The
elegantly simple styling is the first thing to get your attention, but the
handsomely executed interior and the choice of five- or seven-passenger
configuration is noteworthy. Prices start at $24,900 for the front-wheel drive
L and top out at $43,100 for the SX
Limited with a V-6. That’s quite a spread, but it gives buyers a chance to
find a vehicle that fits their pocketbook.
The
redesign of the Sorento, as
well as the Sedona minivan,
shows that Kia
understands the value of design. Former Audi designer Peter Schreyer is the
president of design for both Kia
and Hyundai, and
his influence is obvious. Both the Sorento and Sedona have an understated
simplicity that is difficult to achieve: Too conservative and the vehicle gets
boring, too bold and you end up with gaudy and gimmicky.
You may
get hooked on looks, but performance and versatility are the things that will
make you happy with your purchase for a long time. The Sorento is available with a
2.4-liter, 185-horsepower four-cylinder; a 3.3-liter V-6 with 290 horsepower,
and the engine I would choose, a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder with 240
horsepower.
The
little turbo is a good example of how computer-controlled electronics let
engineers squeeze this much horsepower out of such a small package. There is
very little hesitation, or turbo lag, when accelerating from a stop, and
cruising at highway speeds is effortless. Fuel economy is rated at 19 in the
city and 25 on the highway. I averaged 27 miles per gallon on a 100-mile road
trip.
The
five-passenger Sorento has a
109.4-inch wheelbase that is 3 inches longer than the previous model. It comes
standard with a 40/20/40 second-row folding seat. The seven-passenger model has
a 50/50 folding third seat and it is only available with the V-6.
The
heated and cooled front seats in the SX Limited were properly
contoured and delivered support in all the right places. The headrests have
fore and aft adjustment.
The
instrument panel is attractive and functional. The eight-inch LCD screen is
used for navigation, backup camera and audio.
I was
impressed with the test vehicle’s long list of safety items, such as stability
control, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor, brake assist, rollover
mitigation, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert and cornering
brake control.
Kia’s UVO telematics
system connects to your smartphone and will mark the location of the vehicle
when you park. No more searching crowded parking lots. Apps such as Siri Eyes
Free, Pandora, iHeart Radio and Yelp are also available.
The
independent rear suspension and adjustable dampers do a good job of providing a
compliant ride with handling that is almost like that of a sedan. The optional
all-wheel-drive system routes power to the wheels with the most traction. The
lock mode splits engine power equally between front and rear wheels and that is
most handy for winter conditions. The system also has torque-vectoring control
that helps the vehicle be more responsive in turns.
Price
The
base price of the test vehicle was $41,700. Options included leather seats,
Xenon headlights, lane departure warning, forward collision warning,
surround-view monitor and adaptive cruise control. The sticker price was
$45,095.
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