What's New?
For 2018, the Kia Sorento receives minor adjustments to its standard and optional feature availability. All trims receive enhanced headlamp performance and improved front headrest design to increase comfort. Other available updates vary by trim and include a rear camera display, third-row seating, and rain-sensing wipers. With a number of available new features, you'll surely be able to find a Sorento that fits your needs and driving preferences.
Overview
Kia is known for building value-oriented cars, but the 2018 Sorento crossover offers more. It’s still a great value, but the Sorento is also genuinely stylish inside and out and offers impressive capability and fuel efficiency. It’s the complete package. The Sorento is available in seven trims and starts at $25,900.*
The Perfect Ride for…
Drivers who need a little something bigger than the average midsize crossover SUV but not as large as a behemoth family hauler. Available in both five- and seven-passenger configurations, the 2018 Sorento offers more space and practicality than your typical crossover, and it still manages to remain less expensive than some of the larger SUVs out there. Simply put, the Sorento is an ideal vehicle for anyone looking for a middle-of-the-road option—it's neither too small or too large, and the same can be said for its price point.
Drive & Handling
The 2018 Kia Sorento is a capable family crossover that offers a satisfying driving experience both in terms of performance and comfort. The Sorento also boasts towing capabilities to rival more traditional truck-based SUVs but with fuel economy that is more car-like. Three available powertrains help the Sorento accomplish this.
The base model L receives a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine capable of producing 185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. The second-tier LX trim is outfitted with the same engine, but drivers have the opportunity to upgrade to a V6. With front-wheel drive, 2.4-liter Sorento models earn an EPA-rated 24 mpg combined (21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway) or 22 mpg combined (21 mpg city, 25 mpg highway) with all-wheel drive.** The more powerful LX V6 produces a powerful 290 horsepower and earns a combined fuel economy of 20 mpg (18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway) on front-wheel drive models.**
The 240 horsepower EX 2.0T trim sports a turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 engine. Front-wheel drive models earn an EPA-estimated 23 mpg combined (20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway) while the EPA rates all-wheel-drive models at 22 mpg combined (19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway).** The top-tiered Sorento models–EX V6, SX, and SX Limited–all sport a 3.3-liter V6. The 290 horsepower engine produces 252 lb-ft. of torque, and depending on the model, earns a combined fuel economy of 21 and 19 mpg respectively.**
All Sorento models come with a six-speed automatic transmission and the option for front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Key Features
Kia DRIVE WISE
From available Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) to the Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), the Sorento offers a number of available driver-assistance features that ensure you remain in control and on course. DRIVE WISE can also assist in maneuvering in and out of tight spaces, thanks to the available Surround View Monitor (SVM), which uses its four cameras to provide drivers with a birds-eye view of their vehicle.
Clari-Fi™ and Infinity® Surround Audio System
Both Clari-Fi™ and Infinity® Surround Sound Audio presents sound as it's meant to be heard—rich and unadulterated. The available Clari-Fi™ innovative audio technology scans compressed music files and restores them to their true stereo sound. These refined files can then be played on the available 10-speaker Infinity® Surround Audio System, which includes a center speaker, subwoofer, amplifier, and surround sound. Let's just say you'll be able to hear the difference.
Alternative Options
The beautifully designed Kia Niro, which made its debut last year, is another great option for those looking for a capable crossover. The Niro offers considerable comfort, space, and style, and perhaps best of all, it's a hybrid. It's one of the most "un-hybrid" models on the market today, though. Combining a tall roof and other cues normally associated with SUVs, the Niro defies convention in more ways than one. Buyers who are caught between size, style, and sportiness should look no further than the Kia Sportage. As its name indicates, the Sportage adds more style and sportiness to Kia's typical value and quality. It's an amalgamation of style, utility, and performance wrapped into one sleek and sexy package.
Gallery
*MSRP excludes destination and handling charges, taxes, title, license, options and dealer charges. Actual prices set by dealer and may vary.
**EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary depending on driving habits and conditions.
Image Credit: [OEM]
