2011 Kia Sorento SX Review

A Kia Sorento was never really on my radar screen. In fact, I couldn�t say for sure whether I�ve ever driven one before. If, while testifying in court, the judge asked me whether I�d ever driven a Sorento, I�d have to say, �I don�t know, Your Honor.� I simply can�t remember. And now I know why: This trucklet is utterly forgettable and clearly not ready for prime time. It is too crude, it rides too rough, the handling is unrefined, the back seat is too tight, the front seats are uncomfortable, and materials inside too inexpensive. I haven�t heard doors clank shut this inexpensive-sounding since back in my 1970s dealership days and the Dodge St. Regis. I could go on, but why?

The Sorento is actually not a bad-looking thing. The exterior styling is arguably its best feature. And the steering is decent, quick, with good on-center feel. But with the potholes beating the hell out of me, I simply did not enjoy driving it.

The price: Even with all the bells and whistles this particular Sorento has, it�s still about $10,000 too high in my book.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: First things first: Kia is doing a phenomenal job with its marketing. We had the giant rapping hamsters for the Soul and now the sock monkey with a bunch of other friends rolling around in a Sorento. The imagery has been ingrained in my head, which means a job well done.

Besides clever advertising, this Sorento SX is a pretty nice crossover, too. The exterior wrapper is crisp and attractive with Kia�s company grille up front, isn�t over the top in any area, and it rolls on good-looking 18-inch wheels with what Kia refers to as a �hyper finish.�

Being the range-topping model in the lineup, the SX also features specific front and rear bumpers, LED taillights, stainless exterior greenhouse trim, body-color side molding and chrome exhaust tips. On the inside, there�s standard navigation, a rearview camera, illuminated stainless-steel scuff plates, stainless pedals and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Performance upgrades over the LX and EX models include a 0.4-inch lower ride height and dual-flow dampers to improve the Sorento�s handling prowess.

Those suspension alterations help yield the most surprising thing about the Sorento to me, and that was just how responsive this tall, 3,704-pound ute is. Steering feel is hefty with quick response to commands, and the brakes offer respectable stopping response and pedal feel. Around town, the ride is a little harsh with almost every expansion joint and rut felt inside the cabin, and there was a fair amount of tire noise, too. However, out on smooth expressways, it�s oddly fine, quiet and rather comfortable. I realize the SX trim in the Kia scheme is supposed to veer toward the sportier end of the performance scale, but I think Kia would be wise to soften up the suspension for city dwelling a notch or two, while keeping the athletic handling intact.

No major complaints about the overall design and layout of the interior with a simple center stack, but most of the materials throughout aren�t worthy of a near-$36,000 vehicle. All major surfaces are made from hard plastics, but in their defense, the finish looks good. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is a bit rough, and I found the seat cushions to be too hard--please Kia, soften those babies up! And the rearview camera isn�t of the highest quality. At night, there is lots of color-bleeding apparent on the screen, and the image just isn�t clear.

Overall, this car dynamically is pretty good but is still rough around the edges. If the interior receives an upgrade in materials and the suspension is fine-tuned a little, it could be a formidably midsize-crossover entry.

2011 Kia Sorento SX

Base Price: $34,690

As-Tested Price: $35,890

Drivetrain: 3.5-liter V6; AWD, six-speed automatic

Output: 276 hp @ 6,300 rpm, 248 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,704 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 21/18.4 mpg

Options: Panoramic sunroof ($1,200)

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110128/CARREVIEWS/110129875#ixzz1Cm0Ib8YZ