What Kia SUV Seats 7? [Only Two To Choose From!]

If you want to travel with your family or a large group but don’t want to forego style and power, you must be wondering what Kia SUV seats 7 passengers.

After all, getting the most reliable Kia SUV is paramount when you’re carting around that many passengers!

Whether you often haul large cargo, just started a band, or, more commonly, have a growing family, an SUV that seats seven passengers can provide a lot of utility without compromising too much on handling and driving pleasure.

What Kia SUV Seats 7?

Kia has two SUVs that can seat up to seven passengers, the Sorento has been around since 2002, and the relatively modern Telluride launched in 2020. Both SUVs offer ample space for seven passengers and their luggage while offering a comfortable ride.

But there is more to these SUVs than comfort and space. Both SUVs are sporty looking, fun to drive, and packed with numerous advanced safety features.

Our car experts drove the Sorento and loved it. They then drove the Telluride and loved it. The Sorento offers more powertrain options as compared to the Telluride. The Sorento is a more economical family vehicle with a hybrid variant.

Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride is a crossover SUV introduced by the South Korean manufacturer in 2020. It is among the favorite family SUVs thanks to its stylish looks, abundant features, roomy interior, and a good warranty.

The vehicle is a strong rival to SUVs like the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, and Hyundai Palisade.

Design Features

The Kia Telluride is quite an impressive-looking vehicle. It flaunts squared corners and a softened-down interior, and the shape neatly combines ruggedness and an urban look.

There is something about the Telluride that will remind you of a GMC. The vehicle gives off a chunky vibe, making it attractive from all angles. 

The first thing that attracts attention upfront is the massive grille and the tall and narrow headlights. Together, they give the vehicle an aggressive stance that demands respect.

Performance Features

The Telluride is powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine that can produce up to 291 horsepower. The engine is coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission and can deliver power to the front wheels or all four depending on the variant selected.

The SUV feels responsive and fun to drive with the standard powertrain.

But the real magic happens when it comes to towing power. The Telluride can conveniently pull around 5,000 pounds. 

With the all-wheel-drive system locked in, the power is split 50:50 between the front and rear axles, making it very convenient for roads covered with snow or ice.

The Telluride is designed for rough roads and is surprisingly stable and composed when driven over dips and crests. The steering also feels well-balanced, making the vehicle a pleasure to drive.

Space Features

The Kia Telluride is a long and wide vehicle, making it convenient for seating seven or even eight passengers. It measures 196.9 inches from nose to tail and has a wheelbase of 114.2 inches.

The front passenger and driver can enjoy 41.4 inches of legroom. The second row offers the greatest legroom of all others, 42.4 inches, and the third row has approximately 31.4 inches of legroom, which can be tight for taller adults.  

Behind the third-row seat, there is ample room for cargo. 

The Telluride offers an impressive 21 cubic feet of cargo space. For comparison, a full-sized Tahoe delivers 25.5 cubic feet of space.

Safety Features

All variants of the Kia Telluride are equipped with multiple safety features. These include:

• Active lane control
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blindspot monitor
• Automatic emergency braking

The SX trim adds more safety features, which include:

• Automatic high beams
• Surround camera system
• Front parking sensors
• Heads up display

Fuel Economy Features

Telluride does not have a hybrid variant. It comes with only one powertrain, which is a 3.8-liter V6.

It delivers a fuel economy of 20 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg for combined driving. Swap for the all-wheel-drive, and the numbers change to 19 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on highways, and 21 mpg during combined driving.

However, none of that compares to the Kia SUV with the best gas mileage: the 2022 Kia Niro.

Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento is a mid size SUV produced by the South Korean giant since 2002. It is bigger than the Kia Sportage but slightly smaller than the Kia Telluride. If you’re wondering what is the smallest SUV Kia makes, the answer is the Soul.

The Soul also has the distinction of being the lowest-priced Kia SUV.

Design Features

The newer models of Kia Sorento are equipped with several styling cues. The previous models wore more of a graceful and handsome look. 

The Sorento now wears a razor-mesh grille, stylish headlights, and a pointed nose, making it stand out from the crowd.

Performance Features

The SUV comes with a broad range of powertrain options to suit families and power enthusiasts. The standard version is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 191 horsepower.

The hybrid version is powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine, producing 227 horsepower from its powertrain. 

The most powerful of all variants is the turbo variant. It is powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine; the powertrain shells out over 281 hp.  

Space Features

The newer Sorento is roomier than the previous models. The vehicle has a wheelbase of 110.8 inches and is 189.4 inches from bumper to bumper. 

It comes with three rows of seats across all variants. The seats are well-bolstered and offer good support.

The front passengers can enjoy 41.1 inches of legroom and ample headroom. Step into the second row, and you still have 40.7 inches of legroom, whether you select the bench-style seat or captain chairs.

Press a button, and the second row will make way for you to enter the third row. The third row feels a little tight for adults as it offers 29.6 inches of legroom. The third row is ok for kids and small adults, but taller adults cannot spend hours in these seats.

Safety Features

All Kia Sorento variants come with multiple advanced safety features. These include

• Multiple airbags
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic emergency braking
• Active lane control

The higher variants of the vehicle also come with:

• Parking sensors
• Blind-spot monitors with auto-braking
• Surround camera system

Fuel Economy Features

The Sorento comes with three different powertrains, and each one has the following EPA ratings:

• The hybrid variant achieves 39 mpg when driving around the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 37 for combined driving.
• The standard 2.5-liter, naturally aspirated engine achieves 24 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg for combined driving.
• The turbo variant, which is the most responsive and powerful, can achieve 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined.