Hyundai Tucson to Kia Sorento: Owner Shares His New SUV Purchase Journey

A Hyundai Tucson to Kia Sorento AWD owner upgrades to the Kia Sorento Diesel after 5.5 years. Read about his buying experience, shortlisted SUVs and first impressions.

Introduction

Buying a new car is not always about replacing an old vehicle because of reliability problems. Sometimes, the excitement of experiencing something new encourages owners to upgrade.

A Hyundai Tucson Diesel AWD owner recently shared his purchase journey after spending approximately 5.5 years with his previous SUV. Instead of continuing with the Tucson, he decided to upgrade to the Kia Sorento Diesel.

The journey from Hyundai Tucson to Kia Sorento involved several shortlisted SUVs, feature comparisons, test drives and a difficult decision about resale value.

Let’s take a closer look at his experience.

5.5 Years With the Hyundai Tucson Diesel AWD

The owner purchased a 2021 Hyundai Tucson Diesel AWD and enjoyed around five and a half years of ownership.

During this period, the SUV covered approximately 41,000 km. According to the owner, the Tucson delivered a trouble-free experience without major mechanical or electrical problems.

Some highlights of his ownership experience included:

No DPF clogging issues.
No major mechanical failures.
Original battery lasted approximately 5.5 years.
Wiper blades needed replacement only in the fifth year.
First three years of servicing were free.
Comfortable and reliable highway performance.

Despite relatively low usage, the Tucson’s 2.0-litre diesel engine performed reliably throughout his ownership.

This positive experience made moving from Hyundai Tucson to Kia Sorento a difficult emotional decision.

SUVs Considered Before Buying the Kia Sorento

The owner started searching for a replacement around December 2025.

Some of the SUVs he considered included:

Skoda Kodiaq
Volkswagen Tayron
Volkswagen Tiguan
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Kia Sorento

He particularly liked the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan. However, certain features were missing from the variants he preferred.

For example, the 360-degree camera and ventilated seats were available only in the Kodiaq L&K variant, while the Tiguan lacked some desired comfort features, including electric and memory seats.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 was also tempting because of attractive discounts, but the owner eventually missed the opportunity to purchase it.

When the updated Kodiaq arrived, its pricing was higher than his comfortable budget. This is when the Kia Sorento became a serious option.

Why Did He Choose the Kia Sorento Diesel?

The owner’s previous experience with a Korean diesel SUV gave him confidence in the brand’s engineering.

After comparing the available options, he booked the Kia Sorento Diesel.

The new SUV offered a more substantial road presence, a larger cabin and a premium overall experience.

The transition from Hyundai Tucson to Kia Sorento was also an upgrade in terms of vehicle size and interior space.

However, he acknowledged that the Sorento was not as easy to manoeuvre as the smaller Tucson.

First Impressions After Taking Delivery

The owner received his new Kia Sorento shortly before sharing his experience and had driven approximately 70 km, mostly within city traffic.

His initial observations included:

The cabin feels significantly larger.
The SUV has a strong and substantial road presence.
It feels less nimble than the Tucson.
Some turbo lag was noticeable at lower speeds.
There are several features and settings to explore.

He also mentioned that it was too early to make a final comparison between the two SUVs.

A longer drive to his hometown in Kerala was planned for the Thanksgiving weekend. That journey would help him understand the highway performance, AWD capability and driving comfort of the Sorento.

Hyundai Tucson Resale Value Was a Disappointment

One of the biggest challenges during the Hyundai Tucson to Kia Sorento upgrade was the resale value of the old SUV.

Despite its excellent ownership history, the owner received disappointing resale offers.

He felt that the Tucson did not enjoy the same resale demand as some popular mass-market SUVs.

However, he decided to accept the depreciation and move forward with his new purchase.

FAQs

1. Which car did the owner upgrade from?

The owner upgraded from a 2021 Hyundai Tucson Diesel AWD.

2. Which SUV did he purchase?

He purchased the Kia Sorento Diesel.

3. How long did he own the Hyundai Tucson?

He owned it for approximately 5.5 years.

4. How many kilometres did the Tucson cover?

It covered approximately 41,000 km.

5. Which SUVs did he consider before buying the Sorento?

He considered the Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tayron, Volkswagen Tiguan and Hyundai Ioniq 5.

6. What were his first impressions of the Kia Sorento?

He found it spacious, premium and substantial, although less nimble than the Tucson.

Conclusion

The journey from Hyundai Tucson to Kia Sorento shows how a positive ownership experience can influence the decision to purchase another vehicle from a familiar automotive group.

The Tucson provided approximately 5.5 years of dependable service, while the Sorento promises a bigger cabin and a more premium SUV experience.

Although the owner was disappointed with the Tucson’s resale value, he remained happy with his upgrade. The real test for the new Sorento will be its long-distance performance, comfort and reliability over the coming years.

Disclaimer

This article is based on an individual owner’s purchase experience shared on Team-BHP on November 12, 2026. Initial impressions are personal opinions and should not be considered a long-term vehicle review. Actual performance, mileage and ownership experiences may vary.

Written by: Harikesh Tiwari