2016 Kia Sorento: Mature and Consistent

When Kia first entered the Canadian market, the Korean automaker didn’t have much in its line up. In fact, it only had the Sephia sedan and the Sportage, a small SUV—and both were truly awful in all respects. Fortunately, new models came in as reinforcements pretty soon afterward, significantly enhancing the offer at dealerships. In 2003, the first generation Sorento helped Kia gain credibility. It was a robust and totally unrefined vehicle, but its handling was pretty good, its passenger compartment was spacious and its price was very competitive. 

The model is now in its third generation. And the fact that it’s now touted in a Super Bowl ad by Pierce Brosnan, formerly James Bond, gives you an idea of how far Kia has come.  

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The well-known actor wasn’t with us when we demoed the Sorento up in Tremblant, Quebec, but we nonetheless did a pretty thorough test. 

Progressive changes

At first glance, the new Kia looks a lot like the former one, and its stylists kept the model’s signature trapezoid C-pillar. But the new gen is 5 mm wider and 75 mm longer than its predecessor. Even though it’s just a few millimetres, the difference translates into a wider track width and added interior space. The vehicle’s profile is lower than before, giving it a sportier look. While the platform is relatively unchanged, the use of better quality steel has improved torsional rigidity by 14% and flexural rigidity by 13%, which has a direct impact on comfort and handling. Most of the front and rear suspension components were also tweaked. 

As for its appearance, this newcomer features beefed-up rocker panels that make the side panels look sunken. Note the stainless steel front and rear bumper inserts on the SX, the most luxurious trim. On the LX and FX, they are silver-coloured.  

The brand’s classic grille was kept, but the Kia emblem was repositioned and is now practically in the middle of the grille. The quality of the assembly and paint work are noteworthy. This model is assembled in West Point, Georgia.  

Three engines are offered. The base trim comes with a 185-hp 2.4-litre four cylinder that can tow up to 2,000 pounds. New to this model is another four-cylinder. It’s a 2.0-litre turbo with direct fuel injection, 240 horsepower and a 3,500-pound towing capacity. Finally, the 3.3-litre V6 is back, delivering 290 horsepower and 252 lbs.-ft. of torque. It’s able to tow up to 5,000 pounds, compared to 3,500 in the previous model. According to Kia, this increase is due to the more rigid platform. It’s worth noting that the V6 is only available on the all-wheel drive version. The two other engines can be paired with front-wheel drive or the optional all-wheel drive. 

The Dynamax all-wheel drive system was developed jointly with Magna, a Canadian company with a world-renowned reputation. This system automatically redirects power from the front wheels to the back if the tires start to slip. In Normal mode on dry pavement, 95% of power is directed to the front and 5% to the back. When traction is reduced dramatically, the maximum split is 50/50. You can also lock the power distribution 50/50 by pushing a special button, though it deactivates when you hit 35 km/h.   

Some Sorento trims can be equipped with a peripheral camera system and power liftgate that opens when you’re within 1 metre of the vehicle. If you order the adaptive cruise control, you can preset the distance between your car and the one in front. The driver can also choose one of three driving modes: Eco, Normal and Sport. Essentially, Kia has ensured that its intermediate SUV is equipped to keep pace with its competitors. The quality of materials in the passenger compartment has been stepped up and the dashboard was revisited. In the middle, there’s a rectangular module with the display or navigation screen, flanked by buttons to manage the various features. The effect is sober and elegant. That said, the screen is quite small on the more modest trims. 

The five-seater versions come with a very practical storage system under the trunk floor. 

On the road

The first thing you’ll notice when driving the Sorento is the soundproofing. You also get the sense that it’s a solid vehicle thanks to the well-insulated suspension and improved feedback from the well-dosed power steering. Actually, there’s still room for improvement, but there has been marked improvement over the last version. 

Thanks to the rigidity of the platform and adjustments made to the independent suspension, the vehicle’s handling is very good. That said, we might have liked it to be a little more precise, but we’re just nitpicking at this point. Given the absence of the 2.4-litre mill, we tested different versions equipped with the turbo 2.0 or the V6. The automatic six-speed transmission is the only one offered, but it does an honest job shifting gears smoothly. But you’ve got to wonder why they didn’t go for eight gears to keep up with the Joneses. The Turbo engine has a bit more bite and the fact that it’s lighter makes it better for cornering. Many drivers, however, will appreciate the V6’s smoothness. At any rate, it’s the only engine available on the SX and SX+, the more upscale Sorentos.    

In a nutshell, this new generation marks the intelligent evolution of a model that was already on the right track. It may fall short of being spectacular, but it’s better than before. Plus, with so many trims, there’s something for everyone.