Forget everything you may
think you know about Kia quality, or the lack of it. 2016 Kia Sorento SXL AWD
SUV, may be the best looking, best driving SUV in north America, while quashing
a misconception or two. Kia Sorento SUV gives the "Big Dogs" of the
automotive world a run for the money.
The surprise that is Sorento begins when one opens
the driver's door.
A very sophisticated
interior fit and finish is just the beginning of the embodiment that is
arguably the most sophisticated sports-utility in Kia’s history. Granted, with
an MSRP of $45,095 as tested, Kia Sorento sits in good company, with Acura,
BMW, Cadillac, Lexus, and other domestic and import makers vying for supremacy
in automotive’s fastest growing segment.
So, of course we demand a
quality ride from Sorento
presenting premium class fit and finish. Torque News was not disappointed! Last
week we experienced Kia Soul EV, an exceptionally well built and appointed
electric powered 5 door hatchback. This week a surprisingly refined midsize SUV
with performance car-like handling, where and when you need it.
2016 Kia Sorento carries
Kia’s mission of attainable long-lasting quality forward by presenting an exceptional
vastly underrated midsize premium SUV priced thousands $ below a comparably
equipped import. That’s correct, Sorento is manufactured in the U.S..
In North America SUV is
king, and Kia is vying
for a significant piece of that market. After driving 2016 Kia Sorento on the
back roads of western Oregon, We believe that Kia Sorento may be one of if not
the most underrated midsize premium SUV available in the U.S. today.
Our test vehicle shows
12,000+ miles on the odometer, has been driven by many automotive journalist
under various road and terrain conditions for several months, and remains as
“tight” as the day it rolled off of the assembly line, not a squeak, not a
rattle, very impressive! O.K. , there's a bit of an exhaust growl noted, but it
grows on you.
Featuring premium state of
the art passive and active safety features, a UVO ™ touch screen, voice command
infotainment personal connectivity platform, heated and cooled 10-way
adjustable power driver’s seat, a full glass top with chrome top rails, 19 inch
alloy wheels, Michelin performance tires, 40/60 split second row seating and
more, 2016 Kia Sorento SXL AWD gives the premium SUV field a run for its money.
Can’t say enough good things
about the engine.
Sorento's 2.0 liter
turbocharged gasoline engine produces copious amounts of usable torque
throughout the shift range, while sipping fuel. Yet the seemingly unlimited
exceptional torque produced by this workhorse(260 ft-lb @ 1450 rpm) far exceeds
that of most high-output V6 power plants, averaging a combined 22 mpg on
regular unleaded gasoline.
While Sorento Turbo may not possess the
drive-by-wire acceleration and paddle shifting of 2016 Acura MDX, it comes off
of the showroom for for $10,000 less, and still delivers a rather premium ride
and drive experience.
O.K., it’s not an MDX, RDX
or even a fully loaded Cadillac SRX, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at it.
For the price of admission, we believe Kia Sorento to be a relative bargain.
After driving one for a week, we know it is.
When married to Kia’s
effective yet simple select-shift 6 speed automatic, and torque vectoring
all-wheel-drive with center differential locker, Kia Sorento travels as well
off the road as it does on the pavement. A controlled ‘float’ if you will. We
like that. When Kia tells you that Sorento AWD can go almost anywhere, you can
believe it, we tested it, and it came out shining! After driving Kia Sorento
for a week, we've concluded that this midsize premium SUV is a 'sleeper' when
it comes to performance and exceptional utility.
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