2011 Kia Sorento, an all-round car

Sorento is a mid-size crossover Sport Utility Vehicle produced since 2002 by the South Korean automaker, Kia Motors Corporation.

As in virtually all vehicle models, the internet is replete with auto reviewers’ comments on the new Kia Sorento. Two auto news portals, Car and Driver and Best Cars, form the bulk of this review. They have tried to accommodate the comments of others.

Generally, the Sorento has two transmission options: a five-speed manual or four/five-speed automatic transmission (pre-2005 models have a four speed automatic, while the 2005 Sorentos came with a five-speed tip-tronic style automatic transmission).

The 2011 Kia Sorento comes in a single body style of a crossover SUV and it is available in three body styles: base, EX and LX.

The base Sorento is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, with complete power accessories, such as 17-inch alloy wheels, a tilt-and-telescoping multifunction steering wheel, air-conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, a trip computer and a CD/MP3 audio system having a USB audio jack and satellite radio.

For large families, the Sorento makes for an excellent all-round car. The 2.0-litre and 2.2-litre diesel engines are both relatively refined and offer good fuel economy and pace.

The vehicle is comfortable, spacious, massively practical, thus offering a great value for money, says Car and Driver.

On the road, the Sorento is comfortable enough to make long journeys pass by quickly.

According to Best Cars, the 2011 Kia Sorento straddles the line between compact and midsize SUVs. Available seating for seven and its exterior size say midsize SUV, but its standard four cylinder engine reflects a compact SUV.

“If you opt for the highest trim, a modestly equipped base model is quite a good value. Reviewers like the new Sorento so much that they say it gives the class leaders a run for their money,” it says.

Kia rates the vehicle’s fuel economy high. Specifically, it estimates the new Sorento’s base fuel economy at 21/29 mpg city/highway. This, reviewers say, is about average for the class, considering that the vehicle can accommodate up to seven passengers. No seven-passenger SUV is thus found to cost less or net more miles per gallon than the Sorento.

Handling

Reviewers admire the redesigned Sorento’s smooth ride with its superb brakes. Those who say the ride can be bumpy at times, are in the minority.

The Edmunds says, “The Sorento has hydraulic-assist power steering that provides true, precise and communicative steering control – a unique quantity in the crossover segment.

“With the V6 engine, the Sorento has a substantial, heavy luxury-car feel in the steering. As with almost any vehicle with a front-wheel-drive bias, it under-steers, which means that its tendency is to plow forward in a straight line. But that also delivers straight-line stability on the highway, even in nasty rain-soaked conditions,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says.

Performance

If the previous Sorento was based on a truck chassis, which meant its ride could be uncomfortable, compared to many compact SUVs, the 2011 version is a complete redesign from the ground up. It is a car-based crossover, which makes ride smooth and enjoyable.

Exterior

Many reviewers applaud the redesigned Sorento’s styling, which they find not outrageous but quite attractive.

For instance, Boston Globe says, “From the front, it has bold styling cues that are not borrowed from some decade-old design. Sharply slanting headlights border a bold chrome Cheshire cat grill. Kia describes the overall style as ‘sleek and contemporary,’ and we concur.”

Edmunds also notes, “Though vaguely reminiscent of the Mitsubishi Outlander, it is a creased, well-proportioned and confident step away from the anonymity of the outgoing Sorento.”

Interior

The redesigned Kia Sorento excels in interior comfort and quality. For its price range, it offers high-quality materials with a remarkable number of standard features, such as Bluetooth.

“The Sorento’s interior is class-competitive in both design and materials, with a look that is restrained but sophisticated. Dashboard plastics are hard to the touch but look good,” Edmunds notes.

For the Washington Post, its “fit and finish are excellent, equal to anything from putative automotive quality leaders Honda and Toyota.”

Safety

The vehicle’s standard safety features are dual front advanced airbags, side curtain airbags for the first and second rows, dual front seat-mounted side airbags, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control System, Brake Assist System, Electronic Brake Distribution, Hill Assist Control, and Downhill Brake Control.

A backup warning system is optional on base LX models and standard on EX models. A rearview camera is optional for all models — and reviewers say you’ll need it since the third-row seat compromises rear visibility.

Source : Punch