2019 Kia Sorento Review

The Sorento V6 lost a bit of pep in its step, hitting 60 mph in 8.3 seconds instead of the previously tested 7.6 seconds. Kia's 3.3-liter V6 feels soft at the low end, with less yank when you punch it. It wakes up noticeably at 5,000 rpm and pulls well and smoothly to redline.

The brakes are easy and smooth to modulate in casual driving, without any undue slop and stable under heavy panic situations. Our best-recorded brake stop was 125 feet, which is a good result for a vehicle of this size and weight with all-season tires.

The steering is agreeably light effort at parking-lot speeds, a little short on feedback, but fairly accurate when carving through corners. It inspires confidence at speed and within the Sorento's modest handling parameters and doesn't draw attention to itself. It's nicely executed.

For not having any real sporting intentions, the Sorento handles better than expected. Body movements are pretty well controlled in sweeping turns, though body roll and pitch are a bit more noticeable in quick transitions. It's not intended to be a sporting SUV, but it does not feel floppy either.

Outside of Sport mode, the eight-speed transmission feels lazy at times, likely to maximize fuel economy. Downshifts, when flooring the accelerator, take a moment too long. In Sport mode, this isn't an issue. Otherwise, shifts are executed smoothly and are responsive to manual paddle-shift commands.

The Sorento's AWD system includes an electronically lockable 50-50 front-rear torque split, which could come in handy in low-traction scenarios. With ground clearance at a modest 7.3 inches, this is a winter-ready SUV but clearly not designed to be an off-roader.

Our tester came with heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. Padding is a good mix of firm and plush and now features an extendable lower bottom cushion. 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. Impacts are well-cushioned, yet ride motions remain disciplined. While it won't silence every bump, this Kia 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, even nosing out some upscale SUVs. Only mild amounts of road and wind noise penetrate the cabin, and the V6 engine, though not exactly mellifluous, sounds happy to rev out to redline.

The dual-zone climate controls are straightforward, and there's a button to toggle the rear A/C. The system does a good job of adjusting to accommodate the desired cabin temperature. The seat ventilation is effective, and the heaters warm up adequately quick. The third row has vents and fan speed controls.

The upgraded 8-inch touchscreen is intuitive, easy to navigate, and quick to respond. Even the gauge cluster menus and controls are simple to use. There are fancier systems out there, but few are easier to use and master. Other controls are logically arrayed with no snafus.

The step-in height is low, and the wide-opening doors ease access to the first and second rows. Third-row access is more challenging. Even though the passenger-side second-row seat slides forward, the passage to the back is tight. There are overhead grab handles at all doors should you need them.

The 14-way adjustable driver's seat provides a good range of movement, so most will be able to find a comfortable position. One foreseeable issue may be that the steering wheel doesn't telescope out far enough for tall drivers.

The Sorento cheats a little since it's in between segments. It's large for a compact. The third row is best for kids but could fit adults in a pinch. The front seats are plenty spacious, as are the sliding and reclining second-row seats. Note to the tall: The panoramic sunroof does eat into headroom a bit.

Visibility is pretty decent with large windows all around and a rear view that's only slightly obstructed with the third row up. The SXL trim comes with all the necessary aids to ensure you keep your fenders clean, such as 360-degree cameras, parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring.

The materials are class-competitive with abundant soft-touch surfaces, and the updated details on the shifter and steering wheel further improve this. Still, a number of things are shared with other Kia models costing half as much, which some may perceive as lower-quality.

The Sorento offers plenty of cabin nooks for personal items, with a dedicated space for wireless charging smartphones. The door pockets and armrest bin are what you'd expect in this class. Nothing is especially clever.

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, which is right on par with the spacious Honda CR-V. Straps and levers allow you to fold both second and third rows from the back. And the power tailgate opens quickly without the need for any hands or swinging legs.

There's a decent amount of space for front- or rear-facing car seats in the second row, but the car seat anchors are buried a bit in the seat cushions and not the most easily accessible.

Depending on where you place the Sorento, its 5,000-pound max tow capacity is either very good for a compact SUV or on par with capacities of similarly outfitted midsizers. Our top-level tester is priced like a midsize, so that's what we're comparing it to.

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.

Front power outlets include two 12-volt sockets plus two USB jacks and a wireless charge pad. The second row has a USB charger, a 115-volt outlet and a 12-volt plug. An extra 12-volt plug in the cargo area can provide power to third-row passengers. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across all trims.

A full suite of driving aids is available on SX trims, replete with surround-view cameras, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring and various collision avoidance features. The systems operate pretty well. Adaptive cruise can be a little jerky but operates down to a complete stop, and lane keeping assist promptly prevents you from drifting out of your lane. We didn't find any of the collision systems to be overly sensitive either.

If your smartphone is plugged in, the voice controls summon Siri or Google. Native voice controls serve fairly basic functions but work well. Starting a navigation route and tuning to radio stations on different radio bands were done without issue.

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 optional on the LX and standard on the S, EX, EX Sport, SX and SX Limited. 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, automatic headlights, Bluetooth, a 7-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, a USB port, and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio and a CD player.

The LX adds a noise-reducing windshield, roof rails, front seatback pockets, two additional USB ports, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. When equipped with the V6, the LX gains automatic dual-zone climate control and a power-adjustable driver's seat.

The LX's optional Convenience package pads on rear parking sensors, the power-adjustable driver's seat and dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and an upgraded version of the 7-inch infotainment interface that also has navigation.

Going with the Sorento S gets you the V6 and the contents of the Convenience package. It also comes with black-painted wheels and exterior trim.

Compared to the LX, the EX gets the contents of the Convenience package as standard and further adds 18-inch wheels, foglights, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, rear air-conditioning controls, an upgraded driver information display, keyless ignition and proximity entry, rear parking sensors, a power liftgate, and noise-reducing front door windows.

This trim also comes standard with a suite of advanced driver safety and assistance features that include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, traffic adaptive cruise control and driver attention warning.

For the EX Sport, Kia fits 19-inch wheels but takes away a few minor features such as the power-adjustable front passenger seat.

The EX's Touring package includes a panoramic sunroof, LED interior lighting, a heated steering wheel, forward parking distance sensors, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a 110-volt household-style outlet, an 8-inch infotainment display with navigation, and retractable sunshades for the rear doors.

The SX comes standard with all of the above plus 19-inch wheels, LED running lights, red brake calipers, driver-seat memory settings and a wireless phone charger. The SX also offers its own Touring package that includes LED headlights, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, automatic wipers, automatic high-beam headlights, a surround-view parking camera system, and power-folding side mirrors.

The SX Limited starts where the SX Touring package leaves off, adding to it chrome-clad wheels, LED foglights, black brake calipers, higher-grade leather upholstery, and heated outboard second-row seats.