Riding on the fringes of luxury
Appealing styling and features come with competitive price
Korean automaker Kia approaches the fringes of the luxury market with the 2016 Sorento, a midsize SUV priced and equipped to compete with vehicles ranging from the Chevrolet Equinox to the Lincoln MKX.
The refinement of some of the Sorento’s features doesn’t match the leading competitors — even non-luxury models such as the Nissan Murano and Ford Edge — but the striking SUV compensates for that with a long list of features.
The Sorento is one of the biggest midsize crossover SUVs, big enough that some models offer an option of three rows of seats for up to seven passengers.
The Sorento’s primary competitors are five-seat SUVs such as the Acura RDX, Equinox, Dodge Journey, Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, Jeep Cherokee, Lexus RX, MKX and Nissan Murano.
That’s a wide range of vehicles, but the Sorento has an exceptionally broad model line. In addition to either five or seven seats, it comes with front- or all-wheel-drive and a choice of two four-cylinder engines or a V-6. All Sorentos have a six-speed automatic transmission.
Sorento prices start at $27,495 for a front-drive model with a 185-horsepower 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine. A powerful 2.0-litre turbo generates 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque from prices starting at $30,695 with front-drive and $35,595 with all-wheel drive. A 290-horsepower 3.3-litre V-6 tops the lineup and starts at $33,895 with AWD.
I tested an AWD SL with the 2.0-litre turbo that was very close to the top of the model line. It had two rows of seats, a large sunroof, Bluetooth audio and phone compatibility, voice recognition, navigation, adaptive cruise control, Nappa leather upholstery, lane departure warning and much more.
The Sorento’s prices are generally at the low end of its competitive set, but it’s among the largest midsize SUVs inside and out.
The front seat is roomy and has plenty of storage cubbies. The gauges are big and easy to read. A big touchscreen and plenty of conventional buttons and dials make it easy to control audio and climate.
The interior of my vehicle was trimmed in appealing materials. The dash and doors were soft to the touch. Brushed chrome and black glossy plastic completed the package.
The rear seat is comfortable and roomy. The cargo compartment is bigger than all the competitors except the new Journey, RX, and the new 2015 models of the Edge and Murano.
The Sorento’s exterior design is handsome, with a snub nose, sleek roofline and flared fenders.
The 2.0-litre turbo is powerful and fuel-efficient. The transmission doesn’t always shift fast enough to maximize the engine’s potential, but its broad torque curve and high output make the Sorento a capable cruiser.
The Sorento rated 12 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, nine on the highway and 10 combined in Environmental Protection Agency tests. The Sorento’s turbo-four also runs fine on regular gasoline, giving it an edge in affordability over several competitors that use premium.
The Sorento’s ride is very comfortable. The suspension absorbs bumps from rough road surfaces with aplomb and the steering is very light.
Midsize SUVs buyers are increasingly driven by styling and features. The Sorento combines those virtues with a very competitive price to present an appealing package.