- 2025 Kia Sorento first-ever win for Midsize SUV segment
- 2025 Kia Soul back-to-back finalist in Compact vehicle group
April 7, 2025, Irvine, CA – Two Kia vehicles earned awards and consideration for vehicle excellence from the editors of Cars.com in their annual ranking of “2025 Best Value New Cars.” The Kia Sorento LX earned its first-ever win in the Midsize SUV category and the 2025 Kia Soul LX (and LX w/ Technology Package) was a finalist for the second year in a row.
“The Sorento and Soul recast the value equation in their respective segments, offering consumers innovative features without a compromise,” Steven Center, COO & EVP, Kia America.
Cars.com’s 2025 Best Value New Cars report identifies the most affordable new-car models in nine categories — subcompact cars, compact cars, subcompact SUVs, compact SUVs, midsize SUVs, compact pickup trucks, midsize pickup trucks, full-size pickup trucks and electric vehicles — that offer the best value for the price based on features and each category’s average price among Cars.com’s inventory.
“The Kia Sorento rises to the top of the mid-size SUV class thanks to its three rows of standard seating, long warranty, and suite of safety features. The Sorento checks all the boxes for families — space, safety, and affordability,” says Jenni Newman, editor-in-chief, Cars.com. “It’s a rare find to get this much SUV for the money, which is why we named the 2025 Kia Sorento Cars.com’s Best Value Mid-Size SUV.”
To determine the award winners for “2025 Best Value New Cars,” Cars.com’s editorial team evaluated hundreds of vehicles from mainstream, mass-market brands, focusing on models that come equipped with a specific set of core features: automatic transmission, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, brake assist, and lane departure warning. The team identified the lowest-cost trim level or package configuration that included all of these features, then factored in the estimated annual fuel or charging costs based on EPA data. To qualify, models also had to be priced at or below the average price for their segment. While factors like warranty coverage, seating capacity for trucks, and fuel grade requirements did not impact rankings, they were noted as important considerations for long-term ownership.
These awards are not simply for the most affordable vehicles, but vehicles that combine affordability with exceptional value. The segment-redefining Soul is an artful blend of form and function and is loaded with desirable standard features. The 2025 Kia Sorento provides a spacious cabin, fuel economy, and a long list of standard creature comforts and driver assistance features.
Since the “Best Value New Cars” Report was introduced in 2023, Kia has been a fixture, with the Kia Rio winning Best Small Car in 2023, and the Kia Forte, Kia Soul, and EV6 all receiving nominations or best-in-class awards in 2024.
