Vehicle Tested
2014 Kia Sorento SX AWD SUV (3.3L V6 AWD 6-speed Automatic)
Driven On
2/26/2013
Ratings Summary
The Sorento is a near-perfect-sized SUV. Just large enough to squeeze in a third-row seat, but small enough so that it's not unwieldy in parking lots. While not a performance machine, the Sorento SX pleases with its powerful, but admittedly fuel-thirsty, V6 and cushy ride.
B
Performance
The Sorento isn't a performance SUV, but it acquits itself pretty nicely nonetheless. The 3.3-liter V6 gives decent thrust and the handling has a nice feel, if the numbers are only average. Around-town driveability is excellent.
| Acceleration |
B
|
V6 is nice and smooth. Sportier growl and burst of power at 5,000 rpm. 6-speed automatic is silky and quick to kick down. Was a bit too shifty on the long climb out of Camarillo. |
| Braking |
B
|
Around town the Sorento's brakes are nice and linear, not touchy. Panic stops were performed with little drama at the track, despite significant nosedive. |
| Steering |
C
|
The steering is light for our tastes and the front tires give up grip quickly. Still, initial turn-in has some precision. |
| Handling |
C
|
Handling can feel floaty and the stability system cuts in with just a bit of aggressive driving on a twisty road. But the Sorento leans less than you'd expect with its cushy ride. |
| Driveability |
A
|
Smooth V6 and automatic work in concert, there's always plenty of power to squirt past traffic. Nice standard rearview camera on SX model. Only gripe is a slightly abrupt throttle. |
| Towing |
B
|
The Sorento SX AWD V6 combo has a tow capacity of 3,500 pounds, which is about average for the class. |
| Off-Road |
B
|
A typical soft-roader, meaning it's not designed for off-road duty much beyond a rough fire road. But our tester's all-wheel drive makes this one a bit more useful. |
B
Comfort
This is a very quiet and comfortable SUV. Road and wind noise are barely perceptible and the plush suspension is always up to the task. Ultra-thick D-pillars can give third-row passengers a claustrphobic feeling.
| Seating Comfort |
C
|
Front seats are fine. Second-row seats move fore/aft, have reclining seatbacks and a center armrest. Third row is comfy enough, with near-adequate head room but cramped foot room. |
| Ride Comfort |
A
|
The ride is supremely plush and the suspension soaks up almost all bumps with ease. |
| Quietness |
A
|
The Sorento is exceptionally quiet, almost no road noise to speak of. Just a bit of wind rustling around the base of the A-pillars. The V6 is barely audible at highway speeds. |
B
Interior
The interior is a mix of good and bad. We love the large knobs and soft-touch buttons, but front-seat occupants will find an overly large sill to step over upon exit. Rear three-quarter vision is poor for lane-changes.
| Ergonomics |
A
|
Nice big knobs for the temperature control, smaller but still very useful knobs for radio volume and tuning. Quality-feeling controls and buttons. Upright driving position. |
| Ingress/Egress |
C
|
The front sill is so wide that driver rubs left leg, passenger right leg as you put your foot out on the ground. Easy in/out of 2nd row. Third row difficult to access for adults. |
| Space/Room |
B
|
Good front head room, excellent elbow room. Second row has plenty of foot and knee room, good head room. Third row has poor foot- and knee room but surprisingly decent head room. |
| Visibility |
C
|
Narrow A, B and C-pillars, but hugely obstructive D-pillar. Roof sloping dramatically into slit of a rear window doesn't help things. Standard rearview camera is large, though. |
| Cargo/Storage |
B
|
Smallish but handy front bin. Deep center armrest bin. Narrow door pockets do have bottle holders. Center cupholders are useless, no anti-tip. Near-zero space behind third row. |
B
Value
Good value here, but in an attempt to move slightly more upmarket, the Sorento, especially this up-level SX model, no longer seems an exceptional value. The Sorento starts at $24,100, but our test car was $38,550.
| Build Quality (vs. $) |
B
|
The interior could use more soft-touch materials, but this Kia seems put together fairly well. Did notice a rattle in the front passenger door area when driving on coarse surfaces. |
| Features(vs. $) |
B
|
As the second-from-the-top Sorento model, the SX comes loaded with features at its $36,700 base price, including Bluetooth, navigation, ventilated seats and blind-spot detection. |
| Cost |
C
|
With an as-tested price of $38,550, the Sorento SX doesn't seem like an amazing bargain. But you get a lot of SUV for your money, including the optional third-row air conditioning. |
| MPG |
C
|
The EPA rates the Sorento SX AWD at 18 city/24 highway/20 mpg combined. We averaged a lackluster 17.4 mpg overall, but a reasonable 21.7 mpg on our Edmunds-specific drive route. |
| Warranty |
A
|
The Sorento's basic warranty is for 5 years/60,000 miles. The powertrain is covered for 10 years/100,000 miles. Other than Hyundai, no manufacturer can compete with this. |
| Ownership |
B
|
The Sorento has roadside assistance for 5 years/60,000 miles, but no free maintenance program. |
B
Fun To Drive
This certainly isn't the most fun-to-drive SUV ever, but it's far from the least. The powerful and very smooth V6 makes passing easy and somewhat entertaining. And all-wheel drive gives this Sorento a good excuse to head for the ski slopes.
| Driving Experience |
B
|
A comfortable ride, gutsy engine and smooth-shifting automatic make the Sorento a pleasing driving experience. Poor fuel mileage and outward visibility diminish it somewhat. |
| Personality |
C
|
This is a fairly vanilla mid-size SUV. But one with a stout V6. Though it doesn't have outstanding on- or off-road talents, it's a quiet, comfortable way to move people around. |
