Makes · Kia · Kia Sorento
2012 Kia Sorento towing capacity
Trim-level maximum towing capacity — 1,650 – 3,500 lbs across packages. Exact capacity depends on configuration. Payload is separate from towing capacity and is shown where GVWR and curb weight (or manufacturer payload) exist.
Tow Planner
Select your exact configuration and tell us what you're towing. We'll compare trailer weight, payload, tongue weight and the available vehicle limits. Year-level towing and payload answers below are available without selecting a configuration.
Which configuration do you have?
11 configurations
11 possible configurations match your selections.
What are you trying to do?
Choose a job to open interactive tools. Year-level towing and payload answers appear below even before you pick a configuration.
What can a 2012 Kia Sorento tow?
Across 11 configurations with published ratings, 2012 Kia Sorento towing capacity ranges from 1,650 lbs to 3,500 lbs. Exact capacity depends on configuration — not every 2012 Kia Sorento can tow the maximum value.
- Minimum published towing capacity in this dataset: 1,650 lbs
- Maximum published towing capacity in this dataset: 3,500 lbs
- Configurations with a towing rating: 11 of 11
Highest-rated example: EX — 3,500 lbs
Lowest-rated example: LX — 1,650 lbs
Highest towing configurations
Top configurations by published maximum trailer rating for the 2012 Kia Sorento. Payload is shown only when present in the dataset.
| Trim | Cab | Drivetrain | Bed | Axle ratio | Max towing | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EX | — | — | — | 3.20 | 3,500 lbs | 1,403 lbs |
| EX | — | — | — | 3.20 | 3,500 lbs | 1,557 lbs |
| LX | — | — | — | 3.20 | 3,500 lbs | 1,403 lbs |
| LX | — | — | — | 3.20 | 3,500 lbs | 1,557 lbs |
| SX | — | — | — | 3.20 | 3,500 lbs | 1,403 lbs |
| SX | — | — | — | 3.20 | 3,500 lbs | 1,557 lbs |
| Base | — | — | — | 3.74 | 1,650 lbs | 1,771 lbs |
| EX | — | — | — | 3.91 | 1,650 lbs | 1,656 lbs |
| EX | — | — | — | 3.91 | 1,650 lbs | 1,689 lbs |
| LX | — | — | — | 3.91 | 1,650 lbs | 1,656 lbs |
Towing capacity by axle ratio
| Axle ratio | Towing range | Configurations |
|---|---|---|
| 3.20 | 3,500 lbs | 6 |
| 3.74 | 1,650 lbs | 1 |
| 3.91 | 1,650 lbs | 4 |
2012 Kia Sorento payload capacity
Payload is not the same as towing capacity. Where both GVWR and curb weight exist in the catalog, payload is GVWR minus curb weight (or the manufacturer payload field when present). Payload covers people, cargo in the truck, hitch equipment, and trailer tongue weight — not the full trailer weight.
- Observed payload range: 1,403 – 1,771 lbs
- Configurations with payload data: 11
Highest-payload configurations
- Base — 1,771 lbs
- EX — 1,689 lbs
- LX — 1,689 lbs
- EX — 1,656 lbs
- LX — 1,656 lbs
Quick configuration comparison
Observed towing ranges from the 2012 Kia Sorento dataset. Values are min–max of published ratings in each group — not a claim that every unit in the group can tow the top figure.
Axle ratios
| Axle | Towing range | Median | Configs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.20 | 3,500 lbs | 3,500 lbs | 6 |
| 3.74 | 1,650 lbs | 1,650 lbs | 1 |
| 3.91 | 1,650 lbs | 1,650 lbs | 4 |
Why does towing capacity vary for this vehicle?
Towing ratings vary across configurations. These are configuration differences present in our dataset:
- Axle ratios: 3.20, 3.74, 3.91
- Published towing range: 1,650 – 3,500 lbs
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Towing capacity by trim
| Trim | Max towing | Curb weight | Payload* | HP | Torque | Axle | Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EX V6 4dr All-wheel Drive | 3,500 lbs | 4,131 lbs | 1,403 lbs | 276 | 248 | 3.20 | 106.3 |
| EX V6 4dr Front-wheel Drive | 3,500 lbs | 3,977 lbs | 1,557 lbs | 276 | 248 | 3.20 | 106.3 |
| LX V6 4dr All-wheel Drive | 3,500 lbs | 4,131 lbs | 1,403 lbs | 276 | 248 | 3.20 | 106.3 |
| LX V6 4dr Front-wheel Drive | 3,500 lbs | 3,977 lbs | 1,557 lbs | 276 | 248 | 3.20 | 106.3 |
| SX V6 4dr All-wheel Drive | 3,500 lbs | 4,131 lbs | 1,403 lbs | 276 | 248 | 3.20 | 106.3 |
| SX V6 4dr Front-wheel Drive | 3,500 lbs | 3,977 lbs | 1,557 lbs | 276 | 248 | 3.20 | 106.3 |
| Base 4dr Front-wheel Drive | 1,650 lbs | 3,763 lbs | 1,771 lbs | 175 | 169 | 3.74 | 106.3 |
| EX 4dr All-wheel Drive | 1,650 lbs | 3,878 lbs | 1,656 lbs | 191 | 181 | 3.91 | 106.3 |
| EX 4dr Front-wheel Drive | 1,650 lbs | 3,845 lbs | 1,689 lbs | 191 | 181 | 3.91 | 106.3 |
| LX 4dr All-wheel Drive | 1,650 lbs | 3,878 lbs | 1,656 lbs | 191 | 181 | 3.91 | 106.3 |
| LX 4dr Front-wheel Drive | 1,650 lbs | 3,845 lbs | 1,689 lbs | 175 | 169 | 3.91 | 106.3 |
* Payload = manufacturer payload when present, otherwise GVWR − curb weight. Towing capacity is a separate rating and is not the same as payload.
What affects the rating
Higher figures usually need the tow package, the right axle ratio, and enough cooling. Passengers, fuel, gear, and tongue weight all eat into what you can safely pull — stay under both the trailer rating and the vehicle’s payload.