PREVIEW
The Kia Sorento has been one of our favorite midsize crossover SUVs these past few years. With available V6 power, plenty of features and a roomy interior with an available third-row seat, the current-generation Sorento is a great option for shoppers who want something a bit bigger than the typical small crossover. This year's updated 2014 Kia Sorento has all the same draws, but it brings some significant improvements to keep it up to speed with the competition.
Kia touts the 2014 Sorento as significantly redesigned, but in the absence of major styling changes, it looks like more of a refresh when you walk up to it. Even on the inside, you'd need to compare old to new side by side to spot the differences. But there are key changes to the chassis, as Kia has stiffened the body structure, fitted a new front suspension and retuned the rear suspension to improve both ride comfort and handling. There's more power, too. A new direct-injected, 3.3-liter V6 cranks out 290 horsepower, up from last year's 276 hp.
As before, the 2014 Kia Sorento is one of the few crossovers in this class to offer a third-row seat. Kia also packs in the features, as even the midgrade EX comes with items such as leather upholstery and heated front seats. This year the automaker has also updated the Uvo voice activation system for more accurate control and added a larger touchscreen with improved menus and graphics that grants the Sorento one of the best tech interfaces in this price range. The gauges can also feature an optional large LCD that digitally replicates an analog speedometer and provides additional trip computer information.
If you're expecting to get all of these features for a bargain price because of the Kia brand name, you're in for a bit of surprise, though: The entry-level Sorento LX starts in the mid-$20,000 range, but the upper trim levels go deep into the $30Ks. And since the Sorento is related to the equally impressive Hyundai Santa Fe, deciding on the Kia gets even more complicated. But whether you're comparing it with the Hyundai, other midsize crossovers like the Dodge Journey or the Ford Edge, or such top small crossovers as the Honda CR-V or the Toyota RAV4, the 2014 Kia Sorento is definitely a must-see, especially if you need a crossover SUV that can seat seven in a pinch.
FEATURES
The five-passenger 2014 Kia Sorento is offered in LX, EX, SX and SX-L trims. Standard LX features include 17-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, full power accessories, 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio and USB/auxiliary audio jacks.
The EX adds 18-inch wheels, automatic headlights, foglights, a rear spoiler, roof rails, keyless ignition/entry, rear parking sensors, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat (with power lumbar support), ambient interior lighting, LCD gauges, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, rear-seat sunshades, Kia's Uvo voice activation system and a rearview camera.
Optional on the EX is the Touring package, which adds a power liftgate, a panoramic sunroof, a blind-spot-monitoring system, driver memory settings, ventilated front seats, an 8-inch touchscreen display, a navigation system and a 10-speaker Infinity surround-sound system.
The Sorento SX receives the contents of the Touring package and gains 19-inch wheels, selectable steering modes, rear air-conditioning and a four-way power front passenger seat. The SX-L tops it off with chromed wheels, xenon headlights, a heated and wood-trimmed steering wheel, heated rear seats and upgraded leather upholstery.
Folding 50/50-split third-row seats (with rear air-conditioning) are optional on all Kia Sorentos.
INTERIOR
Even in its base trim level, the 2014 Kia Sorento boasts a generous offering of standard features. We're particularly pleased that many of the high-end items are available as options throughout the lineup, so you're not forced to spring for a fully loaded model.
The quality of cabin materials is acceptable, though it can seem as if there's a bit too much hard plastic if you've sprung for the pricey SX or SX-L. The new, larger touchscreen for 2014 includes a more intuitive menu structure, better graphics and a secondary control knob that all together make for one of the most user-friendly tech interfaces on the market. Augmenting it is the Uvo voice activation system, which is comparable to Ford's praiseworthy Sync system. We found Uvo just as adept at recognizing voice commands for phone and entertainment systems: It allows for truly hands-free operation.
Front passengers will enjoy a commanding view of the road ahead and seats that are comfortable and supportive. Adult passengers will likely find plenty of headroom and legroom in the second row, but the optional third-row seats are suitable for children only. Accessing the third row is also a bit tricky. Cargo space is on the generous side, with 36.9 cubic feet available behind the middle row of seats. Folding those away expands that space to 72.5 cubes.
UNDER THE HOOD
The 2014 Kia Sorento is offered with two engine choices. The base engine for the LX is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produces 191 hp and 181 pound-feet of torque. Optional on the LX and standard on all others is a 3.3-liter V6 that makes 290 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque. All Sorentos come with a six-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available as an option.
In Autoexpress performance testing, an AWD V6 Sorento accelerated from a standstill to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, which is a quick time for this class.
The EPA estimates fuel economy for the front-wheel-drive four-cylinder Sorento at 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway and 22 in combined driving and the AWD at 19/24/21 mpg. These are underwhelming numbers compared with what's typically achieved by small crossovers, though those vehicles are smaller and lighter. Fuel economy for the V6 is average at 18/25/21 mpg for the front-drive model and 18/24/20 mpg for AWD.
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