Used 2011 Kia Sorento SUV Consumer Reviews
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2011 Kia Sorento
redwinejl, 03/28/2015
updated 10/03/2017
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
142 of 149 people found this review helpful
Bought new Aug. 2011. I have 117000 miles with no mechanical problems. I am retired and put many miles on this car going from home to our kid home almost weekly. I did have an alternator replaced on recall, but that is it. I had 60000 mile dealer service performed as well as regular oil changes( I have always used full synethic), and maintain proper tire service. When I bought this car, I would have never thought of buying a Kia, as I did not think they were quality cars, but after owning this one for 4 and 1/2 years, Kia is a quality product and a car company that seems to be doing things right. I think this SUV will continue to serve me well for several more years.
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Great for the Price!
Jeff Pottberg, 10/19/2015
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
64 of 67 people found this review helpful
Started with a lease of the 2011 Sorento AWD. Was looking for a safe AWD for my daughter to use in college in New England. This model is great in snow and has a very tight turning radius. Didn't get many options as I was looking for a base model under $25K. I ended up buying out the lease and still like to drive it. Just came back from a 3,000 mile road trip with it and even though I have back problems. I found it comfortable to drive for long periods of time.
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Solid vehicle, great pricing used.
newaccent2007, 03/08/2015
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
47 of 49 people found this review helpful
We purchased our Pacific blue LX 2.4L with 43k on the odometer. Since that time, we've only had very minor issues. The factory battery went bad at 48K, and now with 81K the sway bars need to be replaced which were cheap to order. I use the vehicle as my company car (contractor) and it now has 81K on it. The factory brakes are still about 30-40%. It's been an incredibly reliable machine, and it's used on and off road and down Amish township roads daily. Tough, durable, and reliable, and cheap to obtain too.
Best Purchase To-Date
sdolan, 09/29/2014
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
48 of 51 people found this review helpful
Recently bought the 2011 Kia Sorento LX (AWD, 6 speed automatic) and it has been the BEST purchase to-date. It has a truck chassis and so, if you like the feel/ride of a truck you'll enjoy this one. Smooth shift of gears helps enjoy the ride, though you have to watch your speed; 100 kms feels the same as 60 kms and I noticed I speed a little more (accidentally) in this vehicle.
DO NOT BUY
hwoodward, 03/17/2011
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
18 of 19 people found this review helpful
I bought my Sorento in March of 2010 and started having problems with it in May. I have had it in the shop 41 days and counting since then. It will stall going 55-70mph and lose power until you stomp the gas again. Kia has been horrible to us and now they have the vehicle and are not providing us a car to drive because and I quote "this is only a nuissance not a safety issue!" I am a mother of a little boy and they may not care but I do care if something happens with my child in the car. We have turned the case over to BBB and am praying for the best. Do not buy if you want reliablity and service after the sell.
Unreliable KIA Sorento
subalulf, 03/12/2014
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
65 of 73 people found this review helpful
Our Kia Sorento (EX V6) had to have the transmission replaced at 15,000 miles (not the recalled version). The electrical panels replaced at 25k miles. Mysterious popping noise in axel went un-repaired because they couldn't figure out the issue. Interior component broke prior to 36k. It was supposed to be covered under warranty but local dealer network refused to repair. Claiming it was "broken" and not a factory defect. We did not "break" the part but customers have little recourse if the dealer network performs the evaluation (and damaged the part further during evaluation). In general, Kia corporate and the Kia dealers appear unreliable and unresponsive to multiple mechanical flaws.
Sweeeeeeet Vehicle
guppee, 03/24/2011
2011 Kia Sorento SX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful
Purchased Sorento SX AWD in Ebony Blk to replace '06 Sportage EX AWD. Had no problems w/ Sportage, but wanted something a little roomier.So far,(1800 mi.),decision was GREAT! Getting 2 MPG better overall with Sorento than smaller Sportage and performance is far better. Some other reviews of EX and LX models complain of harsh/stiff ride, but the DFD shocks on SX must take care of that, as ride/handling is terrific. Very good value,as any comparable vehicles with same equipment/features run $6--8k more.
Hard to beat this KIA head to head
firstsergeant, 01/18/2014
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
"We bought this vehicle in 2012. My wife drives this SUV on business trips everywhere." Although, most people do not like the harsh ride, it's designed to be a very stable and has a controlled stance. The engine power of the 3.5 is fine. With nearly 280 h.p. this vehicle will deliver. We have accumulated 85,000 miles so far. It's very easy on tires, brakes, and still has the original shocks and struts. The engine, transmission, and driveline are fine. The handling of the car still feels like factory new. We prefer the Bridgestone H/T 684 tires. They wear extremely well and even. The navigation, back-up feature, and interior lighting, (red) are great features. Buy one. Good for 200K.
Kia? That's right.
cheeks, 01/12/2010
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
Just purcahsed this vehicle this week and I have to say I never thought about Kia. I wanted a new 4Runner, but I could not get any kind of deal, but sticker plus. I was on the way home when I remembered that the Sorento redisgn for 2011 was to be released so I stop in and took one for a test drive. I am on the road about 40k miles a year for work and need a functional vehicle which will allow me to carry some samples and equipment. The one thing I love about this CUV is that it is large. I opted for the stogage in the back and no third row seating option. I have the 4 cylinder and will average about 24-25 in mixed driving. There are a lot of options for your money, great value. 0%/48.2.9%/60
I must have got a bad one. Brand new loaded SX
Asia, 08/11/2015
updated 02/12/2018
2011 Kia Sorento SX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
It is now 2015 I Bought this brand new and it is still giving me problems. 2011 Sorento SX Burgundy, Pan moon roof, nav ....the top model for the year. First day I got the car home it wouldn't start. It has had so many recalls and issues such as. Backup camera blacked out. Power died when driving. (the alternator was replaced) The suspension was off (car pulled to the left). The moon roof creaked badly (dealer greased it again, didnt work). And even now the latest issue is when I get out and close the doors the sensors say that the doors are not closed. And that somehow makes the car go dead. I have to unhook the battery to get car to start. I'm not even mentioning all the issues. I have been trying to live with this purchase until the best time to move on. The Best thing is that the dealer ship has been easy to work with. But I will not buy a Kia again, afraid of being lured by the amenities and being burned later, by a unreliable car. And my car still has the new car smell! Update: I had to get rid of the brand new "Kia Lemon". I traded it in for a Brand new 2015 Nissan Murano. Now And I havent had any issues with this car.
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Nothing but problems
ndskimr, 07/03/2011
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
13 of 14 people found this review helpful
I have had to car for one year now and everything started out great. I loved the car but as the months went on problems started to arise. First, the car would not shut off. Even when you took the key out and walked away it still ran. Kia fixed the problem, said it was a faulty break relay switch. Now the car at times will reset everything electronic and other times will not start. Kia cannot figure out the problem. The cars transmission will slip at highway speeds causing a bit of a scare. I would not really recommend this car until Kia can get these problems resolved. The car is not the most reliable at times.
Better reliability than my old Honda CR-V
surf999, 07/01/2019
2011 Kia Sorento SX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Bought new 2011 Kia Sorento SX in 2011. Put 192K miles on it including many miles towing a few boats and the only thing that failed were the alternator after 140K and fuel pump after 160K. Just replaced the usual wear and tear items like brakes, tires etc. V6 still had plenty of power and AC blew cold when needed. Towards the end the radio/GPS would take a while to heat up (flickering) and the rear driver's side door wouldn't open but otherwise everything still worked really well and the car was a pleasure to drive. Was hoping to get to 200K and would have made it but my teenage son ran into someone and insurance totalled it. My old Honda CR-V was great until 160K until it died (drive chain on engine) and I thought it was a great car but the Sorento went better and longer! I do pay attention to servicing my cars regularly and only buy to keep them going as long as possible and this SUV fit that bill nicely
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What can I say about the 2011 KIA Sorento SX..."WOW!"
heyofficer, 03/20/2011
2011 Kia Sorento SX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
25 of 30 people found this review helpful
My Husband and I were looking for a new SUV, and were sick of seeing all the "cookie cutter" and common Honda Pilots, Toyota Highlanders, RAV4's and CRV's that it seemed were everywhere. Boring and tired looking, and their owners were looking equally boring and tired! So we shopped and shopped. Test drove and researched. Then after all the info was collected, we bought a new 2011 KIA Sorento SX in February. I drive it daily, and my husband and I have been on some longish trips to Las Vegas, too. We sold our Mazda, but this new KIA actually beats the rest when compared feature to feature, overall quality, looks and reliability. KIA's 100,000 warranty is icing on the cake!
A Good Value Mid Size SUV
bimmershawn, 05/09/2011
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Had it for almost a month. Was considering getting a luxury SUV, but after reading the Consumer Report which rated the V6 Sorento very highly among the mid size suv, I decided to take a look. I like the styling a lot and the comfort of the base model cloth seating. Mileage rated at 20/26 is pretty accurate and is among the best in V6 SUVs. Extra 3rd role seats are standard. Although with updated DFD shocks, the ride is still pretty firm but the handling is surprisingly good. A very practically all around car for multi purpose. Dealer gave me a very good discount and dealer incentives.
Kia... designed to fail at 61,000 miles
Skylar Sutton, 05/05/2016
2011 Kia Sorento SX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
24 of 29 people found this review helpful
We're the second owners of this vehicle, purchased it 2 years old with about 20,000 miles on it. We had minor/insignificant issues during the 60k bumper-to-bumper warranty period (which DOES transfer to the second owner)... insignificant things like a backup camera that needed replaced and some minor vibrations on the interior that just needed tightening up. Let me tell you though, almost the MINUTE that warranty was up parts started falling off this thing like a cartoon. We just had to take it in for a $450 oil pressure sensor that caused us to lose the entire contents of our engine oil in less than an hour. That's a MAJOR engine component and WOULD have been covered under the 100,000 mile powertrain warranty... EXCEPT it doesn't transfer to the second owners. I've owned cars with 200,000 miles on them that never needed an oil pressure sensor replaced. That is a major engine component that should last the life of the vehicle. I'm terribly disappointed in this vehicle and Kia service in general. If you absolutely have your heart set on one of these, intend to have it paid off and traded in by the end of your 60,000 mile warranty or it's going to cost you thousands per year to keep it limping along.
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Kia Sorento Three Years Later
lad3, 09/02/2013
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
I have had the Sorento for 3 years now and wanted to share my experience. It has been a great car. I have almost 50K now and I have not had any problems with the car. Very reliable. With the V6 the car has plenty of power for when you need it. The ride is very comfortable. After I bought it I immediately took it to a road trip from DC to Maine and back. I really had to use the cruise control because otherwise I would easily increase my speed to 80 MPH or more without even noticing it. I like the interior design and the controls. Overall, I am very happy that I purchased the Kia Sorento. Great car, great value.
Great Car Except..the minor NON DEPLOYING AIR BAGS
Whitney Alt, 03/22/2016
updated 03/22/2018
2011 Kia Sorento 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6M)
16 of 19 people found this review helpful
I love this car. Seriously I do. Which is why I am sickened about the safety issue I have learned about with Kia's air bags. I read several reviews on here before I purchased it and am disappointed none where about the air bags. My air bag light came on suddenly. Vehicle was not involved in any sort of accident. Took it in and bottom line I had to have an entire new driver side air bag and assembly replaced. When I question how the heck an air bag needs to be replaced with out being in an accident or tampered with Dealer says, "It just happens, the air bag is defective." Well I wasn't going to drive around in a vehicle who's driver side air bag was not functioning. So I coughed up $1300 to get it fixed. Figured I'd go after Kia after the fact. They have told me no, and no again. One of the reps tried telling me this isn't a safety issue. Seriously? Anyways, I will get my money out of them. In the mean time a little internet research reveals several, several stories of people who did not have an air bag light on and where in roll over or other serious collisions and NO air bags deployed. Scary. Wonder if the rest of my air bags will work in a collision...?*Update* On top of the air bag issue, I also started having transmission issues at about 84k miles. Transmission was slipping like a mother. I ended up trading it in before I had to pay for a new trans. I will NEVER own a Kia again.
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2011 kia sorento ..two time loser
dude35, 05/03/2013
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
First 2011 had transmission problems at 11,000..could not fix it..SO we purchased a second 2011 thinking it would not happen again ( our expense) . Whoever thought it would happed AGAIN. TWO LEMONS. Dealer not very happy and neither are we. Second car almost 11,000 again.
Impressed!
M, 06/11/2019
2011 Kia Sorento SX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I am a road warrior with 3 small children. My Kia has truly been put to the test and passed with flying colors. It has lasted 200,000 miles with no major mechanical problems. I can probably drive it for another 100,000 miles! Additionally, I continue to get compliments on my Kia’s appearance. When I purchased it almost 10 years ago, I didn’t know much about this make/model or the company, however it turned out to be the best vehicle purchase of my life. Many years and miles later, I continue to be impressed with my Kia and when the time comes, will definitely purchase another!
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Best Car I have ever owned
andrewm1, 06/20/2011
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I have owned and driven many cars in my 26 years of driving and can honestly say that the Kia Sorento is the best car I have ever driven.I am a big 6 foot 3 300lb+ guy and the front seat driving position has the most room I have ever had in any car/suv.I am very comfortable and never feel cramped or strained in the seat.The 4Cyl 6 speed automatic is fine for me.The car is incredibly quiet on the road and often sounds like it is not on.The suspension is very smooth and there is no body lean whatsoever with this car.The turning radius is incredible.The interior design is high end and the exterior is more masculine than other "girly cars".I love this CUV and am glad I bought it.
having trouble
shylaine33, 02/01/2012
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I bought my car not even 2 years ago and I have had to have it towed 3 times already for 3 different reasons, first reason was something with the computers the car would just not start and everything locked up when I went to start it, second reason was because there were loose wires in the care, it shut off on me at a gas station, I went inside to pay for the gas when I came out it would not start and now they are saying that there are problems with the starter. we bought this car so that we would not have to worry about these issues and we thought a new car would be reliable but so far my husbands car bought in 2002 has been the reliable car :( were prob going to end up trading in the car.
Almost 40 K on the Sorento
herrhec, 01/14/2013
2011 Kia Sorento 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I have the car three years already, on some trips no problem the machine is reliable. Some minor issues: the transmission ( manual) was changed because of a small "click" sound. the mechanic got lazy and after complaining several times (since he said: " the sound is normal") they put a new transmission and when they finished the sound was still there. Took it to another place it was a minor issue ( 30$ for repairing).Just changed the rear pads. hope to keep the car a few years more.
Great family SUV for a great price!
jenguinn, 09/19/2014
2011 Kia Sorento SX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
We bought our Sorento new in 2011 and have been driving it for 3 1/2 years now. We have been very happy with our purchase! We bought the Sorento instead of a Toyota Highlander due to the significant difference in price. The SX has all of the bells and whistles we wanted and we have not had any major problems with it in the 3 1/2 years that we have been driving it. Our vehicle has almost 40K miles on it now and we have driven it mostly in town and short highway trips of 2-4 hours. I still love the exterior design (even more than the newer Sorentos). And our local Kia dealership has been great for service. I would highly recommend this car.
So far so good
ks_az, 05/05/2011
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I have had my Sorento for almost a month now. I was trading in a 2004 Mitsu galant (v6), i was looking for a little bit more comfort, reliability, and functionality. I test drove many other models from both foreign and domestic makers. I am 6'1" and not a little guy so comfort and room were essential. I have taken a road trip that required about 6 hours of time behind the wheel and did not have an issue with the comfort. There is an odd rattle/grind when i start the v6 cold, after visiting the dealership having them inspect it the service technician told me it was normal and not to worry. The only issue is my grandparents recently bought a ford crossover, now they want trade cars.
How many recalls and repairs
susan, 09/12/2015
updated 03/14/2016
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Recalled for braking issue within year of purchase. Last repair took two trips to the dealership and cost $250 to replace the turn signal gear box (not covered by warranty). Seat fabric is stains easily, and is wearing excessively on edges. Latches to fold down seats are hard to operate. Looking to trade and new car will not be a KIA. Seats cleaned by professional car detail shop. The fabric is not holding up as it should. We have no children that ride in the car, so the seats should be holding up better. No recalls this last year.
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Long Island NY 2011 KIA
stevemac3, 12/24/2010
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I opted for the 4 cyl. AWD and its ok, ive driven a Sorento from long island to Memphis TN back in April (rental) and it was a great ride which lead me to choose the Sorento, I purchased my KIA on 12/7/10. I like the car and i like the interior layout and the dashboard, its put together rather well, just a few rattles in the interior and ive squelched all but one... i average 24 mpg, a combo of local and hwy driving...i like the rear back up camera. make sure ya get the ipod cable, and the rear cargo cover and your good to go...
2011/148,000 miles and still awesome!!
Wolf family, 11/14/2015
updated 05/21/2018
2011 Kia Sorento SX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
Still runs like a beast! Sharp/edgy look, Drives/handles very well in the snow/rain. I kids so this 7 seater is perfect. The last row is good for small children because it is a tight fit. This SUV has been in 2 accidents, I almost 150K miles and I have never had to do engine work. I still love it!!
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A great value
D Schoen, 12/06/2018
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
Bought the SUV 8 years ago. Only needed to replace tires and basic maintenance entire time I've owned the car. Great car for the money!
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Not at all what its supposed to be
lokiinlv, 02/23/2012
2011 Kia Sorento SX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
Bought the high end SX thinking it would have all the great features and a responsive engine. The engine was terribly unresponsive. The electronics in the vehicle kind of worked when they wanted to. Not at all what I expected from the high end model of what was supposed to be a fairly reliable vehicle. We took a loss and quickly traded this vehicle in because of the multitude of things that were going wrong and the poor support that came along with it.
Run,don't walk-AWAY from the KIA dealership!
babayaga, 03/19/2011
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
After much saving and even more reasearch, my wife and I finally decided to make our first purchase of a new car in over 25 years a Kia Sorento(yes 25 years,I was in sales and was lucky to always have a company car) Well, let me tell you,we purchased the loaded 2011 Ex in April of 2010(SX not even available) and the joy lasted about one month.That was when the transmission went.It has been downhil ever since and we are seriously considering retaining an attorney to pursue the Lemon Law defense. The car was in repair for almost 2 months and now we are experiencing new transmission issues along with a plethora of new annoyances. DO NOT BUY THIS GARBAGE!
Back Again
bobby83, 04/07/2011
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
15 of 19 people found this review helpful
I wrote one of the first reviews on this car in Jan 2010. At that time, it was great. Since that time, I wish I never made the purchase. One fine day, all of the oil leaked out due to a bad seal. After 3 attempts to repair, finally got fixed. Now, about every five to six days I'm blessed with check engine light for a misalligned cam shaft or crank shaft. How nice. And the rattles that have developed - about six as best I can count. The seats rattle, the rear hatch rattles. the dasboard rattles. And the ride is noisy when driving on anything other than smooth roads. Pulls to right, had fixed twice, to no avail. Bloothooth - no good. Gas milage is bad. Never again. Goodbye.
Honest Review
kehaak, 04/21/2011
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
I purchased my Sorento late November 2010 replacing a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee (V8). I did about 6 months of research and test drives before I made my choice. I travel for work quite a bit and was looking for something with better mileage. I currently have 12,000 miles on the Sorento and nearly 70% are work related. The mileage was very disappointing at first, only averaging 21 MPG. After the first service, the mileage spiked. I am currently averaging a little over 24 MPG. I didnt change my driving habits, maybe coincidence? I had one issue with the Sorento, the rear brake calipers were faulty and leaked brake fluid basically giving me a dead brake pedal. I took it to the dealership when I noticed the issue. They were very helpful and accommodating to get this fixed. This happened on a Friday. The dealership gave me a loaner out of their stock and I picked up my Sorento the following Tuesday. As mentioned in other reviews, I do get a little bit of a rattle in the middle/lower dash but this only happens when the interior of the car is cold. Living in Northern Illinois, the roads are far from perfect and any car hitting multiple pot holes and road damage is going to make noise. I am very happy with this Sorento. It was a great replacement against the Cherokee and the Sorento V6 seems to have as much get-up-and-go as my old SUV. For price/options/warranty, no other SUV/Crossover can compete. For an additional piece of mind, I paid an extra $500 through my dealership to get bumper-to-bumper warranty for 10 years/100k miles versus the standard Kia power train warranty.
Quality family vehicle
sorrentoski, 01/10/2014
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
Performs well, a little bumpy but the springs in drivers seat popped in second year. Best value in the cars we looked at, maybe saved 5K and it handles just as well. Interior is nice but fabric on seats stain pretty easy unless you upgrade. Its been a very reliable car with the recall items taken care of.
Excellent Car and Amazing Value
lug1115, 03/13/2011
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
Picked up a fully loaded EX V6 AWD and it is truly a great car. And its not only the price; the car can go toe to toe with any other car in its class and win. The fact that it is thousands less than competing vehicles is just icing on the cake. I did a significant amount of research on the Sorento and other CUVs in its class, and none of the others came close to what the Sorento could offer, both in terms of features as well as price. As other reviewers here on Edmunds and elsewhere have noted, the ride is firm, but it is controlled; its not the bone-jarring sea-saw of a ride others have made it out to be. As a near mid-size crossover, it handles as it should and exceeds expectations!
Great Buy
dvbeem, 03/26/2011
2011 Kia Sorento SX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Love this vehicle. Have driven it about 1200 miles (city and highway). Engine has great pickup. Comfort is excellent. Very nice inside and outside styling. A little dissappointed in the city mileage. Advertised at 19 mpg and getting 15.5-16 mpg. Highway mileage is excellent at 29 mpg. Overall an outstanding vehicle. I definitely recommend it.
10 Month Review...whew!!
luv2nou2, 01/01/2011
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Purchased the car in March 2010. We currently have 8,200 miles on the car. It has gone through 1 Recall (lighting issue in door panels) and 1 service repair on rear window (would not go up or down) had to tape window up. The power regulator on the window had to be replaced. Those are the only service issues we've had. Whew!! The average fuel economy we get is 21.8 MPG. We took it on a 2,500 mile drive earlier in the 2010 and saw 25.8 mpg. Not bad considering we traded a 2007 Mazda CX-9 AWD that got 20 mpg no matter how we drove. All in all this car is a good bargain for the amenities that come standard. Lost the Euphoria about 2 months in tho. The Mazda held it for 3 years.
Well made in America
joncab5, 09/16/2011
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
We have owned it for 18 months and have 28,500 miles. Not one problem yet, except some minor recalls. I really like the leather, climate controls, navi is just as good as Lexus. Great 3rd row when you need it. This car is perfect for our family and has done well on long trips.
Poor Choice
wjozz5, 12/23/2010
2011 Kia Sorento SX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
The Sorento's initial appeal, styling, interior room and optional third row, made it a reasonable initial choice. Now, at 700 miles, the Sorento is back in the dealership for a brake recall, faulty vent gate, navigation/stereo replacement and traction control inspection. The traction control continues to make noise after being engaged. The manufacturers tire choice has to be the worst in the industry. Overall this new car has done little to inspire confidence that it is a 100,000 mile car. We are going to sell it before we are too disappointed to hide it.
Buyer beware
Jeremy B, 11/23/2010
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Ok..I got rid of a 03 Kia Sedona that was literaly falling apart as we drove down the road. We decided to buy a middle of the road '11 Kia Sorento since the price was 10k less than comparable SUV. SO, biting the bullet and thinking that KIA, after years of bad press and horrible customer satisfaction would IMPROVE quality when they built 11 Sorento in GA., we were shot point blank. Car has driven 250 miles and the car needs back rotors replaced, front realignment due to a hard right pull and an alternator recall service, this is after two recalls. To top it off, the airbag module box on the front passenger dash creates an outline through the dash covering. Warranty may fix but this is bad!
Solid Value,
Phil, 11/10/2010
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Shopped/drove $19-23K competition(used Edge, Mariner, CX7, CR-V, Pilot, Highlander, old MDX), we drove both 4/6 cyl Sorento. Kia dealer experience better than expected. Ultimately new Sorento V6 LX final price was competitive with other cars that were 4 years old and had 30-40K miles. Kia 100K mile warranty is world class. Have 1500 miles. Would give car a solid B. Ride is compliant but a bit tough over pot holes. Comfort is very good. V6 engine is strong, idle is not perfect, gas mileage only fair. Visibility from drivers seat takes getting used to, but mirrors are big. Base radio has good features but only fair fidelity. Bluetooth not solid. Got third seat, still good room. So Far So Good.
Carr roll over, NO PROBLEM
Y. Weeks, 02/06/2018
updated 02/08/2021
2011 Kia Sorento 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
My 2011 Kia Sorento is THE to be in if unfortunate to be in a roll-on r accident!!! A car hit my right passenger side of car do hard it flipped over two times. The car landed upside down, next to fire hydrant. The seat belt held me tightly in place as I rolled. When they pulled me out, I didn't have a single scratch and walked away. All air bags deployed except steering wheel. Not sure why that one didn't. I'm not complaining. I felt safe through it all. I called it the tank before accident.its a sound car.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
No pros only cons 14MPG
rchrdbus, 04/08/2013
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Bought the car in 2010. Car has 37000 miles on it, so far same issues other people have. Suspension is rough, rattle noise everywhere, tranmission is works whenever its feels like automatic. Had my car at high rev lines cruising in the freeway so i put it in tiptronic just put it in 6gear. Poor in gas. EPA says 21-29 which is reason i bought it, but city i been getting 14-18mpg and 22-26 at most highway. Regret purchasing this car
KIA Sorento SX w/ 6 cyl. hit a Home Run
I am out there, 10/06/2010
2011 Kia Sorento SX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I have through my years bought many vehicles from compact to full size trucks. Through my travels have rented many different vehicles as well. This car is impressive, no matter how one rates it. Bought it new off the truck loaded in deep red ext./gray int. This bad boy has the ponies to get up to speed easily without killing gas mileage and hold any speed you want, with passing a breeze. The interior is stylish and easy to find any button without over-reach. This has the NAV as well and works better than my Honda Pilot and CR-V I once had. Can't say enough about this car. Do yourself a favor and test drive a SX! You can find more powerful and more expensive cars, but not more impressive.
LOVE My Serento....At First
kimcar23, 06/09/2011
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
11 of 14 people found this review helpful
Was the first time I spent over 25,000.00 for a car. Had what I thought were minor problems the first 3000 miles. Radio would not come on when I stated car, iPod accessory would not work, back seat rattled when driving on any surface. Radio problem fixed(I thought) and complain about seats and vibration everytime I bring in for oil change. Tires rotated twice, no help. Sometimeswhen I start AC will not come one or the radio will not come on,driver side window will not want to come up. Now I went to park my car and would not go into park. Then I could not get my brake to press in so I could start car. In shop now. Everytime I hear we could duplicate problem or nothing wrong was found.
Needs Retro-Fit Shocks
yeohumpf, 12/05/2010
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
11 of 14 people found this review helpful
Great car in all respects except that when driven on choppy Northern roads, it rides much too hard and choppy. Kia knows this and is putting Dual flow damper shocks on all newly built 2011 Sorentos to cure the problem. They need to provide access to those or other shocks/dampers that can be installed on 2011s already on the road that have the original inadequate shocks.
Almost a year now......
kipp61, 08/25/2011
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
13 of 17 people found this review helpful
Well, its been almost a year now (and about 27,000 miles), so here is my homest take on the '11 Sorento EX 4 cyl AWD.... MPG - From all the posts I've read it seems that I am not alone in reporting sub-advertised MPG. My 40-mile daily commute results in no better than 21 mpg on a consistant basis. This was a major selling point to me. Even an all-highway trip to/from Florida from Ohio only saw 24 mpg at best. Suspension - having been a service writer for a Ford dealership, I know suspension issues when I hear them. I hear them with this car. Apparently, I am the only one who hears them. Service department cannot confirm the 'loosness' in the front end. Hmmmm. More soon....
Sorento SX FWD Rocks!
rusty53a, 04/04/2011
2011 Kia Sorento SX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Had my SX one week. First tank 20 mpg. Love the Handling and ride (very European), and the many safety and function features. After researching many reviews and driving various competition from Nissan, Subaru, Honda, as well as Sorento 4, and 6 cylinders, bought the SX. The double valve shocks and suspension features on the SX make handling like a sports sedan. Best SUV feature and quality for dollar available IMO.
Very Happy
mommobile5, 04/23/2011
2011 Kia Sorento LX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Everyday I like this car more and more, I am getting 25.9MPG, and there is so much room! We got the third row thinking we wouldn't use it too much, but it would be nice to have. We I have used it a ton! And I can sit comfortably in between my 1 and 2 year's car seats in the second row! Which is great for long trips when I need to sit back there to help them out with eating or stuff. We drove to Disney and Texas already! It did great. I killed the battery when I left the lights on one night, roadside assistance was GREAT! 35mins and they were there to jump me, free of charge! I highly recommend this car, my parents have a Lexus and they love my Kia.
I'm happy (so far)
agentzero, 06/20/2011
2011 Kia Sorento SX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
Ok, my wife was extremely reluctant to go with Kia, we turned in a Murano as the lease was expiring. For the $$$ though, there was nothing coming close to the deal Kia was willing to swing. $36.4k sticker for $29.5k plus tax. 3 year old loaded Pilots go for that around here. If you can find a 2011 on the lot, that's the key, there's no way to get $7k knocked-off a 2012, and IMO opinion the differences from the 11 to 12 were not huge. 11 was the major redesign year.
Two Warnings
D McClure, 10/16/2016
2011 Kia Sorento EX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2011 Sorento with 18k on it in 2013. It has been a great car for the past three years. This year it was at just over 90k. I have always done everything I am supposed to. Plus I am a slow accelerator, typically I cruise at 2000 RPM in the city and 2500 on the highway not passing 3000 during acceleration. Then last month I heard a god awful metal sheering sound and the car skidded to a halt. Had it towed to the mechanic and was told the cylinder tubes had corroded and the cylinder heads were shifting and scraping the sides and that the engine could no longer be started. Cost for a used engine with the same amount of miles is right around $4500. If I want a re-manufactured one it is even more. Warranty is not an option because it cancels at 5/60 on used purchases. What is worse to me is a I still owe $14k. I did some research and it looks like this is a common problem in 2011 and 2012 Sorentos. I had planned on buying a Kia again in the future but I think I will stick to brands I have had good experiences with. I don't know if I will repair it at some point or turn it into a $14k paper weight. I would steer clear!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value