2026 Sorento S

The $2,000 question

Nobody buys an S for the badge; they buy it because this is where all-wheel drive enters the lineup. The $2,000 option adds AWD and, new for 2026, the standard Terrain Mode selector with snow, mud, and sand settings. Around Lakewood that mostly means one thing: the handful of mornings each winter when a nor'easter drops slop on Route 9 before the plows finish, and the school run doesn't care. Front-drive with good tires gets it done most days; AWD means never doing the math. EPA estimates barely move — 23 city either way, 31 highway front-drive versus 28 with AWD — so the running-cost penalty is smaller than most buyers assume.

What Kia took away, and whether it matters

The 2026 S no longer includes factory navigation or an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. In practice, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mean your phone was going to draw the maps anyway, and the kids' tablets already hotspot from a parent's phone. It's worth knowing so the window sticker doesn't surprise you, but for most households it changes nothing about how the car gets used. If built-in everything matters to you, that's the EX's department, along with its much stronger turbo engine.

Who lands here

The S draws the pragmatic middle of the market: families who want AWD without climbing to the $42,000-plus X-Line territory, and lease shoppers chasing a sensible monthly on a seven-seater. The store's reviews capture how quick that transaction can be. One January customer: "Lease a 2026 Sorento from Vito. Made everything happen quick and easily as possible." Another buyer came in for exactly this trim: "Went to Difeo Kia to test drive a Sorento S and Vito Mastrandrea helped us out and I would recommend him to anyone. He's a great salesman and even better person. I drove out in the same car I took out for a test drive."

Frequently asked questions

How much is the 2026 Sorento S?

$35,290 MSRP front-wheel drive or $37,290 with AWD, plus $1,495 destination, before New Jersey tax and fees. The pricing & leasing guide covers the out-the-door math and how monthly-refreshed offers can stack on top.

Is the Sorento S AWD worth it in New Jersey?

If your winters include ski trips, an unplowed side street, or just a low tolerance for white-knuckle mornings, the $2,000 is cheap peace of mind — and it's the only sub-$40,000 route to an all-wheel-drive Sorento. Shore-only households that park in a garage can skip it honestly.

Does the S have navigation?

Not for 2026 — Kia deleted factory navigation and Wi-Fi from this trim. Wireless smartphone projection fills the gap for most drivers; buyers who want the embedded system should look at the EX and above.

How many people does the S seat?

Seven, with the second-row bench — same as the LX and EX. Captain's chairs (and six-passenger seating) start at the SX.

Can the S tow a trailer to the shore?

It's rated for 2,000 pounds, enough for a small utility trailer or a pair of jet skis on a light rig. Anything heavier — a real boat, a camper — calls for the turbo trims' 3,500-pound rating or the X-Pro's 4,500.

The bottom line

The S is the least glamorous smart buy in the lineup: the family layout of the LX, the option nobody regrets, and a price that still starts with a three. See what's on the lot at DiFeo Kia's new inventory page — S trims tend to move fast for exactly the reasons above.