2014 Kia Sorento Review | Toronto Star
By Mark Richardson, Toronto Star
There was nothing really wrong with the old Sorento, but it’s in a fast-changing market alongside the Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota RAV-4, Honda CR-V, and even the slightly larger Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Highlander. So just three years after its introduction, Kia’s engineers went whole hog and changed more than 80 per cent of their mid-sized SUV for 2014.
The interior is now more refined, with better quality materials and a quieter ride. The chassis is 18 per cent stiffer and built on an all-new platform, and there’s a new all-aluminum 3.3L V6 engine available to complement the existing 2.4L four-cylinder.
The new V6 makes 290 horsepower – almost 100 more than the cheaper four-cylinder – and 252 lbs.-ft. of torque, which is 80 up on the smaller motor.
Customers told Kia they wanted more standard features, and so the list is very long for even the least expensive LX model, which starts at $26,695. For that, you’ll get an automatic with tinted glass and heated seats, even heated windshield wipers. Start paying more and the sky’s the limit, with the larger engine, all-wheel drive and third-row seating to accommodate seven people.
The V6 engine can be had for just under $30,000, while the most expensive Sorento available rings in at $41,795. It comes with a heated and cooled third-row seat, 19-inch wheels, 10-speaker sound system, blind spot detection – the whole shebang.
That’s a lot of money for a Kia, but the company wants to give its customers what they’ve been asking for, and they’ve been asking for everything.
Out on the highway, the Sorento shows itself to be comfortable, if not especially exciting. There’s an extra three centimetres of leg-room for the second-row passengers and a touch more for the third-row, but up front, the ride is smooth and steady.
Off-road – well, who cares? Nobody’s going to drive the Sorento on anything but a cottage road, and for that, it’s just fine.
PRICE: $26,695 – $41,795
ENGINE: 2.4L I4; 3.3L V6
POWER/TORQUE: (hp/lbs.-ft.)
2.4L – 191/181; 3.3L – 290/252
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed auto
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (claimed City/Hwy., L/100 km) I4 FWD: 10.4/7.1; I4 AWD: 10.9 /7.8; V6 FWD: 11.4 / 8.0; V6 AWD: 11.9 / 8.4
COMPETITION: Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Chevy Equinox
Source: http://www.wheels.ca/reviews/review-2014-kia-sorento-gets-a-smooth-overhaul/