Kia has redone its award winning (J.D. Power 2015 IQS) mid-sized Sorento crossover for the 2016 model year. The consensus—Kia has done a masterful job in updating its popular SUV from the standpoint of styling, performance, technology and interior enhancements.
The new Sorento has a 3-inch longer wheelbase, it’s slightly wider, and it’s a bit lower. Overall, it looks sleeker, the hood looks longer and it actually appears lower than the one half-inch that Kia claims. The front end is more aggressive, the tiger grille seems taller. Its quad diode fog lamps are very distinctive and are becoming the face of the brand, never mind the grille.
The interior has also been reworked as Kia tries to lift it into the ranks of premium utility vehicles. Occupants will get a positive tactile experience with the soft touch surfaces especially the instrument panel, center console, and door panels. The door grips are so soft they feel padded.
The new Kia comes in five trim levels starting at $25,795—L, LX, EX, SX, and SX Limited, two-or three row seating configurations, and with three engine choices including one new for 2016. Standard in the L and LX is the 2.4 L 4-cylinder that produces 185 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque.
A new 240 hp turbocharged 2.0 L 4-cylinder is standard on the EX and SX Limited, and the carryover 3.3 L V6 making 290 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque is standard on the SX and available on the EX and SX Limited. All models come with a 6-speed automatic.
Oddly, the third-row seat is not available with the turbocharged engine. But all-wheel drive can be added to any trim level or engine configuration for $1,800.
We’ve driven the V6 in years past and found it among the class leaders in performance. And we’ve experienced the base 4-cylinder and found it adequate for light duty, but lacking if hauling several passengers and/or cargo.
We discovered that the new turbocharged four is a perfect fit between the base 4 and V6 possessing the needed power to adequately move the Sorento when loaded, but with better gas mileage than the V6.
The 2.0 L turbo with front-wheel drive is rated 20 mpg city, 27-highway and 23 overall. That drops to 19/25/22 with AWD. The V6 in two-wheel drive carries an 18/26/21 rating. Add AWD and mileage drops to 17/23/19. If towing is of prime importance, the V6 is the better choice, rated at 5,000 pounds. The turbo four’s towing capacity is 3,500 pounds.
We were impressed with the way the Sorento handles the mean streets of the city as well as the curving and rolling rural blacktops. The 4-cylinder turbo smartly moves the crossover off the line and has enough reserve power to easily pass slow moving traffic on a two-lane. The steering feels connected and the suspension strikes a nice ride/handling balance even on the worst streets.
The Sorento’s UVO system continues to be improved and can be loaded up with the latest infotainment technology including the Clari-Fi audio which rebuilds sounds that are lost as music is compressed for digital storage.
2016 Kia Sorento: A Masterful Remake
Kia has redone its award winning (J.D. Power 2015 IQS) mid-sized Sorento crossover for the 2016 model year.
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2016 Kia Sorento Courtesy of Kia
By Jim Meachen
Updated:
Occupants will get a positive tactile experience.
