Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
I dubbed the 2003 Sorento “great looking” in a review that followed its Canadian launch program, and even recommended it to my brother and his wife who purchased a fully loaded one and enjoyed it for more than a decade without problem. After testing the second-generation 2011 model I called it an “extremely stylish design.” True, not my most creative literary work in either case, but at least straight to the point and notably positive. My notes for this all-new third-generation model are similarly clear and concise
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
I doubt many would argue against the redesigned Sorento’s styling, which is well proportioned from all angles, elegantly shaped with just the right amount of curvaceous muscle albeit not so much as to offend those who appreciate equal doses of feminine grace, while it’s not overdone when it comes to details. Certainly it doesn’t fall short of impressive bling, but it somehow delivers a level of confidently understated design that’s normally the stuff of pricey premium players.
Kia actually offers a rear-wheel drive full-size luxury sedan named K900, which does a fairly good job of targeting luxury-branded four-door models like the Audi A8,
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Comparatively, Kia attracted 13,496 Sorento buyers throughout that same 11-month period, which will come very close to a Canadian record if as-yet undisclosed December sales continued at the model’s most recent 1,200-unit average monthly pace. The old 15k-plus record was set in 2011, the first year of full
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Even if Sorento sales grow by 25 percent its numbers won’t be anywhere near as large as the Hyundai Santa Fe’s 30,925 combined five- and seven-passenger XL sales during the same 11 months, or the 23,389 Dodge Journeys sold, but it certainly could edge past the 18,324 Nissan Murano and Pathfinder sales during that same period, or the 17,762 Ford Edge and Flex deliveries. All said, Kia is in a comfortable fourth place, even if you add up all three of General Motors’ mid-size CUV sales numbers, the GMC Acadia leading its Lambda-based relatives with 5,886 units sold, the Chevrolet Traverse next with
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The Sorento is a critically important vehicle for Kia. Not only is it the biggest seller in the brand’s Canadian lineup, this reality due to Rio subcompact sales that dropped off a cliff during 2015 (albeit such was the case for the entire subcompact segment, the Rio still ahead of every direct competitor except for Hyundai’s Accent), but sales numbers aside its price point allows for decent profits too. The 2016
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
All SX models are a cut above, mind you. Gloss black surfacing gets added to the bumper cap, lower grille and this model’s distinctive quad LED fog lamp surrounds, while genuine stainless steel undertrays enhance both front and rear valances,
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Get
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Kia
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Ahead of the driver, a well organized primary gauge package doesn’t try to wow with
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The weather was cold and therefore the leather was equally icy, or at least it felt that way, so I reached for a row a toggles on the same centre stack albeit under the
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
All of that switchgear fits together extremely well with nice damping for an upscale feel, while much of it is large enough to use with thick winter gloves. This same theme permeated the rest of the cabin, with amply large buttons for the interior dimmer switch, blind spot detection, 115-volt household socket on/off button and stability control off switch found on the dash panel to the left of the steering column, or just below that the gas cap and power liftgate buttons. Only the
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The SUV itself is very spacious in its front and middle rows, the second one also being the final rear row of my tester as seven-seat occupancy is only available with V6-powered AWD models. Instead five-seat models get a removable cargo floor with a large compartmentalized stowage area below, something I’d have a great deal more use for than an extra row of seats. This said reporting on the Sorento’s third-row roominess will have to wait for another test vehicle.
The rear seats, which split 40/20/40 for added convenience, fold via robust feeling handles on the sides of each lower cushion, and while it’s a fairly basic mechanical setup compared to others in the class they seem very well made, clamping down into
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
There’s 1,099 litres (38.8 cubic feet) of cargo space behind those rear seats, incidentally, 22 litres (0.7 cubic feet) more than in the seven-passenger version, while a maximum of 2,082 litres (73.5 cubic feet) opens up when the second row is folded flat, which is 16 litres (0.5 cubic feet) more than the seven-seater’s total cargo capacity. On the subject of hauling, the base model is good for the usual 907
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Yes, there are three different engines on offer. All Sorentos get direct injection and dual-cam variable valve timing (D-CVVT) with the base model utilizing a 16-valve, DOHC 2.4-litre four-cylinder capable of 185 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque and available with either FWD or AWD, whereas my tester received a 2.0-litre variant boosted by a twin-scroll turbocharger for V6-like levels of performance equaling 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, also available with FWD or AWD. The 24-valve, DOHC, direct-injected V6 displaces 3.3 litres and is good for 290 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque, while it only comes with AWD. All engines are mated to a smooth shifting six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode.
As
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
For $30,695 with FWD, $32,695 with AWD or $33,895 with the V6, AWD and seven seats, LX+ trim adds the 2.0-litre turbo engine as well as a laminated windshield, proximity-sensing access with pushbutton ignition, auto up/down powered windows all-round, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with an integrated
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The move up to EX trim starts at $35,595 and includes standard AWD, or you can opt for the seven-seat V6 version for $36,695, both building on LX+ features with 18-inch machine finished alloys on 235/60R18s, a glossy black grille insert, bulb-type LED positioning lights, silver painted skid plates, power folding side mirrors that automatically unfold as you approach the door, a seven-inch Supervision TFT LCD primary gauge cluster, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone auto HVAC with a cluster ionizer and auto de-fog, a 115-volt household-style power socket, leather upholstery, a 10-way powered driver’s seat with four-way powered
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
As noted my tester was done out in SX trim, which for $42,295 included those gorgeous 19-inch polished alloys on 235/55R19s, the dark metallic grille insert, stainless steel skid plates, HID headlights, quad LED fog lamps, black painted brake calipers, chromed roof rails, LED light bar taillights, and chromed oval exhaust pipes I commented on earlier, whereas those headlamps were auto on/off as well as auto-leveling, and other features included illuminated stainless steel front doorsill scuff plates, noise reducing front door glass for an even quieter interior, cool looking alloy pedals, an upgraded eight-inch infotainment system with
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Along with that V6 and third row of seats, SX+ trim includes a number of features I have yet to try out with the Sorento, particularly an adaptive parking brake that removes the antiquated foot operated one, adaptive cruise control (a favourite feature during road trips), a 360-degree four-camera surround view system that no
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Out on the road my 2.0-litre turbo AWD tester felt pretty tame in normal mode and thoroughly sedate in Eco mode, but Sport mode made it come alive, the engine responding with snappy acceleration and surprisingly strong all-round performance for such a large, substantive vehicle. And yes it is substantive, with doors that close with a premium-like thud and an overall solidity that feels miles more expensive than its price point. It doesn’t feel overly weighty, however, with lithe and athletic handling that makes it seem sportier than most in its class. On that note you’ll never know the AWD system is working away in the background until you need it, although Kia includes an all-wheel drive lock feature that will help
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
To that end you can expect something similar to its claimed five-cycle EnerGuide rating of 9.3 L/100km in the city and 12.3 on the highway, as-tested. The Sorento efficiency leader is the base model, however, capable of 8.2 L/100km city and 11.1 highway, while the V6 is rated at a still reasonable 9.4 city and 13.4 highway,
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
If you’re at all concerned about the Sorento’s quality or the reliability of the Kia brand, take confidence in knowing this 2016 Sorento was given the highest ranking for a mid-size SUV in Initial Quality by J.D. Power and Associates in its most recent IQS, while Kia scored second out of 33 brands in that same study, only bested by Porsche, which puts it ahead of all other premium and mainstream brands including vaunted Lexus. This is a very good sign for future dependability too, being that this IQS surveys buyers who only recently purchased their vehicles, which is often times when problems occur. The same third-party analytical firm’s Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which surveys owners of three-year old vehicles, places Kia slightly
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Also notable, the 2016 Sorento scored five stars with the NHTSA in recent crash tests, while models with the optional front crash prevention system earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.
Additionally, the new Sorento earned the Automobile Journalist Association of Canada’s Best New SUV/CUV within the $35,000 to $60,000 category, as well as many best in class awards from U.S. automotive press organizations and publications, plus international publications.
There’s really nothing I don’t like about the Sorento, but if you want me to get picky it could be made better if the power lock switch on the driver’s door would illuminate
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Lists in mind, if I were in the market for a mid-size crossover SUV I’d add the Sorento to the top of my shortlist. From its arguably class-leading style, to the impeccable way the interior is finished, it’s amazing load of features and excellent overall performance the Sorento is a clear winner that should find many more buyers, possibly moving it up to third place in the mid-size class for 2016. We’ll know that by this time next year, all we don’t know is if you’ll be one of the reasons its sales rise.
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