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The Sorento changed a lot across four generations. The BL (to 2009) is body-on-frame with V6 engines. The XM (2011 to 2015) became a unibody crossover with 2.4-liter and V6 engines. The UM (2016 to 2020) added a 2.0-liter turbo and a 3.3 V6. The MQ4 (from 2021) offers 2.5-liter and 2.5 turbo engines, plus 1.6-liter turbo hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.


The 2009 Kia Sorento belongs to the first-generation Sorento (BL), built for model years 2003–2009. It is the last model year of this generation and includes the running changes made during production, which is why a manual for the exact year matters.
Check the model year on your VIN: on a 2009 vehicle the 10th character of the 17-digit VIN is “9”. Vehicles built for North America always carry the model year in that position; on some European or Australian vehicles it may be left unused, so in that case go by the registration papers or the build plate.
At about 17 years old, a 2009 vehicle is in the age range where wiring, rubber hoses, seals and corrosion repairs take most of the work, and where original factory information is hardest to find.
Same generation: 2004 Kia Sorento, 2005 Kia Sorento, 2006 Kia Sorento, 2007 Kia Sorento, 2008 Kia Sorento.
All Kia Sorento model years: 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026
3.3L V6
3.8L V6
