 2013 Kia Sorento. Click image to enlarge |
Handling is okay, but not great. It will hold corners, but the Sorento always felt spongy and top-heavy to me, and there’s quite a bit of lean into and out of corners. That’s not terribly unusual for this class of vehicle, though.
The all-wheel-drive system seems to be very competent. I never experienced less traction than I expected, and I drove mainly on snow-packed, icy streets. The turning circle is fantastic for a vehicle like this, and parking it was a cinch.
Noise is very well controlled during city driving – engine, wind and drivetrain sound is negligible. Unfortunately there was some very noticeable wind noise coming from the sunroof when we hit the highway.
Visibility out of the Sorento is good, except the rearmost pillar section is enormous, and can get in the way of some shoulder checks.
I definitely took issue with some of the fit and finish. I didn’t like the gaps between some of the dash and centre-stack trim, and I found insulating foam coming out of a seam in the back passenger compartment.
 2013 Kia Sorento. Click image to enlarge |
I always appreciate one or more 12V plugs in the cargo area – there are none to be found here.
Speaking of convenience I appreciate, I was a bit surprised to find there was no power liftgate – I don’t even believe it is an option on the Sorento. At this price, it should at least be an option.
Is it just me, or does it come across as cheap that they would include a cooled seat for the driver, but not the passenger? Ergonomics are pretty good, but I found it strange that the rear wash and wiper buttons were moved to the dash.
At first glance, the Sorento seems like a fantastic vehicle, and in many ways, it is. It offers quite a bit, including a smooth, powerful engine and transmission combo. But the ride and the quality of materials throughout the cabin left me wanting more for my money. The little omissions of conveniences here and there may seem trivial when they stand alone, but when you consider them all, I found I wanted more here.
WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) was middling. She liked the styling and the high driving position. She didn’t like the ride (it spilled her coffee – twice!) and she didn’t like that the vanity mirror lights need to be manually turned on. She missed the power tailgate, too.
   2013 Kia Sorento. Click image to enlarge |
I enjoyed the Sorento and the things it did well, but I’m not sure I’d want to put up with this gas-swilling kidney-jostler in the long run. You’d be wise to check out the competition, particularly its cousin, the Hyundai Santa Fe in five-seat Sport configuration, or the soon-to-arrive seven-seat XL style.
Pricing: 2013 KIA Sorento SX 3.5 AWD
Base price (SX 3.5 AWD): $41,295
Options: none
Freight: $1,650
A/C tax: $100
Price as tested: $43,045
Competitors
Chevrolet Traverse
Dodge Journey
Ford Explorer
GMC Acadia
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe XL
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Mazda CX-9
Nissan Pathfinder
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota Highlander
Volkswagen Touareg
Crash Test Ratings
National Highway Safety Administration
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
