Take
the Kia Sorento as an example. Already a
good product, Kia did not perform a complete redesign for the 2016 Sorento, but
rather a substantial refresh. Still, Kia has studied the outgoing model’s
faults and improved upon them.
The
2015 Sorento always felt like
a 9/10ths midsize crossover. It didn’t feel quite as large on the inside and
looked less substantial on the outside than others in its segment. For 2016 the
Sorento grows in overall length by four inches to now total 187.4 inches. That
still leaves it almost four inches shorter than the Toyota Highlander, but the
gap has shrunk.
The
sexy reworked sheet metal looks more impressive and sizable than the outgoing
Sorento. I tested the fully loaded Limited V6 AWD model, which takes things up
a notch by including attractive 19-inch wheels and quad LED fog light pods on
each side of the front bumper.
More Choice Under the Hood
Unlike
the Sorento’s corporate sibling, the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia does not split its
midsize crossover into two different body sizes and seat configurations. That
means the one-size-fits-all Sorento can come as a five- or seven-passenger
vehicle. To better align it with the Santa Fe family, an extra engine has been
added for 2016.
The 240
HP 2.0-liter turbocharged engine can now be had on higher-end five-seat
Sorentos, just like the Santa Fe Sport. Base models of the Sorento still make
do with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine while most seven-passenger models
come equipped with a 3.3-liter V6. There is one key difference between the
Sorento and the Santa Fe because it’s possible to equip the Kia in LX trim with the
2.4-liter engine and seven-passenger seating.
Playing the Waiting Game
Save
for the base L model, any engine and trim configuration of the Sorento can be equipped with
front- or all-wheel drive. Regardless of which combination is chosen, the only
transmission available is a six-speed automatic. In the Limited V6, I found the
six-speed to be the Achilles heel of the drivetrain. The transmission is slow
to react; it takes a long pause between shifts and sometimes follows up by
hammering hard into gear.
The
engine delivers decent forward momentum. Despite having more power – 290 hp and
252 lb-ft of torque – than a lot of its competitors, it doesn’t feel that way.
At least the high output doesn’t hurt fuel economy. Officially rated at 17 MPG
city and 23 MPG highway for V6 AWD models, the Sorento is on par with similarly
equipped competitors from Honda and Toyota.
Good
fuel economy can be partially attributed to the Sorento’s relatively light curb
weight. At 4,211 lbs. as-tested, it undercuts the Highlander and the Pilot.
Despite that, it’s still heavier than the 2015 model. It also lacks the old
model’s semi-engaging driving experience. When we tested eight three-row
crossovers side-by-side last year, we found the Sorento to be one of the more
enjoyable vehicles to drive. Now it just feels bland and dull, which mimics the
driving experience of the better selling Toyota Highlander, so maybe Kia is on to
something.
Big Interior Improvements
And
it’s not just the drive that reminds me of the Highlander, the interior has a
very similar feel. With every new model, Kia’s designs continue to improve.
Almost every surface in the Limited V6 model is finished with soft touch
materials. The layout is elegant and modern. It may be a cliché, but Kia is
definitely there in terms of offering interiors that are on par with Japanese
manufacturers.
Not
everything is perfect inside the Sorento. The
driver’s seat cushion is a bit hard. After a long drive my legs were going
numb. I do like that the tip of the seat is powered to independently tilts up
to provide thigh support in addition to the normal front and rear seat tilt.
The
Limited Sorento comes with
Kia’s latest version of the brand’s UVO infotainment system. I love the
six-channel recordable satellite radio feature, but do wish the navigation had
a perspective view. Still, UVO is a very user-friendly system with a good
combination of buttons and touch controls.
Space
is Better, Minus the Third Row
Interior
space increases marginally in the 2016 Kia Sorento. Second-row
passengers now enjoy 39.4 inches of legroom, which is more than the 2015
Sorento, but third row passengers are still stuck with a mere 31.7 inches of
legroom. Headroom is ample in both the front and middle row while the third row
remains cramped.
Cargo
capacity is up on all fronts with 11.3 cubic feet of gear fitting behind the
third row. Fold those seats down and a nice flat load floor is capable of
holding 38.0 cubic feet of gear. With the middle row seats also folded, that
number grows to 73.5 cubic feet.
The Verdict: 2016 Kia Sorento Review
The
2016 Sorento L FWD begins
at $25,795 after destination charges. That’s a $600 increase over the outgoing
model which isn’t bad considering the new vehicle is a larger, more substantial
offering. Fully loaded, the Sorento Limited V6 AWD costs $46,495, which puts it
about $1,500 higher than a similarly equipped Toyota Highlander.
Is the
price premium worth it over the Toyota? Only a head-to-head comparison can
accurately answer that question. But one thing is for sure. The old 2015 Sorento was a
mid-pack three-row crossover offering at best. The new 2016 model is up near
the front of the pack.
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