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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

2013 Sorento: A reengineered crossover SUV

The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper
Breaking News, information and opinion in Nigeria
2013 Sorento: A reengineered crossover SUV
Dec 11th 2012, 23:00

Leading manufacturers of sport utility vehicles may have been put under pressure as Kia Motor Corporation releases an updated big soft roader, the Sorento R.

The Sorento is a four-door SUV with a full-size hatch in the rear. It is typically an SUV for five people but it can be outfitted for a third-row seating — an option that will raise the passenger count to seven.

The base version comes with a peppy and efficient 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine — new to the Sorento line — and a six-speed manual transmission.

Although some car reviewers consider it a facelift, the Korean auto manufacturer says it is an entirely new generation.

Many, however, agree that the SUV, built to comfortably accommodate seven people, has undergone a lot of changes.

For instance, a popular auto analyst, the Car Connection, says Kia has turned a truck-like SUV into a carlike crossover, one without so much off-road talent but far more on-road fluency. It has put a lot of Georgians to work, overtime, building Sorentos just to keep up with its hot sales pace.

And it has split its segment down the middle, overlapping so many best-sellers such as Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Ford Edge, Chevrolet Equinox–that the Sorento's now an appealing alternative to at least half of the family-friendliest vehicles on the market.

Engine

The 2013 Kia Sorento is available in LX, EX or SX trims, with either a four-cylinder or six-cylinder engine , with a choice between front- or all-wheel drive.

Seating

The base trims have seating for five but some trims offer an available third-row seat that increases seating capacity to seven.

Interior

Test drivers express divergent views about the 2013 Kia Sorento's interior, but many agree that it is well-made and well-equipped, but might not be spacious enough for everyone.

However, the Sorento comes standard with features such as Bluetooth and a USB input jack that some competitors do not offer on their base trims, and its price significantly undercuts that of almost every other three-row crossover.

The Sorento's cabin has a nice mix of textures and a handsome, logical design, says online reviewer, Car and Driver.

Looking closely at the inside, another reviewer, Edmund notes that the Sorento's dashboard is simple but sleek, and the subtle faux-wood trim piece that bisects it is a welcome upscale touch. It says the plastics are all hard, but look good and describe them as class-competitive.

Exterior

The front end of the 2013 model features a tasteful new lighting cluster, complete with LED daytime running lights, that angles more steeply into the tiger nose grille.

The back end also has an update, with a new rear spoiler and tailgate, integrated rear LED lamps.

From the side, things are much the same as before though, with the same panels as before, says The Car Connection.

Performance

An online auto review, Driven, recalling a test-drive experience of the current Sorento R two years ago, stated that it was impressed by how refined it was over the somewhat clunky predecessor.

Kia, at the time revelling in the impressive abilities of former Audi head designer Peter Schreyer, had set out with the express intent to build a road-bound SUV that ticked all of the boxes for its core family market.

According to the reviewer, the levels of equipment and materials used are a huge jump over the tractor-flavoured second generation, and this next iteration has followed suit with a similar lift in quality that adds a high level of quality equipment, tech goodies and giving buyers real value for money.

Safety

The 2013 Sorento has much to provide families in the way of safety. Although the Car Connection, notes that the vehicle does not offer some of the latest optional safety technology you will find on other SUVs and crossovers, it stresses that the basics and a few options earn it a high score.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety calls the Sorento a Top Safety Pick, which means it earns a "good" score on all IIHS crash tests, including a new roof-crush score.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rates the Sorento at four stars overall; four stars each for frontal impacts and rollover protection are offset by a five-star side-impact protection score.

The vehicle is also equipped with dual front, side, and curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control; and active headrests.

Sorento's visibility is fine, even with its substantial rear roof pillars.

A rearview camera is offered on high-end versions, but it is packaged with an expensive navigation system.

Fuel economy

Compared to some five-seat crossovers, the five- or seven-passenger Kia Sorento has very good fuel economy.

The Car Connection says the V-6 Sorento carries over its fuel economy numbers again into the 2013 model year. The front-drive automatic-equipped crossover is rated by the EPA at 20/26 mpg; with four-wheel drive, it is still competitive at 18/24 mpg.

Car analysts note that four-cylinder versions of the 2012-2013 Sorento are among a set of vehicles found to have overstated fuel-economy numbers.

Kia initially submitted figures of 22/32 mpg (25 mpg combined) with 2WD and 21/28 (23 combined) with 4WD to the EPA, which allows auto makers to self-certify fuel economy.

On a confirmation check of several vehicles, the reviewer says the EPA have found the Sorento's actual tested fuel economy to be 21/30 mpg (24 combined) with 2WD or 20/26 (22 combined) with 4WD.

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