2016 Kia Sorento Limited V6 |
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3.3L DOHC V6 CVVT (20 horsepower @ 6400 rpm, 252 lb-ft @ 5300) 6-speed automatic 17 city / 23 highway / 19 combined (EPA Rating, MPG) 19.2 (observed MPG) base Price $ 25,795 * As Tested :. $ 46,70 * * Prices include $ 895 destination charge |
Kia won a well-deserved reputation in the 0s to transport cheap and dirty, but lately they are the greatest social climber since Cinderella. "Kia 2016" and "1996 Kia" are totally different from each other. Even "06 Kia" seems like a distant memory.
Unusual for a car company, Kia is not afraid to debut in trouble in America, which can be seen both in its marketing to the press and its product portfolio.
The 2016 Sorento is a perfect example. While the model we have been loaned for a week is a strong candidate for the Ford Edge, Toyota Highlander and even the Acura MDX, Kia also sells a model priced at $ 24.00, just au above the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Ford Escape.
Does this makes the Sorento conflict? Or is born Korean, German designed and built American crossed the CUV "fair"?
Before going further, lets talk about the elephant in the room. twins Hyundai Santa Fe
Obviously, with Kia and Hyundai have joined financial and technical hip, the Sorento is linked to the 3-row Santa Fe and 2 rows of Santa Fe Sport. However, instead of creating Kia copies of these models (like GM would do), engineers split the difference and gave us a CUV between the pair Hyundai size available as 2 rows or 3 cross - row.
Exterior
Kia has long been accused of copying styles and scrambling conflicting signals in a single product. The pinnacle was the unloved Kia Amanti, mercy killed a number of years. This model had headlights Mercedes E-Class, Jaguar-meets-Chrysler grille, taillights and decidedly Lincoln Town Car profile. This is another type of construction Kia another type of car.
latest modus operandi of the Korean brand also includes product update frequently and heavily, and so is the case with the Sorento.
Back in 2010 when Kia launched the new Sorento, it was the first Kia built in the United States and the first Sorento that did not look like a clumsy copy of a first generation Lexus LX. In 2014, significant changes were made that turned the Sorento into a high value alternative to the Edge, but with a sober exterior styling. 2016 Kia Sorento brings yet another with massive mechanical changes and external much more elegant and spectacular. So I see a little Volkswagen-Audi-style answers in the taillights of the Sorento, this kind of tribute is more flattery than imitation - or perhaps the heritage given the current head of Hyundai- Kias design group. The front end is dominated by distinctive three dimensional "tiger nose" Kia gate that uses projecting plastic "fingers" instead o f slats or bars as most other crossovers.
Although the 2016 model receives a segment of three inches on 2014 Sorento, this is still a crossover "Tweener" 187.4 inches long. The Sorento is about the same size as 2 Ford Edge ranks despite the availability of a third row. This means that the Sorento 7 places is 4 to 5 inches shorter than the likes of the Toyota Highlander or Dodge Journey, but 8-10 inches longer than the average compact crossover, like the RAV4.
inside
many vehicles with wide competitive ensembles such as the Sorento start with building blocks suitable for the base price and add features you climb the ladder. You can see this in vehicles such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit where you will find goodness stitched leather sitting right next plastic injection molded hard. With 2016 Sorento, Kia has traced a different path. Engineers began with an interior well suited to our $ 46.495 fully loaded model and cut deep down to $ 24,00. This means basic models ditch back seat storage pockets, floor mats, auto up / down windows, power seats, automatic air conditioning, charge USB ports, roof rails, leather wrapped anythings even A-pillars stripped of their cloth coverings. (The good news is that much of this back into the $ 26,0 LX model.)
front seats Basic model lacking power adjustment and adjustable lumbar support. LX trims can option up to a drivers seat with 10-way 2-way lumbar support is standard on EX. SX Limited and win seats with 14-way power-an extension thigh pad and lumbar 4 channels. base seats are as comfortable as most compact crossovers inputs, intermediate level seats are as comfortable as you find in the Jeep Grand Cherokee or Edge, and premium seats have beaten the Lexus RX and Acura MDX when it comes to comfort and adaptability.
third row Our tester sported actually more space than that found in the Toyota Highlander and only a hair less found in the Acura MDX. This is the main reason we find less room in the second row, but it strikes me as an unusual choice as the Sorento does not win a place in the second row if you delete the third. Although the third line is substantially bench on the ground, Kia compensates with one of plusher third row of seats available. In high-end models, they also give the third row of the same perforated Nappa leather covering the rest.
Infotainment and gadgets
As you d expect with a low starting price, basic L models get basic infotainment with CD player, iPod interface and Bluetooth standard. The next step is UVO eServices with, which adds a color LCD with 911 four-inch assistance, Pandora integration, vehicle diagnostics and other SYNC / OnStar like services provided through your paired mobile phone.
Our model had 8 inches of premium UVO navigation system coupled with a speaker Infinity surrou nd sound system. UVO still lack the voice command functionality to your media library that you find in most competitive mass market, but it is the only serious omission in this software. UVO interface is eye-catching, supports scrolling movements / dragging with your finger, and the voice recognition software is intuitive. The display is large and easy to read in strong daylight and the user interface is sleek and modern. Although Kia has not released an official statement to this effect, it was suggested that 2016 Sorentos will likely be an upgrade path to Android Apple carplay Auto when I was at the launch event Optima ago a few weeks.
The new Sorento is available with all the latest gadgets and Kia gadgets revealed their flagship sedan, including a camera system at 360 degrees is Infiniti speed range adaptive radar cruise control, a partial LCD 7-inch dashboard, front collision warning and automatic braking waiting. Coupled with heated / ventilated seats, heat ed rear seats and heated steering wheel, the Sorento was probably more luxury features than the Acura MDX I drive now.
Training
Under the hood, you will find one of the three engines with direct injection mated to Hyundai / Kia 6-speed automatic . The L model with a 2.4L naturally aspirated four-cylinder cranks out 185 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. LX retains the same engine, but you can add all-wheel drive for $ 1,800. Next stop, and perhaps the most popular engine is the familiar 3.3-liter V-6 of the Cadenza. In the Sorento, this engine makes 293 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 252 lb-ft of torque at 5,0 rpm high. 2 rows versions of the EX and Limited come with a new 2.0-liter turbo four cylinder rated at 240 horsepower when operating at 6,000 rpm. This is less powerful than their previous 2.0-liter turbo, because the new design favors torque at low (260 lb-ft from 1450 rpm) on power-up system, which means 0-60 times are slow but you will have less experience while demoting hill climbing with the new turbo plant. It is interesting to note that Kia turbo gives them to run on regular unleaded while the number of power released by Ford in EcoBoosted board require 93 octane.
The engine compartment is another area where the status "Tweener" Sorentos obvious. The Nissan Murano, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Edge does not have natu rally aspirated four-cylinder engines. On the other hand, the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and other compact crossovers do not offer turbo V-6 or options. towing capacity ranges from 2,000 pounds in the base model at £ 5000 if you add the V-6 and all-wheel drive, putting the Sorento essentially on a par with most crossovers 3 ranks. Unlike most other crossovers, Kia has a "lock" button that can lock the pack at low speed clutch center. Although differences remain open units, engaging this mode makes the all-wheel drive system Sorento behave more like the always-on systems Subaru below of 20 mph speeds.
player so it looks good and is packed with all the latest. How does it drive? Just as a near-luxury crossover done. The power steering is well calibrated the Sorento (though numb) in all versions, missing the feeling overboosted of the Escape and Edge I tested back-to-back. The bar does not have the precision and feedback you get in the Mazda CX-5, but again the Kia is bigger and heavier so it is not unexpected. What was unexpected was how the Sorento reminded me MDX around. Both vehicles 60/40 balances weight and MDX will get a mechanical torque vectoring rear axle rather than th e brake-based system cheaper than we see in the Sorento. However, my favorite mountain road, the hot-shot pilot MDX in front of me could not shake the courageous Kia.
This is good news for the Sorento in the mass market segment, because the last Highlander Toyota is no exception. Toyota midsize their shoes pony with 245 width tires even in the base model with four cylinders and any Highlander is soft marshmallowy more. After the form, Kia puts 235 width tires on all Sorento models (Kia compensates by being several hundred pounds lighter), which is a big differentiator between it and the RAV4 crowd.
Even with 235/55 tires and 19-inch wheels of our model wore, the ride was well composed and did not feel upset until pressed hard in the corners on the broken pavement. Although the back became momentarily upset in these situations, it was predictable, the effort required to achieve and quickly settled down when I did. Compound theme is favored by the hushed cabin. As with other articles on the Sorento, the soundproofing is another measure to reduce costs on low-end models; LX-hubcaps missing and below the acoustic glass found in our tester. Watch this another way, though, the Sorento models over $ 31,000 (wh ich is also where the V-6 Highlander starts) will have its blocking windows. This is normally something you do not get until you step up the likes of the Lexus RX and Acura MDX.
Regarding the figures, the Sorento has scored exceptionally well in our braking tests, the judgment of 60 mph in 118 feet with a minimum fade in the second panic stop. The only major thing that changes the low-income to high-end models: Kia swaps the Kumho tires for some calmer and slightly grippier Michelins that help in handling and braking distances. The only thing that tires can not fix is ​​decidedly average 6.92 seconds 0-60 race or disappointing 19.1 miles per gallon on average I during my week. While the Sorento beat V-6 Highlander 60 and gave exactly the same average fuel economy Kia says, but the Highlander and heavier pilot both managed to be a little more frugal with the card gas. Of course, Kia has the most efficient turbo engine that gives up to 2 / 10ths on the 0-60 race and the t hird line in exchange for a 22 percent improvement in fuel economy.
And theres the rub with the selection of the engine :. you can not get the mother-in-law line with the boosted four, only the V-6 and rare model LX 2.4L with an option box checked $ 1,0
biggest advantage of the Sorento is, as expected, the value proposition. At the high end, it is almost $ 10,000 less than an Acura MDX despite powertrain warranty plus. In the middle line trim, you get more features than a Highlander for the same price and, again, a longer warranty. Even the bottom of the food chain Sorento, where he is a cut above the Escape and RAV in terms of price, the Sorento compensates with more cargo space, optional third row, and youll guessed, a longer warranty. This is the biggest change for Kia over the past 10 years. They went justify their cheap interiors and styling with me-too "we are cheaper!" Hooks to make you look better product that competition for the same dollar. This is perhaps the truest version of the value.
Short-term value was the mark of the Kia last decade, with low starting price and below average reliability. However, this seems to be another Kia. Reliability measures provided in Korean society are now traditional Japanese levels with even Consumer Reports projecting a proud owner experience. For the less conscious badge, the Sorento is a screaming deal. For people like me to look in the peanut gallery, I wonder how long it will take before Kia starts the price of their goods as the frankly awesome cars they are today. If Kia continues like this, they will not have a problem removing the last barrier :. Convincing Toyota / Honda buyers to visit a Kia dealership
Kia provided the vehicle, insurance and a tank of gas for this review
Specifications as tested
0-30: 2.7 seconds
0-60: 6.92 seconds
1/4 Mile: 15.25 seconds @ 92 mph
