If you’re one of those folks who used to laugh about Kia products, you might want to take a second look at the new Kia Sorento. This car boasts crisp exterior styling and first rate materials in its pleasing cabin. It has a traditional body much like a truck and offers a ruggedness you don’t typically find in crossover SUVs. In addition, if you actually want to go off-road or tow with your SUV, then the Kia Sorento will do a much better job for you than many other SUVs.
However, if you need fuel economy and ride quality is crucial to you, then the Sorento may disappoint. The Kia is a midsize SUV, but it’s priced like a compact. The warranty is long, and the engine is powerful, but for some drivers, these features won’t make up for the disappointing ride.
For the 2009 model, keyless entry has become a standard feature, as have active front headrests. The exterior has been updated with a new front grille and the EX model has 16 inch wheels. Two trim packages are available – the LX and the EX – and there are two four wheel drive systems available, with a two speed transfer case.
The Kia Sorento has plenty of pick up. A 3.3 liter, 242 horsepower, V6 engine is standard, or if you go up to the EX package, you get a 3.8 liter, 262 horsepower, V6 engine and a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds instead of 3,500 with the standard package. Fuel economy on the Sorento is nothing to brag about – two wheel drive models offer 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. The larger EX engine does slightly worse with 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.
From the exterior, the Kia Sorento is attractive, much like the Sportage. Most reviewers like the new front grille and the distinctive side windows. The overall shape is at once rugged and rounded, but what remains to be seen are how well the exterior design will wear and how quickly it will look outdated.
Look inside, however, and things are decidedly upscale. The interior is made from quality materials and feels spacious. The leather seats are comfortable and offer good support and the cabin offers plenty of head and leg room. For a truck-type SUV, the step up height is about what you’d expect. Three adults can fit in the rear seat in a pinch, but for long-distances, two would be far more comfortable.
In addition, you can opt for a Value Package for the base model which wraps the seats, steering wheel and shifter knob in leather, adds a sunroof, and 16 inch alloy wheels. There are no in-dash navigation systems currently available for the Sorento.
The rear seats fold down with a 60/40 split and you get 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up. There are interior storage compartments and the hatch window opens separately, which is a nice touch.
The car boasts impressive safety ratings, with five out of five stars for front and side crash tests, regardless of where you’re seated. Electronic stability and traction control are standard, as are a driver’s knee airbag, full-length side curtain air bags and dual front advance air bags. With these stats, it’s clear that you can trust you and your family’s safety to the Sorento.
The Kia Sorento, however, doesn’t do as well on its predicted reliability – J.D. Power and Associates give the SUV a 4 out of 10 in terms of reliability. On the other hand, the car boasts an impressive warranty – a 60,000 mile, five year warranty, with 100,000 miles and 10 years on the power train. With a warranty like this, it’s clear that Kia is more than willing to stand behind their vehicle.
