camper is important. While it may not be the first thing on most buyers' radar, it’s important to look at the towing capacity of your car. Although most SUVs have a decent towing capacity, the maximum amount depends on a combination of factors such as engine size and power, transmission, drivetrain, and your vehicle’s weight. 
The 2022 Kia Sorento LX receives awesome reviews for drive performance but if you’re not sure of its towing capabilities, here to give you all the details is
car insurance
super app,
Jerry
. We’ll cover the Sorento LX’s maximum towing capacity, how to figure out your towing capacity needs, and tips for maximizing your Sorento’s pulling power. We'll also show you how to keep your
Kia Sorento LX insurance costs
low, so read on!z
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How much can a Kia Sorento LX tow?

Base towing capacity: 1,200 pounds (unbraked)
Maximum towing capacity: 3,500 pounds
Engines: 2.5L DOHC 4-cylinder engine (191 hp) or 2.5L DOHC 4-cylinder turbocharged engine (281 hp)
The 2022 Kia Sorento has an aesthetically pleasing, classy exterior with a slightly rugged flair and lots of powertrain options to suit every need. Offering a 191-horsepower 2.5L inline four-cylinder engine or an upgraded 281-horsepower turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder engine, the Sorento has a good amount of pulling power. 
The base engine of the Sorento can haul up to 2,000 pounds, while the upgraded turbo engine adds 1,500 pounds to bring the maximum towing capacity of the Sorento LX up to 3,500 pounds.
The Kia Sorento LX’s towing capacity is enhanced by Kia’s safety and driver-assistance features like:
  • Safe exit assist
  • Drive mode select with snow mode
  • Blind spot collision warning & avoidance assist
  • Rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist
  • Torque-vectoring cornering control
  • Hill-start assist control
  • Adaptive AWD with lock mode
  • All-weather capability

Trailer hitches for the Kia Sorento LX

Adding a trailer hitch to a Kia Sorento is easy. The
CURT Manufacturing Class 3 Trailer Hitch
can be purchased online and offers a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds and a maximum tongue weight of 350 pounds.
However, if you’re planning to tow with your Kia Sorento LX, Kia offers the option to upgrade to a tow package that includes:
  • Locking center differential and torque vectoring cornering control (TVCC)
  • Blind spot collision warning
  • Rear cross-traffic collision warning
  • Electronic stability control
  • Traction control system
  • Hill-start assist control 

How to calculate the towing capacity you need

The Kia Sorento LX is capable of handling a decent-size tow load, but you always want to make sure that the towing capacity of your vehicle is greater than the total weight of your haul. With a 3,500-pound towing capacity, there’s a good amount of towing strength to play with. 
Here are a few examples of what you can tow with the Kia Sorento LX.
2.5L inline four-cylinder engine (2,000 lbs.):
  • Kayak/canoe trailer (200 to 800 lbs.)
  • Small enclosed utility trailer, empty (400 to 1,800 lbs.)
  • Small open utility trailer, empty (300 to 1,100 lbs.)
2.5L turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine (3,500 lbs.):
  • Teardrop trailer, empty (500 to 3,200 lbs.) 
  • A-frame camper (2,500 to 3,600 lbs.) 
  • Pop-up camper, empty (1,400 to 3,000 lbs.)
If you need to tow larger loads, opting for the turbocharged engine can increase your towing capacity to 3,500 pounds.
Bear in mind that you’ll want to calculate the total weight of your load and hitch when fully loaded to avoid accidents. Also, make sure you account for passengers and cargo inside. 

How to increase towing capacity

If upgrading to the larger engine on your Kia Sorento LX still doesn’t offer a large enough towing capacity, there are a few ways you can increase the pulling power. Here are some pointers to help your Sorento haul heavier loads:
  • Upgrade your trailer hitch to a higher class 
  • Add a weight-distribution hitch 
  • Increase the size of the brake pads and rotors 
  • Switch to a larger radiator to help your engine maintain its temperature better
  • Upgrade to heavy-duty axles to increase the gross axle weight rating (GAWR)
However, remember that manufacturers have a maximum towing capacity for vehicle and passenger safety, and it’s not recommended to exceed your vehicle’s tow capacity by over 1,000 pounds.
Although it is possible to increase the towing capacity of your Sorento by a few hundred pounds, if you need to increase it substantially, it could be worthwhile looking at other vehicles that have a higher maximum towing capacity. 
The
Kia Telluride
’s advanced 3.8L V6 engine can haul up to 5,000 pounds. And if you need to upgrade more, the
Dodge Durango R/T
or SRT offers a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds—enough for most small- to medium-sized loads. 
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How to find affordable car insurance

The Kia Sorento is a sound SUV with a good towing capacity. But before you hit the road hauling any major loads, you need to ensure you have proper coverage for your vehicle that’s not going to cost you an arm and a leg.
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The Kia Sorento LX’s 3,500-pound towing capacity offers a good amount of pulling power. But if you’re looking to tow something like a fishing boat or medium-sized trailer, opting for a vehicle with a larger towing capacity may be more suitable.
There are several aftermarket trailer hitches you can add to a Kia Sorento LX, such as the
CURT Manufacturing Class 3 Trailer Hitch
, which offers a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds and a maximum tongue weight of 350 pounds.However, if you’re planning to pull a small trailer, you’ll want to make sure you upgrade to the tow package.
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