2013 Kia Sorento Expert Review
Reviewed by Staff Writer
The 2013 Kia Sorento is Kia's midsize crossover that slots above the smaller Sportage. While the Sorento has the capacity to seat seven passengers, the third row is best reserved for kids and shorter trips. During our year-long evaluation of a 2011 Kia Sorento SX, our tester "spent most of its time with the third row folded." The Sorento's front-seat comfort also received mixed reviews from staffers.
On paper, it appears that the Sorento would provide a comfortable ride, thanks to its unibody construction and Dual Flow Damper strut and shocks that vary the damping rate. Again, staffers were mixed on the Sorento's suspension feel, with some noting a "coarse" ride quality that "seems to let in every bump, every road divot, every flaw in the pavement."
The Kia Sorento is offered with two powertrains, both of which are mated to a six-speed automatic sending power to the front wheels. Full-time all-wheel drive is optional. A 2.4-liter, inline-four cylinder producing 175-hp and 169 lb-ft of torque (direct injection is optional) serves as the base engine and a 3.5-liter V-6 (276-hp and 248 lb-ft) is available. The front-drive, four-cylinder Sorento is fairly fuel-efficient, with an EPA rated 30 mpg on the highway and the all-wheel drive V-6 will return 24 mpg on the highway.
New for 2013
Leather seats are now standard on 2013 Kia Sorento EX models. Third row seats are standard on the LX V6 and are now optional on EX V6 and SX models. A new LX Convenience Plus Package adds a power-adjustable driver's seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, floor mats, and a first-aid kit.
Key Competitors
- GMC Terrain
- Toyota Highlander
- Honda Pilot
Sum Up
A competitor player in a crowded class.
