NOTE: This is a preview of the 2016 Kia Sorento based on an introductory event held by the manufacturer. Automotive reviews that include likes and dislikes, driving impressions and other personal opinions appear only after a vehicle has been given the standard week-long test-drive.
This month, you can look for the 2016 Kia Sorento to start arriving at local dealerships. It’s a hundred percent new, with a much different look – less angular than the outgoing model, more on the pleasantly plump side – a roomier interior, its first turbocharged engine, and structural improvements for better handling and a more refined ride. Connectivity, information and entertainment technology has been updated or newly installed to keep Sorento up to speed in those ever-evolving fields.
The popular Sorento started life in 2002 as a traditional truck-based SUV – that is, with body-on-frame construction. When an all-new second-generation Sorento debuted in 2010, car-based unibody construction replaced the original build, and along with that came new descriptive nomenclature: CUV, for crossover utility vehicle.
In what has become a multitude of crossover vehicles on the market, Sorento is sitting pretty in a nice spot between compact and midsize. It offers seating arrangements for five or seven passengers.
The 2016 Sorento offers a selection of three engines, five trim levels and front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The engines are a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, the new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, and a 3.3-liter V6. Trim levels include L, LX, EX, SX and SXL. All models come with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Horsepower ratings are 185 for the normally aspirated four-cylinder, 240 for the turbo, and 290 for the V6. At the time of this writing, Kia had not yet announced official fuel economy ratings.
Several new eServices have been added to the UVO infotainment system for 2016, and with the introduction of the Kia App store, select apps from iTunes or Google Play can be downloaded free of charge.
Standard features on the base L model include the 2.4-liter engine, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated outside mirrors, cruise control, variable intermittent windshield wipers, AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system, Sirius satellite radio, auxiliary and USB audio input jacks, Bluetooth, tilt and telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, cloth seats, and the same full complement of airbags, air curtains and other safety features as the top of the line model.
Among the add-ons for the LX model are roof rails, two rapid charge USB ports, UVO infotainment system with eServices and rear camera display.
Moving along to the EX trim level, we find the turbocharged four-cylinder as the standard engine, 18-inch alloy wheels, and the addition of fog lights, dual zone automatic temperature control, leather seat trim, eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support, three-setting heated front seats, and a backup warning system.
The SXL (SX Limited) also has the turbo engine and gets 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof with power shade, LED taillights, fancier roof rails, auto up-and-down windows for first and second rows, 10-speaker Infinity surround sound audio system, heated steering wheel, push button start with smart key, second-row sunshade screen, power liftgate, 14-way power driver’s seat with memory, ventilation for the front seats, a navigation system, and blind spot and cross traffic alert systems.
Models equipped with the V6 engine are outfitted more or less like the SXL trim.
Smart cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and Kia’s Around View Monitor are available as optional equipment on SXL models.
Pricing for the 2016 Kia Sorento, including an $895 destination charge, starts at $25,795 for the L model and tops out at $43,995 for the SX-Limited V6.
Mary Lowry is an independent automotive writer who has been reviewing cars for more than 20 years. She is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a board member of the Northwest Automotive Press Association.
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