Dimensions · Space · Buying guides
If you're shopping for a Sorento, start with one question: will you need the third row when you're carrying luggage? With every row upright, Kia lists 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold the third row and that grows to 38.5–45.0 cubic feet. Fold both rear rows and the maximum is 75.5 cubic feet.
Bring your stroller or your dog's crate when you look at the vehicle. Kia's capacity figures help with comparison, but they won't tell you whether either item clears the hatch with the seats you need left upright. Below are the published figures and a simple measuring checklist to use before buying. We haven't physically measured or load-tested a Sorento for this guide.
The figures cover the U.S. 2027 gas Sorento, 2027 Sorento Hybrid and 2026 Sorento Plug-in Hybrid. These are the model years shown on Kia's respective specification pages when checked on October 7, 2026.
How much cargo space does the Sorento have?
Here's what Kia publishes for each version. All figures are in cubic feet, using Kia's SAE cargo-volume ratings.
| U.S. model | All rows upright | Third row folded | Both rear rows folded | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 gasoline | 12.6 cu ft | 38.5–45.0 cu ft | 75.5 cu ft | Kia gasoline specification chart |
| 2027 Hybrid, HEV | 12.6 cu ft | 38.5–45.0 cu ft | 75.5 cu ft | Kia hybrid specification chart |
| 2026 Plug-in Hybrid, PHEV | 12.6 cu ft | 38.5–45.0 cu ft | 75.5 cu ft | Kia plug-in hybrid specification chart |
Notice the 38.5–45.0 range with the third row folded. Don't plan a trip around the larger number alone. At the dealership, put the second row where your passengers will sit comfortably, then see how much room you have behind it.
Although the three versions have matching published capacities, that doesn't mean every storage compartment or floor detail is identical. If you're deciding between gas and hybrid, try your luggage in the version you're considering.
Need the length and width in inches?
Kia's specification pages don't give us the floor and hatch measurements needed for a reliable fit answer. Rather than guessing, here's what you'll need to measure on the vehicle.
| Measurement | Inch measurement available here | Where to measure |
|---|---|---|
| Floor depth behind the upright third row | Not verified | Closed-liftgate clearance to the third-row seatback at the item's height |
| Floor length with third row folded | Not verified | Closed-liftgate clearance to the second-row seatback in your passenger position |
| Usable length with both rear rows folded | Not verified | Closed-liftgate clearance to the front seats, with the driver set correctly |
| Narrowest floor width | Not verified | Between wheel housings and any other projecting trim |
| Hatch-opening width and height | Not verified | Tightest points of the opening along the intended loading path |
| Cargo height above your loading surface | Not verified | Floor or folded-seat surface to the lowest overhead obstruction |
For a box or crate, the narrowest point matters more than the widest part of the trunk. Check the hatch opening as well as the space inside: an item might have room to sit but no easy way through the opening.
Don't forget wheels, handles and hinges when measuring your belongings. And if a box is tall, check width at the top of the box too. Trim that doesn't interfere at floor level may get in the way farther up.
Keeping the third row up
If you regularly use all three rows, leave them upright for your first loading check. It's easy to be impressed by a large space with the seats folded, only to discover that's not the arrangement your family needs.
Bring your folded stroller and the largest suitcase you normally use. Try them together, not one at a time. Check that the liftgate closes without pressing against either item and that you can still reach anything you'll need on the road.
Soft bags can be easier to arrange around the sides than rigid cases. Still, don't buy on the assumption that switching bags will solve a space problem. Your own luggage is a better test than a photograph of someone else's neatly packed trunk.
Folding the third row for everyday use
If the third row is mostly for occasional visitors, check the Sorento with those seats folded. This lets you judge your everyday luggage space while keeping the second row available for passengers.
AI-generated editorial illustration based on Kia's 2027 X-Pro SX Prestige references. It shows the third row folded and the second-row captain chairs upright, not measured floor dimensions.
Have a rear passenger sit down before you load the stroller. If making the stroller fit means moving their seat into an uncomfortable position, you'll want to know that before buying. Recheck the space if you change the seat position or recline.
For a dog crate, measure the outside frame, not its advertised sleeping area. Leave room to open the crate door and follow the maker's ventilation instructions. If you carry a wheelchair or another mobility device, include its wheels, folded handles and any extra pieces in the loading check.
Carrying longer items with both rows folded
Folding both rear rows is worth checking for furniture pickups or other bulky purchases. But the maximum cargo rating still won't tell you how long a mattress or storage case can be.
Keep the driver's seat in your normal position. Then measure from the closed-liftgate clearance to the front seatbacks, checking any changes in floor height along the way. A long object also needs support and a way to secure it; squeezing it in diagonally isn't the whole job.
Suppose you're collecting a box that's 48 inches long, 30 inches wide and 24 inches high. Those are example box dimensions, not Sorento measurements. You'd need to check the opening and the space inside before calling it a fit. A cardboard mock-up is a useful way to try the loading angle before paying for a nonreturnable purchase.
Should you choose a bench or captain chairs?
Check the seating layout on the window sticker. According to Kia's 2027 gas-model chart, LX, S and EX have a second-row bench. Captain chairs are available with the EX Premium Package and standard on the higher listed trims. The 2027 hybrid chart also lists both layouts.
AI-generated editorial illustration of the six-seat 2027 X-Pro SX Prestige layout: two seats in each row. The second row has captain chairs, not a three-person bench. This isn't a passenger-fit test.
Think about the seats you'll need on your busiest trip. An aisle between captain chairs isn't an extra passenger place or somewhere to leave a loose, long object. If you're planning a sleeping platform, inspect the folded-seat surface on the actual trim rather than assuming it forms a completely level floor.
Try the folding controls yourself. Then put your luggage in and see whether a third-row passenger can still get in and out comfortably. If child seats are part of your routine, follow the vehicle and restraint instructions for an actual installation check.
Gas, hybrid and used Sorentos
The versions in the table have matching published cargo capacities. So if you're comparing these particular gas and hybrid models, the figures don't show a cargo-volume penalty for choosing hybrid. Check the year carefully: the gas and hybrid figures here are for 2027, while the plug-in figures are for 2026.
With a plug-in hybrid, remember any charging equipment you plan to carry. Find a place for it during your loading check, rather than assuming there will be a spare compartment underneath the floor.
Buying used? Look up the exact model year and measure that car. This guide doesn't establish the dimensions of a 2025, 2023 or 2019 Sorento. Photos of another year's cabin can help you spot questions to ask, but they're a poor substitute for checking a tight fit in person.
What to bring to the dealership
Bring a tape measure, your phone for notes and the awkward item you most need to carry. If bringing the item isn't practical, make a cardboard template of its outer dimensions.
- Note the car's year, trim, engine type and seating layout so you can identify it later.
- Adjust the seats for the people who will use them. Keep every seat you need upright.
- Check the hatch opening before measuring the space inside. Try the tilt or turn needed to load a rigid item.
- Measure floor length, the narrowest width and clearance above the item's tallest point. Include its handles and wheels.
- Check that the liftgate closes gently without touching the load. Never use a power liftgate to force something in.
- Work out how the load will be secured. Check the loading instructions and weight limit too; cubic feet isn't a weight allowance.
Write down the seat positions that made the item fit. “Stroller fits with the third row folded” is a useful note. “Stroller fits” is easy to misremember when you're comparing several cars. Take the same belongings to each dealership so you're making a fair comparison.
What else should you compare?
If you need passengers in all three rows, our Toyota Highlander cargo guide and Ford Explorer cargo guide are useful next reads. Each explains which model years its figures cover.
If a third row isn't necessary, also look at the Honda CR-V cargo guide. Compare the room behind the seats you'll actually use. The largest number in a brochure won't help much if achieving it means folding a seat your child needs.
For the Sorento, we'd start with the third-row question, then test the stroller, crate or luggage that could make or break the purchase. Only after that would we choose between engines and trims. It's a straightforward way to avoid buying a car that works on paper but doesn't suit your everyday load.
Frequently asked questions
How much cargo space does the Kia Sorento have behind the third row?
Kia lists 12.6 cubic feet for the 2027 gas and hybrid models and the 2026 plug-in hybrid. That tells you the capacity with all rows upright, not the floor depth in inches.
What are the Kia Sorento cargo dimensions with the seats down?
For the models covered here, Kia lists 38.5–45.0 cubic feet with the third row folded and 75.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. We don't have reliable floor-length or hatch-width measurements to give you an inch-based fit answer.
Does the Sorento Hybrid lose cargo space compared with the gas model?
The 2027 gas and hybrid models have matching published cargo capacities. If you need a particular crate or stroller to fit, check it in the version you're buying; matching capacities don't guarantee identical floor details.
Will a stroller or dog crate fit in a Kia Sorento?
It depends on its size and which seats need to stay upright. Bring it along for a loading check, including handles and wheels in your measurements. Make sure the hatch closes without pressing against it. Illustrations aren't proof of fit.
