At the forefront of this is the Kia Sorento. The midsized SUV market has been flooded in recent years, but that hasn't stopped this vehicle -manufactured at the West Point factory in this very state- from selling like mad. Sure, the Sorento has been around since 2002, but it wasn't until Kia's entire model lineup was revamped in 2009 that it became what the people wanted. The Sorento was transformed from a truck-like SUV with lazy and, dare I say, boring interior and exterior appointments, into something that has truly captured the market's attention.
We picked out the EX model, which is the Sorento's "middle of the road" trim level. Our EX has the optional 3.5l V6, which is good for 276hp; a big step up from the puny four cylinder configuration offered in the LX, which churns out 100hp less. This enthusiastic engine is mated to a smooth-shifting six speed automatic transmission, and this combination is good for an impressive 20mpg city and 26mpg on the highway. The EX never feels short on power, however the FWD configuration does lend itself to torque steer issues under spirited acceleration, but these issues can be remedied if you go for the AWD model.
More positive news comes when you take the Sorento out for a drive around town. Following the trend of other modern SUVs, Kia has ditched body-on-frame construction and live axle suspension found in the first generation in favor of a more car-like unibody construction with fully independent suspension. What this translates to is an all-around better ride which is both comfortable and reasonably agile.
Clever design carries over into the cabin, which can be configured to seat seven with the rear seats up, or carry up to 73 cubic feet of cargo with all of the rear seats folded down. Materials in the cabin are of class-standard quality, but the design and use of materials -especially on the dash- is very attractive. Knobs and buttons for the climate controls and radio are intelligently laid out and easy to understand, with radio controls duplicated on the steering wheel. Sound quality from the stereo is acceptable, and the standard system comes with Bluetooth accessibility, along with an auxiliary jack and USB connectivity. The Sorento's driving position is excellent, however the seats are somewhat stiff and offer little support on the bottom, making longer trips arduous. Driver visibility is also slightly compromised by thick A-pillars and rear visibility can be poor as well, although comparable to many cars in its class.
Overall, the Sorento puts on a good showing for the new Kia Motors. With more refinement, comfort, quality, and overall performance than the outgoing model, this Sorento is an entirely new car. These visitors sure seem ready to establish a permanent residence, and we are quite alright with that.
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