2020 Kia Sorento Review

　　

2020 Kia Sorento Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　Odds are, if you're in the market for a family-friendly SUV, one of the biggest decisions is whether to go with two or three rows of seats. There is a small subclass between the two, with the 2020 Kia Sorento claiming the top spot. The Sorento straddles the line between compact crossover and midsize SUV and attempts to deliver the best of both worlds. In some ways it succeeds. In other ways, you may be better off picking a smaller or larger alternative.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Kia Sorento L 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$151/mo  for Sorento L

　　Sorento L

　　L 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A) - $26,990 MSRPLX 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A) (Most Popular) - $28,090 MSRPLX 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A) - $29,890 MSRPS 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 8A) - $33,190 MSRPS 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl 8A) - $34,990 MSRPEX 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 8A) - $35,490 MSRPEX 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl 8A) - $37,290 MSRPSX 4dr SUV (3.3L 6cyl 8A) - $40,090 MSRPSX 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl 8A) - $41,890 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　The third-row seats in the Sorento are certainly handy when you need to transport more people, but space is limited back there. Small kids should be fine, but accommodating anyone larger may be problematic for more than a quick trip.

　　The Sorento's larger-than-compact footprint doesn't help its cause when it comes to power, performance and efficiency either. Fuel economy figures are far from impressive for the small-SUV class, and even with the available V6 engine, we consider performance merely adequate. To its credit, the Sorento gives you a lot of features for the money, and its generous warranty increases the value proposition.

　　But if you plan on carrying more than four passengers at a time, we suggest stepping up to the midsize SUV class. In particular, check out Kia's own Telluride, which is our favorite. Even better, there's a good price overlap between it and the Sorento.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Sorento drive? The Sorento hit 60 mph in 8.3 seconds, which is slower than the last test. The V6 feels soft at the low end, but it wakes up at 5,000 rpm and pulls well to redline. The brakes are easy to modulate and brought the SUV to a stop from 60 mph in 125 feet, a good result for a vehicle of this size.

　　As a vehicle without any real sporting intentions, the Sorento handles better than expected. Outside of Sport mode, the eight-speed transmission feels lazy at times. Downshifts take a moment too long when you're flooring the pedal, but shifts are otherwise executed smoothly. With ground clearance at a modest 7.3 inches, this is a winter-ready SUV but clearly not designed to be an off-roader.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Sorento? Our model came with heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. The padding is a good mix of firm and plush, and the front seats now feature an extendable lower bottom cushion. The nicely shaped second-row seats slide and recline, while the third-row bottom cushions sit low to the floor, with limited comfort. The Sorento may have one of the most refined rides of any non-luxury-brand crossover. While it won't silence every bump, it glides serenely over patchy pavement, giving it a distinctly premium feel.

　　The SX Limited's acoustic windshield and front window glass block out sound and help deliver luxury-grade quietness. Only mild amounts of road and wind noise penetrate the cabin.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The cabin is thoughtfully designed for the most part, faltering mainly in third-row access — inevitable perhaps given the Sorento's tweener class size. It's large for a compact, and the third row is best for kids but could fit adults in a pinch. Access to the first and second rows is easy, but third-row access is tight.

　　The 8-inch touchscreen is intuitive and easy to navigate, and it responds quickly. There are fancier systems out there, but few are easier to use and master. Visibility is pretty decent, with the rear view slightly obstructed with the third row up.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The upgraded Harman Kardon sound system works well but is nothing to write home about. The navigation system is typical Kia fare. It's easy to use but not especially advanced or more attractive than other systems on the market. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provide seamless smartphone integration.

　　There are plenty of charging options for anything you or your passengers bring along, and the top trim comes with nearly every modern driving aid available. The systems work pretty well. Adaptive cruise can be a little jerky, but it operates down to a complete stop, and lane keeping assist keeps you from drifting out of your lane.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? There's just 11.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, which is typical for compact three-row SUVs. That grows to 38 cubic feet with the third row folded. Straps and levers allow you to fold both second and third rows from the back, and the smart-unlocking power tailgate opens quickly without any hands or swinging legs.

　　There's a good number of cabin nooks for personal items, with a dedicated space for wireless charging. The door pockets and armrest bin are what you'd expect in this class, nothing especially clever. The 5,000-pound max towing capacity is very good for a compact SUV and on par with similarly outfitted midsizes.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The all-wheel-drive Sorento SX Limited V6 AWD is EPA-rated at 21 mpg combined (19 city/24 highway), and we achieved 21.6 mpg on our highway-heavy 115-mile driving loop. This is slightly lower than what we expected, but the Sorento performed about the same as most V6-equipped midsize SUVs.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Sorento a good value? Build quality and materials are class-competitive with abundant soft-touch surfaces. Still, there are a number of things shared with other Kia models costing half as much, which some may perceive as lower-quality. Kia's generous warranty coverage continues to lead the industry and boost scores here.

　　

Wildcard

6.5/10

　　The Sorento acquits itself reasonably well considering three-row crossovers aren't really designed for speed. The saving grace for this particular category is the V6, even if it's not exactly fun. As well-rounded as the Sorento is, it doesn't conjure up emotion the way the Volkswagen Atlas, Honda Pilot or Mazda CX-9 does. It's kind of boring really. And as practical as buyers may be about an SUV purchase, there will always be an emotional factor.

　　

Which Sorento does zzdcar recommend?

The base four-cylinder engine will likely struggle with the Sorento's weight, which is why we suggest stepping up to the V6. Go for the EX Sport trim that gets you the V6 plus extra niceties and advanced safety features.

　　

2020 Kia Sorento models

The 2020 Kia Sorento is a seven-seat SUV that is available in five trim levels: L, LX, S, EX Sport and SX. The L and the LX are reasonably well equipped, while the S and the EX add more convenience features. The SX trims top the range with more luxury-oriented features.

　　The L and the LX come standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (185 horsepower, 178 lb-ft of torque) and a six-speed automatic. A 3.3-liter V6 (290 hp, 252 lb-ft) with an eight-speed automatic is standard on the S, EX Sport and SX. All but the L can be equipped with all-wheel drive.

　　Standard feature highlights for the base L include 17-inch alloy wheels, a rearview camera, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, 40/20/40-split folding second-row seats, 50/50-split folding third-row seats, Bluetooth, a 7-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, a USB port, and a six-speaker sound system.

　　The LX adds a noise-reducing windshield, a power-adjustable driver's seat, front seatback pockets, two additional USB ports, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The LX's optional Convenience package brings forward collision mitigation, roof rails, rear parking sensors, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

　　Going with the Sorento S gets you the V6 and the contents of the Convenience package. It also comes with 19-inch wheels, black exterior trim, keyless entry and ignition, and rear climate controls.

　　The EX Sport reverts to body-colored exterior accents and adds noise-reducing front door windows, a panoramic sunroof, a power liftgate, an upgraded instrument panel, leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, a drowsy driver monitor, and accident avoidance for blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert systems.

　　The top-of-the-line SX trim comes with power-folding mirrors, front parking sensors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a universal garage door opener, a 14-way power driver's seat, an eight-way-adjustable front passenger seat, an 8-inch touchscreen, a surround-view monitor, a navigation system, a wireless charging pad, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system with satellite radio.

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2020 Sorento Highlights

Trim: LLXSEXSXL

　　

Base MSRP	$26,990
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$151/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	11.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles