Is the Kia Sorento ULEZ Compliant?
Based on 36,662 MOT tests, around 36% of Kia Sorentos still on the road are likely to meet London's ULEZ standards, and about 45% are likely to be charged. For the remaining 19%, it depends on the exact Euro standard or month of registration.
The fuel mix matters: tested cars were 98% diesel. Diesel Sorentos are generally compliant from 2016, while diesel cars from 2013 or earlier are likely to be charged.
- Likely compliant
- 36%
- Likely charged
- 45%
- Depends on the car
- 19%
- MOT tests analysed
- 36,662
Check a specific Sorento
Year and fuel type are a guide. Enter the registration to check that car's own record.
Sorento ULEZ compliance by year and fuel
Estimated from the year of first registration. Numbers show how many Sorentos of each type were MOT tested, as a guide to how common they are.
| First registered | Diesel | Hybrid (petrol) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Likely compliant18 tested | Likely compliant80 tested |
| 2020 | Likely compliant649 tested | Likely compliant527 tested |
| 2019 | Likely compliant2,780 tested | – |
| 2018 | Likely compliant2,767 tested | – |
| 2017 | Likely compliant3,114 tested | – |
| 2016 | Likely compliant3,148 tested | – |
| 2015 | Check exact car3,994 tested | – |
| 2014 | Check exact car2,935 tested | – |
| 2013 | Likely charged2,174 tested | – |
| 2012 | Likely charged1,969 tested | – |
| 2011 | Likely charged1,700 tested | – |
| 2010 | Likely charged1,966 tested | – |
| 2009 | Likely charged1,468 tested | – |
| 2008 | Likely charged1,111 tested | – |
| 2007 | Likely charged1,547 tested | – |
| 2006 | Likely charged2,273 tested | – |
| 2005 | Likely charged1,230 tested | – |
| 2004 | Likely charged744 tested | – |
| 2003 | Likely charged214 tested | – |
How ULEZ rules apply to the Sorento
Cars that miss the standard pay £12.50 for each day they're driven in the zone. Petrol and petrol-hybrid cars need Euro 4 (most from 2006), while diesels need Euro 6 (most from September 2015).
- Diesel (98% of Sorentos tested): likely compliant from 2016; 2013 and earlier are likely to be charged.
- Hybrid (petrol) (2% of Sorentos tested): every year in our data is likely to comply.
Sorentos from 2014 and 2015 sit on the boundary (19% of those tested): some were built to the required standard before it became compulsory. The Euro standard is sometimes on the V5C logbook, or Kia can confirm it. Our ULEZ calculator can help.
Thinking of buying one? Check how Sorentos fare at the MOT too: see the Kia Sorento MOT failure rate.
Buying a used Kia Sorento for London: what the MOT data shows
The Kia Sorentos in this data were first registered between 2003 and 2021. 2015 was the most common year, with 4,004 tests (11% of the total), and half were registered in 2014 or later.
Sorentos from likely-compliant years passed their MOT first time 82% of the time, at an average of 47,610 miles. Older ones likely to be charged passed 57% of the time with 105,368 miles on average, so a compliant car is usually the more reliable buy as well as the cheaper one to drive in London.
On a budget, the oldest diesel Sorentos likely to comply are from 2016. 3,148 of them were tested; 2016 cars passed first time 78% of the time and averaged 63,803 miles. Check the Euro standard on the V5C before you buy one from around then.
Whichever year you choose, check the Sorento's weak spots. The most common MOT failures were lights and electrics: "not working" (5.2% of tests); suspension: "ball joint excessively worn" (4.7%); steering: "ball joint has excessive play" (3.4%). The most frequent advisory was "tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm", on 17.9% of tests.
Overall, 69% of Sorentos passed first time, slightly below the 71% average for all cars, and they had covered 78,762 miles on average, more than the 73,145-mile average.
ULEZ compliance for other models
Other Kia models
About this data
Based on 36,662 first MOT tests of the Kia Sorento carried out in 2023.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). First attempts on cars only; “pass rate” means passing first time. Averages cover all 32,735,164 cars tested (71% passed), and years with under 50 tests are hidden.
ULEZ results are estimates from fuel type and year of first registration. Transport for London makes the final decision.
Learn more about how our data works.
Frequently asked questions
What 36,662 MOT tests say about the Kia Sorento and London's ULEZ.
Is the Kia Sorento ULEZ compliant?
In our data about 36% of Sorentos on the road are likely compliant and 45% likely to be charged. Petrol and petrol-hybrid cars need Euro 4 (most from 2006), while diesels need Euro 6 (most from September 2015).
Is a diesel Sorento ULEZ compliant?
Only if it meets Euro 6, which generally means first registered from September 2015. Diesel Sorentos from 2013 or earlier are likely to be charged.
How can I check if a specific Sorento is ULEZ compliant?
Enter its registration in our free ULEZ check, which uses the vehicle's DVLA record. Always confirm with TfL before relying on it.
Related guides
- ULEZ · 6 min readULEZ explained: which cars are compliant and what it costsSince August 2023 the ULEZ covers every London borough. Which cars comply, what the daily charge costs if yours doesn't, and what you can do about it.Read the guide
- MOT · 6 min readPre-MOT checklist: 20 things to check yourself before the testTwenty quick checks, grouped by area, that you can do on your driveway in under half an hour. No tools beyond a coin and a helper needed for most.Read the guide
- Buying a used car · 6 min readHow to check if a car has been clocked using MOT mileage historyWinding back an odometer takes minutes with a laptop, but every MOT logs the reading publicly. A step-by-step method, with worked examples, for spotting the gaps.Read the guide
Is your Sorento ULEZ compliant?
Enter the registration for a check based on that car's own DVLA record.