We spend a week in the all-new midsize three row crossover from Kia
Pros
More luxurious
Comfortable ride
More responsive steering
Cons
Tight third road accommodations
Handling crisp but not sporty
Poor third row access
2016 Kia Sorento
The third generation Sorento is all-new for 2016 with a completely restyled exterior as well and an all-new interior. Like the second generation model, it continues to share its platform with Kia's Sedona minivan.
Exterior
Outside, not a single body panel is carried over from the second-generation model. Up front, Kia's signature "tiger nose" grille is now larger, wider and more upright. At the same time, the headlamp enclosures are narrower, the fog light bezels are more squared-off, while the front new fascia also sports a larger lower air intake.
Along the sides and breaking up the slab-sided look is a soft upper character line and deep sculpting along the lower doors as well as new 19-inch brushed alloy wheels and red brake calipers. Meanwhile in back, the changes are more subtle with larger, wrap-around tail lamps and a re-styled lower fascia.
Interior
Inside, Kia has given its new midsize crossover what it terms a "class-up" interior, which gives the Sorento a decidedly luxurious feel. Everywhere you would normally place your hands and fingers, the surfaces are soft-touch. This includes everything from the door trim panels and upper dash – surfaces where you would normally expect it - to the sides of the center console.
The central touch screen features redundant buttons for all the major functions, while the stitched, horizontal dash also features a soft lower pad that minimizes the possibility of scratches if front passengers hit it with their shoes.
The backlit gauges are clear and easy to read. The redesigned steering wheel not only contains the requisite controls for both the cruise control and Bluetooth phone, it also features both buttons and rollers to pick and scroll through the various functions within the central gauge and infotainment system.
That steering wheel both tilts and telescopes, while the power driver's seat also features two memory settings, an electric lumbar support and lower seat cushion extender for improved thigh support. Finished in two-tone leather, as are the middle and third row benches, the front seats are nicely bolstered with plenty of leg, hip, shoulder and headroom for adults.
There's also plenty of room for three adults in the middle row. And while the third row seats are very comfortable for children, the cushions are too close to the floor and adults, once they're able to climb back there – a feat in itself, will find themselves staring at their knees (although the center seats more forward for a bit more leg room in back).
Cargo volume with the third row up manages just 11cubic feet. Folding it increases capacity to a more usable 38 cubic feet, while folding the second row allows for a fairly commodious total of 73 cubic feet.
Thanks to a low beltline and a vast expanse of glass, views out the front sides are excellent. The view out the rear three quarters, however, is hindered by a thick C-pillar while the view out back is also partially blocked if the third row seats are deployed. Fortunately, a rear view camera is standard equipment on both the SX and EX trim levels (although not on the base L model).
Under the hood
While a 2.4-liter normally aspirated 4-cylinder is standard on the new-for-2016 base L and LX trims and a new 2.0-liter turbo is standard on EX and Limited models, optional on the LX, EX and Limited and standard on all SX Sorentos is Kia's Lambda 3.3-liter all-aluminum DOHC V6 that generates 290hp at 6,400 rpm and a maximum 252 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,300rpm.
The EPA rates the AWD Kia Sorento SX at 17/19/23 city/highway/combined mpg, while our own observed fuel economy ended up being 19.5 miles per gallon in city driving and 23.5 mpg cruising between 70 and 80 on the interstate.
On the road
While it's skewed more towards comfort than sportiness, the new Sorento's handling is secure. Despite its size and cushy suspension, body motions are well controlled and there's very little body lean in corners. And despite the fact that the rack-mounted power steering system is not perfect, there's also a marked improvement in the amount of feedback through the steering wheel that makes it easier to drive.
Although the pads don't exhibit much of an initial bite, braking is very linear and it's easy to modulate the brake pedal. There's also better than average feedback through the brake pedal.
At freeway speeds the Sorento feels well planted, handling both minor and larger road imperfections with ease. It's also unaffected by either crosswinds or grooved pavement. There's plenty of power from the smooth V6, making merging and passing effortless.
Interior noise is fairly subdued for a vehicle in this class, especially in around-town driving where very little road, wind or tire noise enters the cabin. At freeway speeds, wind and engine noise remains fairly low-key, making longer trips comfortable. But we did note that traveling over certain types of concrete or surfaces with expansion joints, quite a bit of tire and tire slap noise entered the cabin.
2016 Kia Sorento prices
2016 Kia Sorento pricing starts out at $25,795 for the entry-level FWD L trim level and tops out at $49,735 for a fully optioned-and-accessorized AWD Limited model.
Our Remington Red AWD SX tester had a base price of $39,700 and absolutely no options. But even in its option-less state it still came standard with, among other luxury touches, leather seats, dual zone automatic climate control, rear air conditioning, Infinity surround sound, navigation, smart key with push button start, power rear liftgate, fog lamps, panoramic roof, rear window sunshades, Bluetooth and Siri hands free. Including an $895 inland freight and handling charge, this brought its total manufacturer's suggested retail price to $40,595.
The Bottom Line
After spending a week with one, we found that there is even more to like about Kia's latest Sorento. The 2016 iteration has handsome styling, a more luxurious interior, a better ride, more responsive steering and the interior is quieter in both in-town and highway driving.
But we also came to realize that all is not perfect. In particular, its handling is far from sporty, while buyers looking for a true three-row crossover will find the 2016 Sorento's third row accommodations are still too tight for adults for anything other than short errands around town.
But the fact remains that the 2016 Kia Sorento represents another giant step forward for the Korean brand. Those who haven’t visited a Kia dealer lately may be surprised by the SX's $40K-plus window sticker, but even at this price you'll find a lot of bang for the buck in a secure handling, handsomely-styled, smaller, three-row crossover with a luxurious interior and decent fuel economy.
Buyers looking for something larger than a midsize crossover that's still easy to park in the city or those only needing to ferry around smaller children in a third row should put the new 2016 Kia Sorento SX at or near the top of their lists.
