Test Drive: 2019 Kia Sorento
A well-rounded in-betweener.
Plentiful available features
Upscale styling and interior
Smooth, quiet ride
Limited cargo space behind 3rd row
Ho-hum handling
Poor outward visibility
Test Drive: 2018 Kia Sorento EX V6 AWD
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Comparison Test: 2018 Three-Row AWD SUVs Around $40K
AutoTrader SCORE
This score is awarded by our team of expert reviewers after extensive testing of the car
USABILITY/ERGONOMICS
DRIVABILITY
When it comes to mid-size SUVs there's no shortage of choice, yet Kia's Sorento manages to stand out from the crowd thanks to its well-rounded blend of just-right sizing, plentiful available features, excellent safety ratings, handsome exterior styling and a well-appointed interior. The icing on the cake is Sorento's competitive pricing, especially when calculated on a features-for-price basis.
Capable and relaxed.
The third-generation Sorento was introduced in North America for the 2016 model year, and for 2019 it has received a mid-cycle refresh. Changes include revised styling, a new eight-speed automatic transmission for V6 models, standard third-row seating for LX V6 and higher trims, a new steering wheel design, and a streamlined engine lineup.
There are now just two powertrain options: a 2.4L four-cylinder that makes 185 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque and uses a six-speed automatic, or a 3.3L V6 that churns out 290 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque and uses the new eight-speed transmission. The 2.0L, 240 hp turbo-four engine has been discontinued, and a promised diesel engine option has reportedly been scrapped, with Kia executives citing logistical challenges associated with establishing a maintenance and repair network for a low-volume powertrain option.
The styling tweaks for 2019 include new light clusters both front and rear, a slightly different grille, and new front bumper and rear valence. The new front lights are a distinct improvement to my eye, because by moving the signal lights to below the headlights, Kia has replaced the Sorento's previously rather surprised-looking countenance with a bit of a "don't mess with me" squint. The rest of the changes are subtle to the point of being almost unnoticeable, but that's not a bad thing – it means Kia hasn't messed with success.
For families with only occasional need for seven seats, the Sorento fits comfortably somewhere between "big enough to fit grandma in the third row" and "small enough to easily park downtown." It took a bit of nipping and tucking for Kia to fit three rows into a package not much larger outside than most two-row SUVs, so third-row legroom is tight unless you move the second-row seats forward a little. That said, I filled all three rows with adult passengers for a 40-minute drive and nobody felt unduly cramped – indeed the only comment I got from the very back was how nice it was to have their own climate control. The one caveat is that with the third-row seats deployed, luggage space is extremely limited.
The first and second rows, meanwhile, are properly roomy and comfortable, with my tester's top-trim SXL package adding soft, perforated Nappa leather upholstery. With the SXL trim the first-row perches get heating, cooling, and eight-way power adjustments (plus four-way lumber adjustments for the driver), while the rear seats are heated and have 40/20/40-split-folding and recline capability.
Up front, the dash layout is simple, easy-to-use, and upscale-looking. Primary climate control and audio functions are taken care of with proper knobs and buttons, and Kia's UVO2 infotainment system offers reasonably intuitive control of most secondary functions. Despite not having driven a Kia for some time, I was able find my way through the menu system easily and with only a minimum of missteps (it took me a couple of tries to locate the audio settings menu, but then again I was driving on a busy highway at the time).
I particularly liked the instrumentation, which uses crisp, easy-to-read white-on-black gauges. The speedometer dial is actually a virtual display, allowing it to be subtly coloured up to your selected speed when you engage the adaptive cruise control. This makes it easy to see at a glance whether traffic is currently moving at or below your desired speed. It's a smart bit of design. Other thoughtful touches abound throughout the cabin: there's a 110V inverter outlet, lots of storage cubbies, and – perhaps my favourite "Why didn't anyone think of this before?" feature – a dedicated storage spot below the cargo floor for the cargo privacy cover.
One bit of new tech only available on the SX and SXL trims is a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, replacing the previous Infinity system. It's a great sounding system with good presence, helped no doubt by the Sorento's very quiet and serene ride.
Relaxed drive
Kia's 3.3L V6 is a proven powerplant, and it has plenty enough power to hustle the Sorento along (0–100 km/h is dispatched in about 7.5 seconds). Standard all-wheel drive (in all but the base LX model) helps ensure that winter road conditions won't be unduly stressful, and the new eight-speed transmission is smooth-shifting and contributes to slightly improved city fuel efficiency: Where the 2018 Sorento V6 was rated 14.0 / 10.3 L/100 km city/highway, the 2019 SLX with the V6 is rated at 12.5 / 9.7 L/100 city/highway. My test vehicle was showing a mixed average of 10.7 L/100 km over 1,200 km when I picked it up, and my own fuel consumption came in at around 10.3 L/100 km on the highway and 14.1 L/100 km in the city.
In terms of the driving experience, the operative words are capable and relaxed. The Sorento does everything it's supposed to do with calm competence: The cabin is quiet, the ride compliant and comfortable, the handling predictable, and in the top SXL trim there's a full array of driver assist technologies to ease the driving chores, including forward collision avoidance assist, active lane-keeping assist, driver attention alert, and an excellent 360-degree camera system. EX and higher trim gets blind spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert; and EX Premium adds front and rear parking sensors, so my test car had all that too. Backstopping the active safety systems are top crash ratings in both NHTSA and IIHS tests, earning the Sorento an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating.
On the downside, the ride is a little disconnected-feeling, with numb steering and precious little in terms of emotion and dynamics. If you're graduating from a sporty sedan and looking for similar qualities in an SUV, you'll probably be happier with a Mazda CX-9. I also found that the throttle response seemed a little non-linear at low speeds. The net result is a tendency to either crawl off the line, or push a little deeper into the throttle and take off harder than expected.
Other minor quibbles are that the mirrors will automatically unfold themselves when you approach the vehicle, which is very welcoming and high-tech, but you have to push an actual button to unlock the door, which seems anachronistic by comparison. Touch-sensitive door handles would make more sense here. I also found the A-pillars to be more obstructive than most: They are thick, sweep forward a long way, and have big mirror mounts at the base. I found myself having to be extra vigilant looking for pedestrians when turning left at intersections.
A trim level for every budget
Pricing for the Kia Sorento starts at $27,995, which gets you a front-wheel drive version with the four-cylinder engine, 17-inch wheels, cloth upholstery, and manual air conditioning. Even in base trim you get quite a few upmarket features including automatic projection headlights, heated front seats, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a seven-inch display audio system with Bluetooth connectivity and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
The LX AWD drive starts at $30,295 and adds things like roof rails, a wireless phone charging pad, and smart key with push-button start. The LX V6 ($34,795) further ups the ante with fog lights, sound-reducing windshield, dual-zone automatic climate control, three-row seating, eight-way adjustable driver's seat with adjustable lumbar support, satellite radio, auto-dimming mirror, and UVO connected car services.
If you prefer to trade power for luxury and seating space, the EX 2.4L ($32,495) offers up leather-upholstered three-row seating, although it drops the automatic climate control, satellite radio, and sound-reducing windshield. Confused yet?
The upper trims ring in at $38,365 for the EX V6, $40,865 or the EX Premium, $44,865 for the SX and $48,865 for the as-tested SXL. Incrementally added features include things such as drivers seat memory function, eight-way power passenger seat, heated second-row seats, cooled front seats, premium and Nappa leather, an enormous panoramic sunroof, eight-inch multimedia with navigation, the 10-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, 18- or 19-inch wheels, and all the active safety equipment mentioned earlier.
Of note for the safety-conscious is that some of this equipment – such as the adaptive cruise control, forward collision avoidance assist and lane-keeping assist – is only available in the topmost SXL trim for the Sorento, whereas competitors such as Toyota offer it across the range.
Still, with the exception of some of the advanced active safety features, the Sorento offers a healthy portion of equipment across the range, and with its "in-betweener" sizing it represents an excellent option for three-row SUV shoppers.
Hyundai Santa Fe XL
Peak Horsepower
290 hp @ 6,400 rpm
252 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm
12.5/9.7/11.2 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb
320 / 1,077 / 2,066 L behind 3rd/2nd/1st row
Model Tested
2019 Kia Sorento SXL
A/C Tax
Destination Fee
Price as Tested
$200 – Colour charge $200
Simon Hill rebuilt his first engine, an air-cooled Volkswagen, at 14. He started writing professionally about cars in 2009 and was also the editor of Boat Journal magazine. He lives in Vancouver, BC.
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