What to Know Before You Visit the Dealership

Shopping for a pre-owned Kia in central Indiana means sorting through six very different vehicles that all wear the same badge. A Soul and a Telluride share a showroom floor, yet they solve different problems. Model years from 2020 through 2025 also brought two full redesigns plus Kia’s first dedicated EV. The year on the window sticker matters as much as the name on the tailgate.

• Kia’s SUV lineup from 2020 to 2025 runs from the small Soul all the way up to the eight-seat Telluride.
• Sorento was redesigned for 2021 and Sportage for 2023, which splits each name into two very different vehicles.
• Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and full electric versions all reached the used market during this stretch.

A Used Kia SUV Buying Guide That Starts With Size

Kia’s SUVs climb a fairly clean size ladder. Pick the wrong rung, and you either pay for space you never use or run out of it by month three. The Soul sits at the bottom and drives the front wheels only. Parking along Mass Ave is easy. Getting up an untreated side street in February is less fun. Next up is the Seltos, which brings all-wheel drive into the mix. Kia lists the 2021 Seltos with a 146-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a 175-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo.

One rung higher sits the Sportage, a two-row compact. It handles the daily I-465 grind and still fits the Greenwood Park Mall lot. A Sorento packs a third row into about the same footprint. At the top, the Telluride seats eight and tows up to 5,000 pounds. That covers a small camper headed south on I-65.

The Model Years That Split Each Nameplate

Two redesigns land right in the middle of this window. Sorento went fourth-generation for 2021. Kia’s launch release lists a 281-horsepower 2.5-liter turbo, a 227-horsepower hybrid estimated at 37 mpg combined, and a plug-in hybrid with 261 horsepower and about 30 miles of electric range. Buyers can pick captain’s chairs or a bench in row two, which Kia calls 4+2 or 5+2 seating.

Sportage got its turn for 2023. Kia moved it from one of the smallest vehicles in its class to one of the largest. Rear legroom grew to 41.3 inches, and cargo room behind the back seat reached 39.6 cubic feet. The hybrid pairs a 1.6-liter turbo with a 44-kilowatt motor for 227 horsepower and up to 43 mpg. A 2022 and a 2023 share a badge and little else. Shop them by name alone, and you will get burned.

Telluride has held steady since 2020. Every one of them uses a 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 and an eight-speed automatic. That helps you on a used lot, because a 2021 and a 2024 drive much the same.

Used Kia SUV Features Compared by Model Year

The table below lines the whole group up side by side across the 2020 to 2025 model years, using figures published by Kia.

What the Hybrids and the EV6 Ask of You

Kia’s hybrids and EVs landed in Indiana driveways during these same years. The EV6 landed for 2022 with up to 310 miles of EPA-rated range on the 77.4-kWh battery. Its 800-volt system takes a 10 to 80 percent charge in under 18 minutes on a fast charger. Cold weather cuts range on any EV, so plan a Chicago or Cincinnati run around a real charging stop. A Sorento Hybrid asks much less of you and still posts an estimated 37 mpg combined. That adds up fast if you drive from Franklin to downtown five days a week.

Matching a Kia to Your Actual Week

Every used Kia SUV buying guide lands on the same first step. Write down what you haul most weeks before you browse a single listing. Three car seats and a stroller point you toward a Sorento or a Telluride. A solo run up US 31 with weekend hardware store trips points toward a Seltos or a Sportage. Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage goes to the original buyer and to anyone who buys a Kia Certified Pre-Owned car, so ask which used models carry that tag. Road salt is part of life here, too. Crouch down and check the rocker panels and the area under the rear bumper before you sign.

See Our Used Kia SUV Selection at Ray Skillman Auto Center

We hand-pick the used vehicles that land on our lot, and our Kia stock usually covers several of the model years above. Shoppers from Greenwood, Plainfield, Avon and Beech Grove come to us because we keep Buick, GMC, Kia and Mitsubishi under one roof. That makes it easy to line up a Sorento against another three-row SUV in one visit. Factory-trained techs service what we sell here. Our finance team works with every credit situation, and you can value your trade online before you walk in. Come drive two or three back to back. The gaps show up fast from the driver’s seat.

Used Kia SUV Questions From Indianapolis Shoppers

Which used Kia SUV works best for Indiana winters?

The Seltos, Sportage, Sorento and Telluride all offer all-wheel drive, and the EV6 can be had with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup. The Soul is front-wheel drive only across every model year from 2020 through 2025, so it leans harder on a good set of winter tires.

Does Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile warranty transfer to me as a used buyer?

Kia lists the 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty as available to the original purchaser and to the purchaser of a Kia Certified Pre-Owned vehicle. Ask whether the specific car you are looking at carries Certified Pre-Owned status before you assume the longer coverage applies.

How much can a used Kia Telluride tow?

Kia rates the Telluride at up to 5,000 pounds, which covers a small camper or a two-place trailer headed down I-65 for a weekend at Brown County State Park. Towing requires additional equipment, so check the owner’s manual for the vehicle you are buying.

Is there a real difference between a 2022 and a 2023 Kia Sportage?

Yes. The 2023 Sportage is a fifth-generation redesign with a 187-horsepower 2.5-liter engine, an eight-speed automatic, 41.3 inches of rear legroom and 39.6 cubic feet of cargo room behind the back seat. The 2022 model is the older fourth-generation design with a 2.4-liter or 2.0-liter turbo engine and a six-speed automatic.

Can a used Kia EV6 handle Indianapolis commuting and road trips?

The EV6 carries an EPA-rated range of up to 310 miles with the 77.4-kWh battery and rear-wheel drive, which covers a full week of I-465 commuting for most drivers. On longer runs, its 800-volt system supports a 10 to 80 percent charge in under 18 minutes on a compatible fast charger.

Which used Kia SUV seats seven or more people?

The Sorento holds six or seven riders depending on whether it has second-row captain’s chairs or a bench. The Telluride seats up to eight and gives third-row passengers more room, so families who use that back row every day usually land on a Telluride.