Kia Sorento EX 2012 Review. There are a whole lot of SUVs on the market I'd plunk down my $32K for before this Kia Sorento EX, especially considering this is a four-cylinder powered one. How many of those might be seven-seaters could be another matter. In that light this is a bargain. Overall, as a midsize SUV goes, not so much.
I'm surprised how bland it looks compared to other Peter Schreyer-penned Kias like the Sportage and Optima. In terms of materials, the interior is a letdown, too.
The driving is decent. The four cylinder's power is also decent, no more no less. The V6 makes all the difference in the Sorento. If you're considering a Sorento, go for the six. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I find Sorentos a bit too crude, with a too rough a ride and unrefined handling. The steering is decent, quick with good on-center feel. This is not a pothole-friendly car, however. Tire noise is also a bit high.
So the biggest thing this has going for it in my mind is for the money, with seven seats, it's a good price. Not much else to recommend it.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: Wes has really summed up my feelings about this Sorento: underpowered and unrefined. The four-cylinder is OK for power hauling around the ute and one person, but put seven people and some gear in and this thing struggles. The suspension is crude as well, crashing over bumps and expansion joints. The cabin is merely adequate, with hard, flat-bottomed seats.
Again, there are other midsize, seven-passenger utes that are more comfortable than the Sorento.
NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: I liked the inside, was OK with the outside and was less than impressed with the powertrain on this Kia Sorento. The good: I really enjoyed the comfortable cabin with soft yet supportive seats, dark finishes and a nice layout. The mediocre: the styling is just above average for this segment with sharp headlights and curves, but nothing really head-turning. The bad: This engine is way underpowered for something this large. I flat-out floored it just to merge and launch at reasonable speeds. A little more juice would have been appreciated. Maybe 25 or 30 more horsepower is all that's required.
Like others note—there's nothing seriously wrong with this ute—there are just plenty of others available that are better choices.
The Kia did make for a pleasant drive for my night in it. The elevated road view, the big wheels, the heavy steering—I liked the general feel. Plus this one is nicely and fairly optioned out for the price. The seat warmers were especially appreciated on a surprisingly chilly morning. Satellite, upgraded materials, all-wheel drive, that's all very serviceable and marketable.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: The thing to keep in mind with the Sorento is that while this all-new-in-2011 unibody Sorento may feel a little on the rough side, the previous-gen body-on-frame Sorento was far worse and much more trucky. This is a completely different vehicle, with reasonable road manners, decent interior appointments and equipment, and relatively steady ride—although Detroit-area freeway bumps do point up its stiff suspension.
I have to agree that the four-cylinder isn't the way to go with the Sorento—it cruises OK at highway speed, but when you need to accelerate into a faster lane, there's not a lot of punch left to work with. And anybody who might tow with the car ought to consider the larger engine.
All that said, this is a strong contender in this class of utes, in part because of the third-row option. That gives it considerably more true utility than others, while still having plenty of room for cargo with those extra seats folded.
Back when the Sorento was introduced, it was very comparable to the Chevrolet Equinox, and I think that comparo is still appropriate. The odd thing that crosses my mind while driving this Sorento is how much better it is than not only the previous Sorento, but how these vehicles are heads and shoulders above past midsize utes like the Chevrolet TrailBlazer.
DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: The 2012 Kia Sorento has to be viewed through the lens of its as-tested price, for better and for worse. While it'll never be the choice of a discerning enthusiast (very few three-row crossovers would be), there's no way to deny that the Sorento offers a tremendous amount of equipment for the dollar. For those drivers more interested in comfort and convenience than 9/10ths roadholding and zesty acceleration, there's an awful lot to like here.
One place I'll concur with most of my fellow drivers is in the matter of exterior appearance. This is a dowdy truck in an already white-bread category. The black bumper trim on our tester looked down-market, especially against the silver paint, and it contrasted against the nicely appointed cabin.
The Sorento's four-cylinder engine is outmatched by the bulk of its charge, but not as badly as one might think. We had four people (two of them half-sized) and a load of mulch rolling back from the home center and never noticed any degradation in performance. Granted, a freeway on-ramp wasn't part of our route, but the Sorento fit us all comfortably and got us where we need to go with neither muss nor fuss.
All-wheel drive, three rows in a pinch, automatic everything, all for under $33k? There are a lot of reasons to look at a Sorento. Driving fun just isn't one of them. Kia Sorento EX 2012 Review.
Base Price: $28,450
As-Tested Price: $32,300
Drivetrain: 2.4-liter I4; AWD, six-speed automatic
Output: 191 hp @ 6,300 rpm, 181 lb-ft @ 4,250 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,737 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 24/20.9 mpg
Options: Premium package 1 including leather seat trim, heated front seats, auto-dimming mirror with Homelink, power-folding outside mirrors, memory driver's seat and mirror position, power passenger seat, navigation system with Sirius traffic, Infinity surround sound audio system, 50/50 split folding third-row seat ($3,800); cargo net ($50).
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20121121/carreviews/121129959#ixzz2D84isGmf
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