By Charles Donaldson
There are a number of reasons why we decide on a particular body style of vehicle – coupe, convertible, sedan, wagon, crossover, or SUV. For example, we might be interested in the basic functionality, ride, fuel economy, performance, cargo capacity, or maybe even how many people we can semi-comfortably cram into it. Typically, the main reason people choose a crossover is that they want the utilitarian abilities of an SUV, but with the car-like ride and fuel sipping characteristics of a car. The trend these days is moving away from an SUV in favor of a crossover, which is why Kia has decided to re-engineer its 2011 Sorento over to a more comfortable car based crossover platform.
The 2011 Kia Sorento is the first Kia to be built in the United States and at its new manufacturing plant in Georgia. As part of the Sorento transition, Kia skipped the 2010 model year and went straight from a 2009 to a 2011 when releasing the second-generation Sorento. Many people buy Korean cars to save money and with the Real Estate marketing being what it is today, we are all eager to save a dollar. The flip side is since our vehicle is also a major extension of our office, it could be a major sin if our interior cabin matched the quality of a college dorm verses an upscale corporate image.
So does the 2011 Sorento reflect this level of prestige? Well, the answer is yes and no. The base interior is just that basic. However, you are heading in the right direction when you upgrade to the leather interior in the EX trim. With that said even the base level Sorento comes standard with BlueTooth, USB, and auxiliary audio input jacks, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, AM/FM/CD/MP3 with satellite radio capability, telescope steering wheel, trip computer, air conditioning and more.
The LX trim adds roof rails, rear sonar, heated front seats, and backup camera with a monitor in the rear-view mirror and fog lights. The top-of-the-line EX, which is what I tested, can be packaged to approach luxury levels including navigation, heated leather seats, DVD entertainment system, third row seating, and a panoramic sunroof. The EX trim is definitely worthy of trekking clients and passengers from home to home.
The front seats are a bit hard and after sitting behind the wheel for a few hours you begin to feel it. The second row provides adequate legroom, while the third row seat is better suited for small children. With the third row seats in place, you have limited your rear storage area to about one row of grocery bags.
As pointed out above, the 2011 Kia Sorento is available in three trim levels, 2WD or 4WD drive and with two engine options. The base 2WD model starts at $20,790 followed by LX 2WD starting at $23,190, LX 4WD $24,890, EX 2WD 4-cyl $25,390, EX 4WD 4-cyl $27,090. All models come standard with a 4-cylinder, 2.4-liter 172 horsepower engine, with MPG ratings of 21 city and 29 highway-(2WD), 21 city and 27 highway (4WD). If you need more power the EX trims offer a V6 3.5-liter 273 hp motor for an additional $900.
Kia has decided to remain conservative producing a nice, yet unassuming exterior style. It wouldn’t be too difficult for the Sorento to get lost in the crowd, however, with all the cool features inside you might not care. Still, it would have been nice if Kia could have added a more edgy exterior façade.
Room for improvement:· Third row seat is best suited for children
· Hard front seats
Cool Features:· Standard Bluetooth ready
· Remote engine start with Smart Key (on EX versions)
· Optional Navigation with Traffic Data and Rear Camera Display ($2000)
Safety features on the 2011 Sorento comes in the form of air bags and lots of them: driver head and curtain, front passenger, rear curtain and rear side. Other safety features include child door locks, traction control, and optional rear camera.
In Summary – The 2011 Kia Sorento delivers a smooth ride at prices that are loaded with standard features. The exterior styling might not be break-through, but it is a good looking vehicle. The upscale trim levels may add a few extra bucks, but do include worthwhile up- grades.
Specifications
2011 Kia Sorento EX FWD
Base price: $24,795 as driven: $29,340 (with destination charges)
Engine: 2.4-Liter V4
Horsepower: 172 @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 169 pound-feet @ 3750 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed Automatic with Overdrive
Drive: Front-Wheel Drive
Seating: 7-passenger
Turning circle: 35.7 feet
Cargo space: 72.5 cubic feet
Curb weight: 3605 pounds
Fuel capacity: 18 gallons
EPA mileage: 29 highway, 21 city
Wheel Base: 106.3 inches
Warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
Also consider: Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Edge, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-7, and Toyota RAV4
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