The Surprisingly Sporty Sorento

Kia's mid-size SUV is speedy, safe, and sensibly priced. Too bad its fuel economy isn't better

by Thane Peterson

Editor's Rating:

The Good: Low price, speed, excellent warranty and crash test ratings

The Bad: Mediocre fuel economy, annoying minor quality glitches

The Bottom Line: A big step up for Kia, and a screaming bargain among mid-size SUVs

Reader Reviews

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Up Front

If you're shopping for a bargain these days, check out the prices on mid-sized sport utility vehicles. And if you want a real bargain within that segment, check out the Kia Sorento, which starts at a mere $20,665 in a bare-bones, front-wheel-drive configuration, and tops out at around $30,000 with four-wheel-drive and loaded with options—and even less with rebates.

What you get for your money is a reasonably well-made SUV with decent fit and finish, acceptable off-road capabilities, a powerful new engine, top crash-test results, and an excellent warranty. Oh, and the Sorento has a towing capacity of up to 5,000 lbs.

The Sorento doesn't look that different from most of the other mid-size SUVs in the parking lot. Its most distinctive exterior feature is its side windows, which have unusually high sills, curve down sharply almost to a point at either end, and are augmented in back by small, triangular side windows. However, if you want distinctive looks, go for something like a Nissan Murano (see BusinessWeek.com, 3/2/07, " Nissan's Best-Selling Truck "), not the Sorento.

In performance terms, though, the '07 is much improved over previous Sorentos. The standard engine in the '07 is a 3.8 liter, 262 horsepower aluminum V6 that's 36% more powerful than the engine it's replacing.

The standard transmission is now an electronically controlled five-speed automatic with a manual shifting mode for those who like to do the shifting themselves. The interior has also been upgraded and has a higher-quality look and feel than before.

The least expensive Sorento really is bare-bones (add $1,000 if you want air conditioning, for instance). But the LX trim level doesn't cost all that much more and has a lot more on it. A Sorento LX starts at $23,265, or $25,265 with four-wheel drive, and comes standard with 16-in. wheels, power windows, doors, and other accessories, a power driver's seat, and a 10-speaker sound system.

The main option on the LX is a $1,200 sport package that includes a black interior with an upgraded audio system, 17-in. alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and side step bars, and some extra metallic accents. A black leather interior costs $800.

Move up to the fancier EX trim level, and the base price jumps to $24,965, or $26,865 with four-wheel drive. On the EX, there's an optional $3,000 luxury package that includes such goodies as a six-disk, MP3-compatible, in-dash CD player, a power sunroof, 16-in. alloy wheels, heated front seats, and upgraded on-demand four-wheel drive that kicks on and off automatically as needed. As stand-alone options, a sunroof costs $800, a remote starter is $360, and a tow-hitch is $340.

Mediocre fuel economy has always been a weakness of the Sorento, and the '07's mileage isn't great. My four-wheel drive test model was rated to get 17 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway, but I only got 15.9 mpg in 163 miles of (admittedly hard) driving. Expensive premium gasoline is recommended.

The '07 Sorento's safety rating is tip-top. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Kia its highest five-star rating for all seating positions in frontal and side-impact crash tests. The '07 is the first Sorento to earn a top rating in front as well as side crash tests. Front, knee, and full-length side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, and stability and traction control are standard on all versions of the Sorento.

The Sorento is one of the most in-demand mid-size SUVs on the market, spending an average of just 40 days on a dealer's lot before selling, according to the Power Information Network. That compares with 37 days for the Honda (HMC) Pilot, 57 for the Grand Cherokee, 62 for the Chevy Trailblazer, and 85 for the Ford (F) Escape.

Kia's overall U.S. sales are up dramatically through the end of February, by 18.6%, to 46,036 units. In a tough SUV market, however, Sorento sales only increased marginally, to 6,308 units.