2016 Kia Sorento Road Test and Review

2016 Kia Sorento front 3/4 ・ Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Is it any surprise that the redesigned 2016 Kia Sorento exhibits all the same attention to detail as each of the brand's other family-oriented models? The Korean automaker has taken its successful people-moving formula and gently nudged it onto a larger platform, giving the mid-size hauler more of what was already so appealing about the Sorento's SUV chops.

Along the way, Kia has also managed to graft the style and practical comforts that have become characteristic of its lineup, offering affordable access to luxury that has yet to trickle down into the cabins of some of its rivals from Toyota, Honda, and Mazda. It's a graceful step up the ladder for the Sorento, and one that should see this sport-utility vehicle figure heavily on the shopping lists of anyone who needs an inexpensive and practical daily driver.

Models and Prices

The 2016 Kia Sorento is available in a wide range of trim levels, starting with the L (MSRP $24,900) which features 17-inch wheels, satellite radio, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, cloth seats, air conditioning, and LED running lights. Next up is the Sorento LX (MSRP $26,200), which adds the Uvo eServices infotainment system, a rearview camera, a quieter cabin, automatic headlights, and a touchscreen LCD, followed by the EX (MSRP $31,100) and its parking assistance, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, 18-inch wheels, additional soundproofing, leather upholstery, and dual automatic climate control. 

Luxury abounds in the Sorento SX (MSRP $37,900), which includes keyless ignition and entry, a blind spot monitoring system, hands-free opening for the SUV's power liftgate, sunshades, a panoramic sunroof, a navigation system with a bigger display for the vehicle's rearview camera, an upgraded stereo system, 19-inch wheels, a power driver's seat with memory, snazzier trim on the outside, and LED taillights. The full-tilt-boogie Limited trim (MSRP $39,900) tops things off with chrome rims, Nappa leather, heated second row seats, and ventilated front seats. The vehicle I drove for a week was a bone stock 2016 Kia Sorento EX with optional all-wheel drive, giving it a window sticker of $33,795.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Design

What’s New:

• The 2016 Kia Sorento has been completely redesigned for the current model year.

If there was a single word to describe the makeover that's been given to the 2016 Kia Sorento, it would be 'muscles.' The mid-size SUV reminds me of that guy in your office who spent the entire winter hitting the gym just so he could come in to work on warm day in June and show off the fruits of his labor in a short-sleeve shirt. The transformation of the Sorento's visual personality isn't a dramatic one, but it does add a presence to the vehicle that wasn't quite as prominent in years past, especially up front where a mesh grille and bolder headlights offer a prouder visage. 

Interior trappings also bear the mark of Kia's fashion-conscious stylists, who managed to make even the mid-tier cabin of my EX tester a pleasant place to spend some time. Although it is indeed possible to order the Sorento with such a plush passenger compartment that you'd easily mistake it for a luxury suv, the EX offers more practical fare that presents well but reflects the Kia's $30k price point. Still, it's an agreeable design overall that presents well alongside similarly-stickered rivals.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Comfort and Cargo

:

• The 2016 Kia Sorento has been completely redesigned for the current model year.

The 2016 Kia Sorento's lower roofline and three-inch longer wheelbase don't really come into play until you open the door and notice the vehicle's larger confines. This is especially true if you find yourself assigned to the second row of seating, which improves on the 2015 model's legroom by half an inch and which can slide and recline to further accommodate your frame. Also notable is the improved seating position up front: although I still had trouble adjusting the steering wheel to be close enough to my torso for maximum comfort, the driver's bucket itself was much easier to configure into an acceptable perch. The center console proved to be a suitably huge hiding spot for cables, receipts, and cameras that I didn't feel like leaving out in the open, and the upholstered top was a prime resting place for my right elbow. 

The Sorento maintains the availability of a third row of seating, but there are a few caveats to consider if you're considering a seven-passenger edition of this SUV. The first is related to the tight confines of the additional bench: it's going to be fine for children, but adults will want to take the bus instead. Three-row Sorento models also offer a limited 11 cubic feet of storage space if you're loaded up with seven riders, which is less than a third of the room offered by the five-passenger model (a space large enough for me to haul four Nitto NT01 track tires home even with a full complement of passengers along for the ride). Both versions of the Sorento feature 74 cubic feet of total interior storage. 

The second sticky wicket associated with ordering a third row in the 2016 Kia Sorento is that it locks you out of opting for the peppy 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. In fact, you can only find seven-passenger editions of the SUV with the base four-cylinder unit or the top-shelf V6, which is unfortunate for reasons I'll delve into later on.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Features and Controls

What’s New:

• The 2016 Kia Sorento has been completely redesigned for the current model year.

The Kia Sorento EX doesn't go overboard with buttons, touchscreens, or toggles, instead offering a clean and easy-to-use set of controls on the dashboard and steering wheel that handle all of the important functions one would expect from a $30,000 SUV. I liked how the climate and infotainment systems were separated into two distinct pods on the center stack, and while I would have preferred a larger touchscreen to use when interacting with the stereo (there was no navigation feature installed on my tester), the smaller unit did the job without complaint. Driver's gauges are equally simply and lack the flair of the full-color TFT displays that are increasingly finding their way into family fare, but again, the Sorento felt price-appropriate.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Safety and Ratings

What’s New:

• The 2016 Kia Sorento introduces new active safety systems.

 Standard on all versions of the 2016 Kia Sorento are side impact airbags up front, dual forward airbags, side curtain airbags that run beside the first two rows of seat, and electronic stability control and traction control. SX, and Limited editions of the Sorento also come with a blind spot monitoring system (optional of EX), while the Limited adds the availability of a lane departure warning system and a forward collision warning system (neither of which were offered for 2015).

Truth be told, I found it refreshing to drive a vehicle that wasn't constantly beeping at me out on the highway with a warning of the dire consequences of my potential actions, and it was also nice not to have the steering wheel tugged out of my hands should I errantly cross a line on the pavement. I'm not saying that advanced safety systems don't save lives - they can, and do - but their absence reminded me just how much background chatter has intruded into what was once the sanctity of the automotive cabin.

2016 Kia Sorento Crash-Test Ratings: The Kia Sorento has been awarded Top Safety Pick status by the IIHS by virtue of scoring 'Good' in each of its important crash tests. The NHTSA has yet to test the SUV for its crash worthiness.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

# 2016 Kia Sorento Road Test and Review

What’s New:

• The 2016 Kia Sorento introduces a new turbocharged four-cylinder mid-level engine option.

As in 2015, the 2016 Kia Sorento starts out with a 2.4-liter, 185 horsepower engine under the hood of the L and LX trims. Also tuned to produce 178 lb-ft of torque, this unit offers a fuel efficiency rating of 22-mpg in city driving and 29-mpg on the highway. If you're feeling a little more froggy, then new for 2016 is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that grinds out 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque on its way to returning 20-mpg around town and 27-mpg on the highway. Over 1,000 miles of driving I found that the turbo beat its combined average rating, offering me a very respectable 24-mpg.

Finally, high-spec Sorentos are outfitted with a 290 horsepower, 3.3-liter V-6 that additionally generates 252 lb-ft of twist. Fuel mileage drops to 18-mpg in stop and go driving and 26-mpg during highway cruising with the six-cylinder motor. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard with every Sorento, while all-wheel drive can be added to any drivetrain configuration.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

# 2016 Kia Sorento Road Test and Review

This year I chose the 2016 Kia Sorento as the magic carpet that would whisk me down the five hours of interstate that separate Montreal from New York City, where the annual auto show awaited. The day before I left I spent some time behind the wheel of a 2015 edition of the SUV to refresh my memory of what I had remembered to be a competent people mover. In the process, I had been cautioned by Kia that I might find the older model's V6 to be preferable to the 2.0-liter turbo in the new model out on the highway.

I am pleased to report that this was not the case. In fact, at no point during my journey to-and-from New York City did I find myself regretting my decision to embrace turbo power. Improved sound insulation and subtle retuning of the 2.0-liter's powerband have led to quieter operation and smoother torque delivery as compared to the smaller Sportage outfitted with a similar turbocharged motor, giving the Sorento the self-assuredness require to confidently eat up highway miles. Even better: the 24-mpg I saw while not sparing the horses down I-87 speak to the real-world benefits of sticking with the small-displacement engine over the much-thirstier V-6. This mileage was achieved despite the presence, and use, of all-wheel drive on snowy stretches of road where the spring thaw had yet to make its presence known.

From a handling perspective, the Sorento was easy to keep between the lines, although at times in the city I found its steering to be a little lighter than I would have liked. Multiple driving modes are available for the SUV (including Eco and Sport) and I discovered that the greatest difference between the two was throttle response, with Eco dampening but not eliminating the potency of my right foot. Sport is somewhat of a misnomer, for while it might give you the smallest edge when pointing-and-shooting the Sorento isn't really an athletic performer, preferring instead to spend its chassis points on smoothing out its ride. This is always my preference for a practical family vehicle.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

# 2016 Kia Sorento Road Test and Review

The addition of the turbo engine on mid-level editions of the 2016 Kia Sorento was a brilliant decision, but it's hobbled by limited availability. Why not make the 2.0-liter motor available on any trim above EX, and with the option of third row seating to boot? In my mind, it's the clear winner out of the Kia's trio of available drivetrains and most likely the future of the automaker's engine strategy in North America.

Regardless, 2016 Kia Sorento takes the automaker's mid-size SUV to the next level of fit and finish, efficiency, available luxury, and safety. The Sorento has also grown enough to enhance passenger comfort and cargo capacity without ballooning to the point where it's a hassle to drive in traffic. Even in modestly-priced EX form the Kia Sorento compares nicely against its Japanese and domestic mid-size competitors, and more expensive models are starting to edge out Toyota, Honda, and Ford in terms of features and comforts. If you're Kia, you have to like your chances at increasing the market share of what was already a very popular, and versatile, sport-utility star.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

# 2016 Kia Sorento Road Test and Review

Pros:

• Attractive styling
• Powerful, yet efficient turbocharged engine option
• Availability of all-wheel drive
• Optional seven-passenger seating
• Roomy cabin
• Versatile cargo hauling capability
• Affordable

Cons:

• Turbo engine limited to five-passenger trims
• Third row of seating isn't adult-friendly and compromises cargo space when in use
• Would like a larger LCD screen on EX trim
• V-6 engine is thirsty at the pump.

Kia Canada supplied the vehicle for this review.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting