2021 KIA SORENTO X-LINE AWD
By Greg Zyla
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Entry price: $29,390 Price as tested: $44,285
his week, we review the all-new 2021 Kia Sorento, delivered in top-class SX Prestige X-line AWD trim and featuring everything new, from exterior and interior to under the hood.
This fourth generation Sorento is built on a larger platform that extends wheelbase and overall length. Trim models for 2021 include entry LX, and then move upward to S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. The off-road enhanced X-line addition is only available on the top trim.
All Sorento models include front-wheel-drive as standard and AWD optional, except for the SX Prestige X-line model, (our tester) which features AWD as standard. Additionally, from LX to SX, every Sorento built comes with three rows of seating, something not always seen in the midsize class.
Built in West Point, our Sorento SX X-line arrives with room for six passengers thanks to second row captain seats (seven with second row bench seat), a great looking all-new exterior and most impressive tri-color cabin. The new ‘21 style upgrade features its signature tiger-nose front grille with LED lights all around. The X-line trims feature a 1-inch higher lift for better AWD ground clearance while out back is a well designed new motif with rectangular triple rear lighting and special badges. The tailgate is power operated and even though rear cargo space is limited with the third row seating up, when the seats are lowered it opens up nicely with room to spare.
Standard is a 10.25-inch Navigation display with Apple Carplay and Android Auto (standard on all trims). Most impressive is Kia Drive Wise Driver Assist Technology, although only available on the top trim. Included are safety enhancements like Forward Collisionavoidance, Assist-cyclist and Assist-junction Turning (your dealer will explain), Blind-spot Collision Rear with Rear Cross Traffic, Safe Exit Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Lane Keep and Lane Follow Assist, Highway Driving Assist, Parking Distance Warningreverse, and Rear Occupant Alert with Ultrasonic Sensors. This is an outstanding package of high-tech safety that Kia deserves credit for.
However, remember that all Sorentos include high-tech safety from forward collision braking to lane keep assist to automatic high beam. The Drive Wise Assist is an enhancement to many of the standard safety features.
Under the hood, L and LX entry models are fitted with 191-horse, 181-torque 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines with EPA ratings of 24 city and 29 highway. If you want a four-cylinder with AWD, fuel mileage drops a bit in the city to 23 and 25. Powering the EX and SX models is the new 281-horse, 311-torque turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that not only delivers great fuel mileage at 22 city and 29 highway front drive and 21 city and 28 highway AWD, it will accelerate to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds. Sorento hybrid models will be available soon and we’ll have more on these models soon. The biggest change for ‘21 is the discontinuation of the V6 engine in the Sorento line, although both of the four cylinders deliver better fuel mileage compared to the V6’s 18/24, respectively. A main drawback is tow capacity, as it drops from the V6’s 5,000 pounds to the four-cylinder’s 3,500 pounds.
The ‘21 Sorentos rely on an eight-speed automatic, and the AWD versions come with full-time 4x4 systems featuring locking center differentials and dual-clutch eight-speed automatics. (No CVTS here.) SX X-line models ride on quality 20-inch Bridgestone tires on beautiful matted alloys that put a finishing touch on the all-new exterior layout, which is more boxy than last year’s model.
In summary, this Sorento is a fine-looking, three-row SUV that makes for a great midsize choice.