The Kia Sorento is a three-row SUV that falls into the midsize SUV vehicle class. The three-row Kia Sorento offers great affordability, premium performance, and an upscale cabin for carrying passengers or cargo. It's an ideal package for families who need plenty of space on the road and want to save money at the gas pump. However, the midsize SUV market is a competitive segment. Let's take a closer look at the Sorento and how it stacks up against its rivals to help you find the SUV best suited to your needs.
Performance and Driving Experience
The standard setup in the Sorento includes a four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. This combination is good for 191 horsepower and allows the roomy SUV to achieve a remarkable 31 mpg on the highway.
You may require a bit more power if you regularly travel with a full load of passengers or cargo, which is where the optional turbocharged upgrade comes in. With the turbo-four engine under the hood, Kia's powertrain puts out 281 horsepower. The extra power doesn't come at too much of a cost to fuel economy either, with the turbocharged Sorento still managing a solid 29 mpg at highway speeds. Note that the more powerful engine comes with dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Interior Comfort and Space
The Sorento's first two rows compete in terms of headroom and legroom with much larger SUVs, making them ideal for adults to relax in. The third row is designed for kids to travel in. The base configuration offers space for seven people, including a second-row bench seat. Sorento capacity drops to six if you add optional captain's chairs for the second row, but this will make the ride for passengers more comfortable. While the base trim is equipped with cloth upholstery, you can add synthetic or genuine leather.
Even with a full load of passengers, you'll have 12 cubic feet to work with at the rear for your groceries. Folding down the third row opens up about 38 cubic feet, and you can transport bulkier items with the two rear rows folded flat. This setup gives you over 75 cubic feet of space, a roomy layout for the midsize SUV market.
Technology and Infotainment Features
The base Kia Sorento trim stands out with a large 12.3-inch infotainment display and a six-speaker stereo. Other tech offerings include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition, and Bluetooth connectivity. Accessing the cabin and getting started is easy with standard proximity keyless entry and remote start. Upgrading to higher trims adds features such as a navigation system, wireless device charging, a 12-speaker premium stereo, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster to monitor your Sorento's performance more easily.
Safety and Driver Assistance
One of the main things that makes the Kia Sorento stand out from its competitors is the extensive range of standard driver-assistance technology available throughout the lineup. Features include pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, and forward collision warning. Blind-spot monitoring and parallel exit assist, two features that most vehicles only offer as an optional upgrade, also come standard.
Lane departure warning, lane centering assist, and stop-and-go adaptive cruise control can keep you on the right track during highway driving. You'll also benefit from traffic sign recognition, which projects key information from signs onto your display, and the driver attention monitor, which alerts you when it's time to take a break. Going to higher trims, added features such as rain-sensing windshield wipers and a surround-view parking camera become available.
Pricing, Value, and Warranty
The base Sorento has an MSRP of around $31,900, which is extremely affordable for this vehicle class. By comparison, the Hyundai SANTA FE, which runs on the same platform as the Sorento, costs over $2,000 more at $34,200 MSRP.
Direct Competitor Comparisons
Several direct challengers are worth considering as part of a Kia Sorento comparison.
Kia Sorento vs. Toyota Highlander
The Highlander offers room for an extra passenger, with a maximum capacity of eight, and has a bit more cargo room. However, you'll have to pay considerably more for the Toyota, which has a starting price over $7,000 higher than the Sorento. Kia's vehicle is also more fuel-efficient, with 31 mpg on the highway, compared to the Highlander's 29 mpg. Its optional turbo-four engine has more power than the Highlander's turbocharged unit, which puts out 265 horsepower.
Kia Sorento vs. Hyundai SANTA FE
The SANTA FE has very similar features to the Kia Sorento, but the Sorento is more affordable and has better fuel economy. While the base Sorento can achieve up to 31 mpg on the highway, the maximum for the SANTA FE is 29 mpg. Both vehicles can seat up to seven people and offer largely the same infotainment options.
Kia Sorento vs. Honda Pilot
The Pilot has off-roading capabilities that you won't find in the Sorento. However, its V-6 engine isn't as fuel-efficient as the Sorento's optional turbo-four unit. The Pilot has a roomier cargo area and can seat up to eight passengers, but it's also in the same price range as the Highlander. The cheapest Pilot starts at about $8,000 more than the Sorento's base MSRP.
Kia Sorento vs. Ford Explorer
Unlike the Sorento, the Explorer is aimed at people heading off the beaten track. Its standard rear-wheel-drive setup can be replaced with four-wheel drive for added performance. Its bigger engines include a 300-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder unit and a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine with 400 horsepower. The Explorer is a more expensive proposition, with a starting MSRP of around $39,700.
Test-Drive the New Sorento at Huffines Kia Corinth
The Kia Sorento offers an ideal combination of affordability, solid performance, and versatility for drivers who spend their time on the road and want a fuel-efficient ride. You can choose between various trims to get your preferred level of comfort and convenience. Our Kia sales team will be happy to advise you on the right trim level and help you arrange auto financing. Feel free to contact our Corinth, Texas, dealership today to learn more about the new Sorento or book a test-drive.