2011 Kia Sorento that covers pros and cons, available options, powertrains and overall driving performance
We actually learned something new today - there is a car show Atlanta. On the road, Kia has unveiled its new 2011 Sorento SX trim at the Salon de l'Auto 2010 Atlanta After the official opening of its first production facility in the U.S. in West Point, Georgia.
"The criticism and praise from consumers, Sorento has exceeded all expectations in its first two months just on the market, resulting in January and February sales and help achieve a record sales of Kia Motors America," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing KMA. "Adding to the range Kia Sorento 2011 has contributed to new customers and richer in our showrooms. And with the addition of the new SX trim look forward to expanding the call for further Sorento consumers looking for a comfortable vehicle, sophisticated and well equipped. "
However, the 2011 Sorento is a full 3.7 inches longer and an inch wide. Who has not paid dividends in the interior space for front passengers and a half-seat, but allowed the inclusion of an optional third row seating for seven passengers capacity (output Sorento was strictly a matter of five seats). Up to 2 inches in the center of gravity compared to the outgoing Sorento improved car-like dynamics.
The 2011 Kia Sorento is still in size as a compact SUV, and the transition to a monohull to exorcise a few hundred pounds of curb weight. Interior space is good, and even folding the third row is a folding seat, this is not a joke, for example, the Mitsubishi Outlander. Choose the five-passenger version with networks of a large tray in the cargo area when the third row will reside.
In 2011 Kia Sorento is already available in two trim levels, LX and EX - SX now adds enhanced the size of the Sorento to give it a harder line with a revised front and rear view mirror, added chrome exhaust, tail lights LED and 18-inch alloy wheels with a paint finish hyper-silver. It also adds many luxury features, comfort and technology, such as leather-trimmed heated front seats, electrochromic mirror with HomeLink and voice-activated navigation system with backup camera. The SX Sorento also comes standard with an Infinity audio surround sound system with 10 speakers.
The test vehicle was outfitted with a new for 2011 3.5-liter V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic. The six bangs out 273 hp at 6,300 rpm and 247 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. There is also a 175-horsepower four available, but I would recommend the six and its improved acceleration of zero to 60 in about 7.5 seconds.
Both the four and the six run on regular unleaded petrol, and the six is EPA rated at 19-25 mpg with the four only slightly better. I got 22 mpg in a week's worth of driving in the big city, on rural roads and some mild off-road travel that the Sorento handled with nary a care.
Inside there was ample room for two up front even with the optional panoramic sunroof. And, praise be, the ventilation controls were two big knobs, just as the auto gods should have dictated for all cars. All gauges were easy to read and fit and finish were excellent.
Second-row seating would be OK for a short run with adults, but they could use more toe space and knee room. The third-row seat is best left folded.
Out on the road the Sorento was delightful as the V-6 settled down nicely at cruising speed. The leather-bound seats were easily adjustable and comfy for longer trips. An extra was the Infinity audio system with 10 speakers that never really sounded like it had 10 speakers.
I would disagree with those who say the Sorento's ride is on the hard side given the fact that it handles a bit better than many of its rivals. You can carry home six dozen eggs with confidence.
Add in other goodies such as an easy-to-program navigation system, 18-inch wheels and heated front seats and the test vehicle sold for $34,925 including $795 for transportation. Again, this would get you a top-of-the-line model. The base EX, at $29,095, is rather well equipped.
There was very little to dislike about the new Sorento and it carries this writer's firm recommendation for those looking for a well-made, seemingly long-lasting crossover. There is, after all, that matter of a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty
It seems like just yesterday that Kia was fielding quirky offerings like, well, the previous-generation Sorento, a traditional body-on-frame SUV that never really caught on in America. But this company learns quickly. The all-new 2011 Kia Sorento boasts the carlike unibody construction (and the subsequent carlike ride) that Americans crave, and it's got most of the other bases covered, too. Perhaps most impressively, it starts at around $20,000, pitting it squarely against perennial compact-crossover all-stars like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
The Sorento's most obvious advantage over these models is its near-midsize dimensions. Longer than both rivals, the Sorento capitalizes with an optional third-row seat that's actually inhabitable by adults for short trips; the RAV4's third row, conversely, is strictly for kids, and the CR-V doesn't even offer one. The Sorento also features a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines, just like the Toyota, while the Honda is four-cylinder only.
The base four-cylinder, however, is merely adequate, which isn't surprising given that its 175 horses are tasked with moving more than 3,600 pounds of crossover. It's punchy enough around town, but sounds somewhat strained at higher rpm, and it's not as good on gas as the thriftiest fours in this segment. Another mild demerit goes to the second-row seat, which doesn't slide fore and aft like those of the Sorento's main competitors.
Overall, though, the Sorento is a highly impressive effort. Whereas past Kias have tended to be purchased primarily because of value, the Sorento is a legitimate contender that just happens to have an affordable price. In addition to the aforementioned Honda and Toyota, we'd recommend the Chevrolet Equinox, Mazda CX-7 and Subaru Forester, as well as Kia's smaller Sportage. But we wouldn't hesitate to recommend the 2011 Kia Sorento. It's a rolling exhibit of how far this automaker has come in recent years.
The 2011 Kia Sorento is a crossover SUV offered in four trim levels: base, LX, EX and the sporty SX. A third-row 50/50-split-folding seat with room for two is optional on the LX and four-cylinder EX, and standard on the EX V6 and SX.
The base model comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, 17-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories, air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping multifunction steering wheel, a trip computer, Bluetooth connectivity and a CD/MP3 audio system with satellite radio and a USB audio jack.
Moving up to the LX nets a six-speed automatic transmission, body-color heated outside mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, a second-row armrest with cupholder, as well as the option of adding the Convenience package, which includes foglamps, roof rails, rear parking sensors, heated front seats and a back-up camera with a rearview-mirror-mounted display.
The EX starts with the LX's equipment and adds 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless ignition/entry, dual-zone automatic climate control (with rear air-conditioning on V6 models) and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The SX spices things up with more aggressive exterior styling details, a sport-tuned suspension, leather upholstery, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, unique metallic interior trim, a rearview camera and a 10-speaker Infinity sound system.
The SX's additional features (excluding the exterior styling elements) are available on the EX trim as part of the Premium and Limited option packages. An optional panoramic sunroof and voice-activated navigation with real-time traffic and mood lighting are bundled into those packages as well (you can also get them on the SX). A rear-seat DVD entertainment system is available on EX V6 models without the sunroof.
All Sorento trim levels come standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 175 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque. The base model has a six-speed manual transmission, while the others come with a six-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard across the board, while LX and EX models are eligible for all-wheel drive. The AWD system comes with a locking center differential to improve low-speed traction in icy or off-road situations.
In our performance testing, the four-cylinder brought a Sorento EX from zero to 60 mph in a leisurely 9.9 seconds -- one of the slower times in the class. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined with the front-wheel-drive automatic. It is 21/27/23 with AWD.
Optional is a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 276 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque; it comes only with the six-speed automatic and gets the Sorento from zero to 60 mph in an impressive 7.4 seconds, which is one of the quicker times in the class. Fuel economy stands at 20/26/22 with front-wheel drive and 19/25/21 with AWD.
The 2011 Kia Sorento comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability control, hill-start assist, hill descent control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and front active head restraints. In Edmunds brake testing, both four- and six-cylinder Sorentos came to a stop from 60 mph in 120 feet, which is very good for this class.
In the government's new, more strenuous crash testing for 2011, the Sorento earned an overall rating of four stars out of a possible five, with four stars for overall frontal crash protection and four stars for overall side crash protection. The Sorento earned a top score of "Good" for its performance in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's frontal-offset, side-impact and roof-strength crash tests.
The Sorento's interior is class-competitive in both design and materials, with a look that is restrained but sophisticated. Dashboard plastics are hard to the touch but look good. The audio and climate controls (whether manual or automatic) are intuitive and have a substantial feel, as does the rest of the switchgear.
The front seats are comfortable on long trips and provide the commanding view of the road that crossover buyers love. The inviting second-row seat accommodates two with ease and three in a pinch. It doesn't slide fore and aft without the optional third-row seat (standard on EX V6), meaning the Sorento's not quite as versatile as the Equinox, CR-V or RAV4. And speaking of that third-row seat, it features 50/50-split-folding seatbacks and enough room for even taller-than-average adults, provided the trip is brief. With the rear seats folded, the Sorento can carry up to 72.5 cubic feet of cargo -- about as much as a RAV4 or CR-V
As with the RAV4, the 2011 Kia Sorento is a tale of two engines. The base 2.4-liter four feels punchy enough around town and with light loads, but it struggles a bit with extra passengers and cargo. The 3.5-liter V6, on the other hand, is strong and smooth, and its fuel economy deficit isn't huge; too bad it's only available on the top-of-the-line EX.
At highway speeds, the Sorento's cabin remains impressively isolated from both road and wind noise. We're also fond of the Sorento's handling ability, as this crossover responds directly to steering inputs. This is indeed one of the more enjoyable small family crossovers to drive. The ride quality should be OK for most folks, but we've found that it gets overly harsh when the Sorento is driven over potholes and similarly broken pavement.
Within my first mile in the original Kia Sorento I couldn’t help but wonder, “Is that a live rear axle I feel?” I stopped the vehicle, peered beneath it and, sure enough, there it was. The Sorento looked like a car-based crossover, but body-on-frame construction, a two-speed transfer case, and a live rear axle dwelled beneath the Mercedes-inspired sheetmetal. The upshot: superior off-road capability, but subpar fuel economy and ride quality. Well, the Sorento has been redesigned, and as with the Sportage before it the trucky bits have been tossed in favor of a Hyundai car-based foundation. Specifically, the 2011 Kia Sorento is now a Hyundai Santa Fe beneath the surface. Now that it’s much like all of the others, why buy the Kia?
Ironically, the second-generation car-based Kia has more angular, and so truckier, exterior styling than the original did. It looks more upscale and sophisticated than the utterly forgettable Santa Fe, but doesn’t induce double takes. Inspiration has been drawn from many other SUVs, including those from Acura, BMW, and Lexus, such that this time there’s no clear source. But there’s nothing obviously Kia here aside from the badge, either.
Interior appearance is a matter of trim level. The design itself is fairly plain, with a detail lifted here and there from the Lexus RX. In base trim the interior ambiance borders on cheap. The EX Package 2’s perforated leather does much to make the interior a place worth spending some time in. Even then the interior only seems upscale if you don’t touch anything or look at it too closely. Kia has turned out nicer interiors in the past.
One possible reason for the cheaper materials: the new Sorento is assembled in Georgia, diminishing the savings from Korean labor. Given that this is a new design assembled in a new plant, there could be some early glitches. Some fit and finish flaws were evident in all of the Sorentos I examined, and both of those I drove suffered from minor rattles and creaks. Kia’s got some tweaking to do.
Many compact SUVs have become so car-like that I was surprised to encounter the seating position of a conventional SUV in the new Sorento. You sit high relative to the instrument panel, and the windshield is upright by current standards. As a result the cabin feels narrow, even though the specs sheet asserts an impressive 59.3 inches of front shoulder room. Those seeking the character of an SUV will prefer the high, upright driving position, those essentially seeking a tall wagon won’t. Only the shortest drivers will see a point to the driver seat’s height adjustment.
One nifty trick abandoned by the Santa Fe for 2010, but adopted by the Sorento: an available third-row seat within a relatively compact 184-inch-long exterior. To fit three rows within such compact dimensions, something’s got to give, and that obvious something is legroom and cargo room. Second-row legroom looks decent in the specs, but in reality it’s just adequate for adults, and the seat is a little low to the floor. The third row is very low to the floor, as is often the case, and my 5-9 self barely fits. For transporting kids, though, there’s more than enough space. Just don’t count on putting more than a single row of grocery bags behind the third-row seat.
The EPA fuel economy ratings have certainly improved with the redesign. The 262-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 in the 2009 (there was no 2010) was rated for 15 city, 21 highway. The 276-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 in the 2011 better both numbers by five, to 20/26—outstanding numbers for such a powerful engine in a fairly tall, two-ton vehicle. Step down to the 175-horsepower four, and the EPA suggests 21/29. I didn’t observe such numbers during my suburban test drives, though. Instead, with both engines the trip computer reported an average in the 17s. With a lighter foot 20 might be possible, but anything higher seems a stretch.
As the specs suggest it should, the V6 feels much stronger than the four. Sounds much nicer, too. The four provides adequate acceleration, but its kitchen appliance impersonation lends an economy feel to the entire package. Since the four’s fuel economy isn’t substantially better than the V6’s, the choice between them seems obvious: spend the extra $1,900, plus another $700 for the then-required third-row seat.
Handling isn’t sporty, but there’s no float at speed and not much roll in turns compared to other similarly tall vehicles. The suspension feels firmer than that in the Santa Fe, such that the ride turns jittery—but not harsh—over patchy pavement. There are quieter, smoother compact SUVs to be found.
More often than not, people buy Korean cars to save money. So how cheap is the new Sorento? Well, it starts at $20,790. Load one up, and the sticker tops $35,000. TrueDelta’s car price comparison tool finds that a similarly loaded Chevrolet Equinox lists for $340 more—and also includes fewer features, such as no third row. Adjust for these, and the Kia’s advantage is around $1,500. Compare base four-cylinder models with no options, and the Chevrolet lists for $395 more, but includes about $600 in additional features, bringing them within a couple hundred dollars. Run similar comparisons with the RAV4, and the Toyota lists for less, but the Kia more than compensates with additional features. Adjust for these features and compare invoice prices—Toyota gives its dealers larger margins to play with—and the difference is too small to matter. Compared to other compact SUVs, the new Kia Sorento is clearly a good value, but it’s no longer the bargain Korean vehicles used to be.
The Kia is a little wider than the Equinox, and longer as well when compared to the RAV4. And Kia offers the smaller Sportage for people seeking a truly compact SUV. So perhaps Kia is hoping people will cross-shop it with intermediate SUVs like Toyota’s Highlander and Honda’s Pilot. The price difference in this case—about $4,000—is much more attractive. But the Sorento is closer to the compacts than the intermediates in size.
If the new Sorento’s driving position was more car-like, the interior a little better finished, and the chassis a bit more polished, Kia would have a clear winner. As it is, the SUV delivers no knock-out punch, so the decision comes down to the judges’ buyer’s personal scoring. Need an occasional-use third row and also want a semi-luxurious, leather-trimmed interior, but don’t want to pay Pilot/Highlander prices? Then the 2011 Kia Sorento could well be your best bet. Don’t need the third row? Then suddenly there are alternatives that are better at one thing or another, if never everything, and that also cost about the same.
 |
| 2011 Kia Sorento |
2011 Kia Sorento
 |
| 2011 Kia Sorento |
and it carries this writer's firm recommendation for those looking for a well-made 2011 Kia Sorento
 |
| 2011 Kia Sorento |
 |
| 2011 Kia Sorento |
 |
| 2011 Kia Sorento |
 |
| 2011 Kia Sorento |
 |
| 2011 Kia Sorento |
 |
| 2011 Kia Sorento |
We actually learned something new today - there is a car show Atlanta. On the road, Kia has unveiled its new 2011 Sorento SX trim at the Salon de l'Auto 2010 Atlanta After the official opening of its first production facility in the U.S. in West Point, Georgia.
"The criticism and praise from consumers, Sorento has exceeded all expectations in its first two months just on the market, resulting in January and February sales and help achieve a record sales of Kia Motors America," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing KMA. "Adding to the range Kia Sorento 2011 has contributed to new customers and richer in our showrooms. And with the addition of the new SX trim look forward to expanding the call for further Sorento consumers looking for a comfortable vehicle, sophisticated and well equipped. "
However, the 2011 Sorento is a full 3.7 inches longer and an inch wide. Who has not paid dividends in the interior space for front passengers and a half-seat, but allowed the inclusion of an optional third row seating for seven passengers capacity (output Sorento was strictly a matter of five seats). Up to 2 inches in the center of gravity compared to the outgoing Sorento improved car-like dynamics.
The 2011 Kia Sorento is still in size as a compact SUV, and the transition to a monohull to exorcise a few hundred pounds of curb weight. Interior space is good, and even folding the third row is a folding seat, this is not a joke, for example, the Mitsubishi Outlander. Choose the five-passenger version with networks of a large tray in the cargo area when the third row will reside.
In 2011 Kia Sorento is already available in two trim levels, LX and EX - SX now adds enhanced the size of the Sorento to give it a harder line with a revised front and rear view mirror, added chrome exhaust, tail lights LED and 18-inch alloy wheels with a paint finish hyper-silver. It also adds many luxury features, comfort and technology, such as leather-trimmed heated front seats, electrochromic mirror with HomeLink and voice-activated navigation system with backup camera. The SX Sorento also comes standard with an Infinity audio surround sound system with 10 speakers.
The test vehicle was outfitted with a new for 2011 3.5-liter V-6 mated to a six-speed automatic. The six bangs out 273 hp at 6,300 rpm and 247 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. There is also a 175-horsepower four available, but I would recommend the six and its improved acceleration of zero to 60 in about 7.5 seconds.
Both the four and the six run on regular unleaded petrol, and the six is EPA rated at 19-25 mpg with the four only slightly better. I got 22 mpg in a week's worth of driving in the big city, on rural roads and some mild off-road travel that the Sorento handled with nary a care.
Inside there was ample room for two up front even with the optional panoramic sunroof. And, praise be, the ventilation controls were two big knobs, just as the auto gods should have dictated for all cars. All gauges were easy to read and fit and finish were excellent.
Second-row seating would be OK for a short run with adults, but they could use more toe space and knee room. The third-row seat is best left folded.
Out on the road the Sorento was delightful as the V-6 settled down nicely at cruising speed. The leather-bound seats were easily adjustable and comfy for longer trips. An extra was the Infinity audio system with 10 speakers that never really sounded like it had 10 speakers.
I would disagree with those who say the Sorento's ride is on the hard side given the fact that it handles a bit better than many of its rivals. You can carry home six dozen eggs with confidence.
Add in other goodies such as an easy-to-program navigation system, 18-inch wheels and heated front seats and the test vehicle sold for $34,925 including $795 for transportation. Again, this would get you a top-of-the-line model. The base EX, at $29,095, is rather well equipped.
There was very little to dislike about the new Sorento and it carries this writer's firm recommendation for those looking for a well-made, seemingly long-lasting crossover. There is, after all, that matter of a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty
It seems like just yesterday that Kia was fielding quirky offerings like, well, the previous-generation Sorento, a traditional body-on-frame SUV that never really caught on in America. But this company learns quickly. The all-new 2011 Kia Sorento boasts the carlike unibody construction (and the subsequent carlike ride) that Americans crave, and it's got most of the other bases covered, too. Perhaps most impressively, it starts at around $20,000, pitting it squarely against perennial compact-crossover all-stars like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
The Sorento's most obvious advantage over these models is its near-midsize dimensions. Longer than both rivals, the Sorento capitalizes with an optional third-row seat that's actually inhabitable by adults for short trips; the RAV4's third row, conversely, is strictly for kids, and the CR-V doesn't even offer one. The Sorento also features a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines, just like the Toyota, while the Honda is four-cylinder only.
The base four-cylinder, however, is merely adequate, which isn't surprising given that its 175 horses are tasked with moving more than 3,600 pounds of crossover. It's punchy enough around town, but sounds somewhat strained at higher rpm, and it's not as good on gas as the thriftiest fours in this segment. Another mild demerit goes to the second-row seat, which doesn't slide fore and aft like those of the Sorento's main competitors.
Overall, though, the Sorento is a highly impressive effort. Whereas past Kias have tended to be purchased primarily because of value, the Sorento is a legitimate contender that just happens to have an affordable price. In addition to the aforementioned Honda and Toyota, we'd recommend the Chevrolet Equinox, Mazda CX-7 and Subaru Forester, as well as Kia's smaller Sportage. But we wouldn't hesitate to recommend the 2011 Kia Sorento. It's a rolling exhibit of how far this automaker has come in recent years.
The 2011 Kia Sorento is a crossover SUV offered in four trim levels: base, LX, EX and the sporty SX. A third-row 50/50-split-folding seat with room for two is optional on the LX and four-cylinder EX, and standard on the EX V6 and SX.
The base model comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, 17-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories, air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping multifunction steering wheel, a trip computer, Bluetooth connectivity and a CD/MP3 audio system with satellite radio and a USB audio jack.
Moving up to the LX nets a six-speed automatic transmission, body-color heated outside mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, a second-row armrest with cupholder, as well as the option of adding the Convenience package, which includes foglamps, roof rails, rear parking sensors, heated front seats and a back-up camera with a rearview-mirror-mounted display.
The EX starts with the LX's equipment and adds 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless ignition/entry, dual-zone automatic climate control (with rear air-conditioning on V6 models) and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The SX spices things up with more aggressive exterior styling details, a sport-tuned suspension, leather upholstery, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, unique metallic interior trim, a rearview camera and a 10-speaker Infinity sound system.
The SX's additional features (excluding the exterior styling elements) are available on the EX trim as part of the Premium and Limited option packages. An optional panoramic sunroof and voice-activated navigation with real-time traffic and mood lighting are bundled into those packages as well (you can also get them on the SX). A rear-seat DVD entertainment system is available on EX V6 models without the sunroof.
All Sorento trim levels come standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 175 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque. The base model has a six-speed manual transmission, while the others come with a six-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard across the board, while LX and EX models are eligible for all-wheel drive. The AWD system comes with a locking center differential to improve low-speed traction in icy or off-road situations.
In our performance testing, the four-cylinder brought a Sorento EX from zero to 60 mph in a leisurely 9.9 seconds -- one of the slower times in the class. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined with the front-wheel-drive automatic. It is 21/27/23 with AWD.
Optional is a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 276 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque; it comes only with the six-speed automatic and gets the Sorento from zero to 60 mph in an impressive 7.4 seconds, which is one of the quicker times in the class. Fuel economy stands at 20/26/22 with front-wheel drive and 19/25/21 with AWD.
The 2011 Kia Sorento comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability control, hill-start assist, hill descent control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and front active head restraints. In Edmunds brake testing, both four- and six-cylinder Sorentos came to a stop from 60 mph in 120 feet, which is very good for this class.
In the government's new, more strenuous crash testing for 2011, the Sorento earned an overall rating of four stars out of a possible five, with four stars for overall frontal crash protection and four stars for overall side crash protection. The Sorento earned a top score of "Good" for its performance in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's frontal-offset, side-impact and roof-strength crash tests.
The Sorento's interior is class-competitive in both design and materials, with a look that is restrained but sophisticated. Dashboard plastics are hard to the touch but look good. The audio and climate controls (whether manual or automatic) are intuitive and have a substantial feel, as does the rest of the switchgear.
The front seats are comfortable on long trips and provide the commanding view of the road that crossover buyers love. The inviting second-row seat accommodates two with ease and three in a pinch. It doesn't slide fore and aft without the optional third-row seat (standard on EX V6), meaning the Sorento's not quite as versatile as the Equinox, CR-V or RAV4. And speaking of that third-row seat, it features 50/50-split-folding seatbacks and enough room for even taller-than-average adults, provided the trip is brief. With the rear seats folded, the Sorento can carry up to 72.5 cubic feet of cargo -- about as much as a RAV4 or CR-V
As with the RAV4, the 2011 Kia Sorento is a tale of two engines. The base 2.4-liter four feels punchy enough around town and with light loads, but it struggles a bit with extra passengers and cargo. The 3.5-liter V6, on the other hand, is strong and smooth, and its fuel economy deficit isn't huge; too bad it's only available on the top-of-the-line EX.
At highway speeds, the Sorento's cabin remains impressively isolated from both road and wind noise. We're also fond of the Sorento's handling ability, as this crossover responds directly to steering inputs. This is indeed one of the more enjoyable small family crossovers to drive. The ride quality should be OK for most folks, but we've found that it gets overly harsh when the Sorento is driven over potholes and similarly broken pavement.
Within my first mile in the original Kia Sorento I couldn’t help but wonder, “Is that a live rear axle I feel?” I stopped the vehicle, peered beneath it and, sure enough, there it was. The Sorento looked like a car-based crossover, but body-on-frame construction, a two-speed transfer case, and a live rear axle dwelled beneath the Mercedes-inspired sheetmetal. The upshot: superior off-road capability, but subpar fuel economy and ride quality. Well, the Sorento has been redesigned, and as with the Sportage before it the trucky bits have been tossed in favor of a Hyundai car-based foundation. Specifically, the 2011 Kia Sorento is now a Hyundai Santa Fe beneath the surface. Now that it’s much like all of the others, why buy the Kia?
Ironically, the second-generation car-based Kia has more angular, and so truckier, exterior styling than the original did. It looks more upscale and sophisticated than the utterly forgettable Santa Fe, but doesn’t induce double takes. Inspiration has been drawn from many other SUVs, including those from Acura, BMW, and Lexus, such that this time there’s no clear source. But there’s nothing obviously Kia here aside from the badge, either.
Interior appearance is a matter of trim level. The design itself is fairly plain, with a detail lifted here and there from the Lexus RX. In base trim the interior ambiance borders on cheap. The EX Package 2’s perforated leather does much to make the interior a place worth spending some time in. Even then the interior only seems upscale if you don’t touch anything or look at it too closely. Kia has turned out nicer interiors in the past.
One possible reason for the cheaper materials: the new Sorento is assembled in Georgia, diminishing the savings from Korean labor. Given that this is a new design assembled in a new plant, there could be some early glitches. Some fit and finish flaws were evident in all of the Sorentos I examined, and both of those I drove suffered from minor rattles and creaks. Kia’s got some tweaking to do.
Many compact SUVs have become so car-like that I was surprised to encounter the seating position of a conventional SUV in the new Sorento. You sit high relative to the instrument panel, and the windshield is upright by current standards. As a result the cabin feels narrow, even though the specs sheet asserts an impressive 59.3 inches of front shoulder room. Those seeking the character of an SUV will prefer the high, upright driving position, those essentially seeking a tall wagon won’t. Only the shortest drivers will see a point to the driver seat’s height adjustment.
One nifty trick abandoned by the Santa Fe for 2010, but adopted by the Sorento: an available third-row seat within a relatively compact 184-inch-long exterior. To fit three rows within such compact dimensions, something’s got to give, and that obvious something is legroom and cargo room. Second-row legroom looks decent in the specs, but in reality it’s just adequate for adults, and the seat is a little low to the floor. The third row is very low to the floor, as is often the case, and my 5-9 self barely fits. For transporting kids, though, there’s more than enough space. Just don’t count on putting more than a single row of grocery bags behind the third-row seat.
The EPA fuel economy ratings have certainly improved with the redesign. The 262-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 in the 2009 (there was no 2010) was rated for 15 city, 21 highway. The 276-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 in the 2011 better both numbers by five, to 20/26—outstanding numbers for such a powerful engine in a fairly tall, two-ton vehicle. Step down to the 175-horsepower four, and the EPA suggests 21/29. I didn’t observe such numbers during my suburban test drives, though. Instead, with both engines the trip computer reported an average in the 17s. With a lighter foot 20 might be possible, but anything higher seems a stretch.
As the specs suggest it should, the V6 feels much stronger than the four. Sounds much nicer, too. The four provides adequate acceleration, but its kitchen appliance impersonation lends an economy feel to the entire package. Since the four’s fuel economy isn’t substantially better than the V6’s, the choice between them seems obvious: spend the extra $1,900, plus another $700 for the then-required third-row seat.
Handling isn’t sporty, but there’s no float at speed and not much roll in turns compared to other similarly tall vehicles. The suspension feels firmer than that in the Santa Fe, such that the ride turns jittery—but not harsh—over patchy pavement. There are quieter, smoother compact SUVs to be found.
More often than not, people buy Korean cars to save money. So how cheap is the new Sorento? Well, it starts at $20,790. Load one up, and the sticker tops $35,000. TrueDelta’s car price comparison tool finds that a similarly loaded Chevrolet Equinox lists for $340 more—and also includes fewer features, such as no third row. Adjust for these, and the Kia’s advantage is around $1,500. Compare base four-cylinder models with no options, and the Chevrolet lists for $395 more, but includes about $600 in additional features, bringing them within a couple hundred dollars. Run similar comparisons with the RAV4, and the Toyota lists for less, but the Kia more than compensates with additional features. Adjust for these features and compare invoice prices—Toyota gives its dealers larger margins to play with—and the difference is too small to matter. Compared to other compact SUVs, the new Kia Sorento is clearly a good value, but it’s no longer the bargain Korean vehicles used to be.
The Kia is a little wider than the Equinox, and longer as well when compared to the RAV4. And Kia offers the smaller Sportage for people seeking a truly compact SUV. So perhaps Kia is hoping people will cross-shop it with intermediate SUVs like Toyota’s Highlander and Honda’s Pilot. The price difference in this case—about $4,000—is much more attractive. But the Sorento is closer to the compacts than the intermediates in size.
If the new Sorento’s driving position was more car-like, the interior a little better finished, and the chassis a bit more polished, Kia would have a clear winner. As it is, the SUV delivers no knock-out punch, so the decision comes down to the judges’ buyer’s personal scoring. Need an occasional-use third row and also want a semi-luxurious, leather-trimmed interior, but don’t want to pay Pilot/Highlander prices? Then the 2011 Kia Sorento could well be your best bet. Don’t need the third row? Then suddenly there are alternatives that are better at one thing or another, if never everything, and that also cost about the same.
2011 Kia Sorento
No comments:
Post a Comment