The Kia Sorento is coming back for 2011, after taking MY2010 off, and it's nothing like the original. It's finally a unit-body crossover SUV that's in step with the times. It has the face of a Forte, thanks to Kia's designer in chief, Peter Schreyer, and it's the first Kia to be built at the company's new plant in West Point, Georgia.
Engineering Editor Jay Kavanagh had the pleasure of driving it in Atlanta's recent monsoon, and he reports that it's an agreeable five-passenger crossover with the ability to carry two additional kids in an optional third-row seat that's just large enough not to be silly. Like the Toyota RAV4 and Chevrolet Equinox, it offers both four-cylinder and V6 engine options, and like those two, its overall demeanor is decidedly car-like.
Perhaps best of all, Kia plans to keep prices within $200 of the tired, body-on-frame 2009 Sorento, whose base MSRP range stretched from $21K to $27K.
billt9 says:
03:15 PM, 10/ 1/09
what a grim stark interior.
it feels like some alternate apocalyptic future like Death Race, Mad Max, or Waterworld.
billt9 says:
03:16 PM, 10/ 1/09
it's a gloomy day every day. plus demonic creatures with red eyes staring at you all the time, with their eyes following you. OOOOOOOOOooooOOOOOOooooooooo...
firstwagon says:
03:24 PM, 10/ 1/09
Unless you really need a small 3rd row seat, The Soul is a much cooler choice.
alman08 says:
03:48 PM, 10/ 1/09
Sorento has off road capability with the 4x4 lock, which isn't offered by many in its class. Soul is great if one doesn't care for that function.
greenpony says:
03:51 PM, 10/ 1/09
My favorite part of the first drive was this fragment: "and the new autobox summons gearchanges readily if you dip into the throttle." Too many slushboxes are overly eager to stay in high gear that it's frustrating, so it warms my heart to hear that an automaker chose to calibrate their transmission properly.
lexusaddict says:
08:13 PM, 10/ 1/09
WHAT THE HECK...they just ripped off the whole 2010 Lexus RX front end!!! its called an imagination damn hyundai...
kandeemann2001 says:
08:20 PM, 10/ 1/09
@lexusaddict - Judging from your username, it makes total sense why you would make a statement like that. Truth is, this is the exact same fascia they use on the Soul, the Optima, and the Forte...so your "copied Lexus" theory just went right out the door. LoL.
Great review! Can't wait to see how well it does. I'm a bit confused about the use of "compact SUV" being used to describe the Sorento, though. At just two or three inches short of being as large as the new Highlander, I'd hardly call this compact. But I suppose it's more based on price...which would make more sense. But otherwise, great job Kia!
dg0472 says:
09:21 PM, 10/ 1/09
lexusaddict,
In addition to the well-deserved calling-out you got from kandeemann2001, let me point out that beyond a trapezoidal grille, there's very little similar between the two vehicles anyway. So speaking of imagination, can you not come up with a valid criticism? This "they copied xxx" thing when only one styling cue is vaguely similar is getting so lame and tired.
cruiserhead1 says:
01:11 AM, 10/ 2/09
I have seen these running around Korea and they look sort of like an MDX. Very nice upgrade from the old Sorento.
They also have a mid size Accord type of Kia with the same, new front end. It looked much better than the Accord or Camry.
arumage says:
05:03 AM, 10/ 2/09
@lexusaddict:
Actually Kia's new corporate face came prior to the 2010 RX. It's on the 2009 Kia Optima.
notabigdeal says:
06:59 AM, 10/ 2/09
Hyundai has really been pulling their best game recently. In terms of fresh vehicles, incentives, and value I think most competitors in its class are getting their ass kicked.
I think all of the recent Hyundai/Kia offertings look great (I don't care if you think it copied that tatoo on your ass), have better powertrains, and are cheap so i can afford them.
Yes, there are better cars, but not for that value. I really like this new Sorento. Hyundai has come a long way since 1999.
1487 says:
07:03 AM, 10/ 2/09
how is this thing getting 19/27 with V6 and AWD?
cah11705 says:
12:51 PM, 10/ 2/09
I'm going to do the typical Korean styling bias thing and say the side and back are just ugly and the front looks very Honda. But I'm sure its a fine automobile.
lexusaddict says:
07:46 PM, 10/ 2/09
@arumage and dg0472
its called the 2007 Lexus LS? which gave birth to the new RX? its called the 2006 GS? and you talk *rap about the 2009 optima?
lexusaddict says:
07:47 PM, 10/ 2/09
and why don't you *ouchebags put a comparison picture of this and the 2000 TEN RX and the 2000 ELEVEN sorento.
kandeemann2001 says:
12:45 PM, 10/ 3/09
@lexusaddict - I'm having a lot of trouble figuring out where you're going with your counterargument, but I'll do my best to be a good sport about it.
Just to give you the benefit of the doubt here, I took a really hard look at both the Lexus RX and the new Sorento and the only similarity I see is the general shape of the grille, and the wrap-around style of the headlights...but you're really stretching it to say that Kia "copied" Lexus. The body structure of the Sorento is very different from the RX, and I think they've done a remarkable job here. Something tells me that your screen name is a little more revealing than I first imagined, and somehow, it really fits you. But at least have a reasonable argument next time, or you'll end up looking very foolish...like you do here. ;-)
stephen987 says:
05:39 PM, 10/ 4/09
Maybe lexusaddict is still looking at the previous (2005+) Sorento, which really DOES look like an RX300. This vehicle doesn't--AT ALL.
dg0472 says:
12:51 PM, 10/ 5/09
I'd say Lexus might not be the only thing that lexusaddict is addicted to.
Per his/her request, here's the closest comparison photo I could find on the Toyota media site:
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/photo.aspx?fid=56390&id=E23C12498
As you can see, as I stated before, the general shape of the grille is about it. Not that dozens of other cars don't share that general shape. Beyond that, anyone without cataracts should be able to easily and readily distinguish between the two.
For those of you who may have a vision problem other than your own petty biases, the Kia is the one WITHOUT all the bloated puffiness. Hope this clears it up.