It was a decade ago that Kia was a small and backwards company from South Korea producing cheesy subcompacts that only a few of us bought. Wow, what a difference a decade, angry consumers, and a corporate restructuring can make. While Korean vehicles are still far from "cutting edge", the improvements made over previous models are nothing short of drastic. I'll make it a point now to inform all of those unaware that Kia, until Hyundai bought it out, was about to go out of business. In a short time Kia, with the help of Hyundai, completely changed the way they designed, produced, and guaranteed automobiles. After learning of this Korean business model, it led me to wonder just what on earth the corporate executives at General Motors, Ford, and Daimler-Chrysler were getting paid to do. The message coming from Korea to the automotive producers in this country is quite clear: We're Out To Win! Indeed, Korean business executives have been studying Darwin well, and they knew they had to adapt to meet demands, or face extinction. Grow or Die, Detroit!
Ride/Handling/Power train:
This new SUV from Kia employs some of the old gadgets from Detroit, a solid rear axle and a truck frame. While to many of us that would mean a harsh, jittery, and generally uncontrolled ride, our assumptions couldn't be less true. However, the ride and handling isn't up to par with say, a Honda or Toyota; but at the bargain price of $25,000 dollars, it simply doesn't have to be.
Kia's (Hyundai's, actually) 3.5 liter six-cylinder is not as refined, powerful, or efficient as those from Japanese brands. The Sorento does manage to get up and go, and demonstrates more than adequate torque. The fuel economy is somewhat poor compared to its competitors, mostly due to the weight inherent to a body-on-frame design. Still, you should be able to gain mileage in the low twenties on the highway.
The transmission shifted very smoothly and didn't "hunt" for the right gear going up hills. And while I remarked that the Sorento's engine is not as refined as it's competitors, it is very appropriate for the price range.
Braking:
The Sorento comes standard with four-wheel disc brakes and an optional anti-lock braking system (ABS). Fade was moderate, and the linings did a superb job at stopping this 4,200-pound vehicle.
Exterior:
Yes, as many who have written reviews on this board have noted, the Sorento does bear a striking resemblance to the Lexus RX330; and, I assume this was no accident. Toyota shouldn't loose any sleep over it though, this SUV is still behind Toyota build quality standards, but not far. The exterior shape can be described as rugged yet refined; it tries to strike a balance between masculinity and sophistication in an effort to be more things to more people. Overall, I would have to say it is a very nice looking vehicle.
Exterior Fit/Finish:
The paint job seemed to be stellar; I could find no orange peel. Panel gaps, while wider than more expensive brands, were reasonably close and even.
Interior:
The layout of the dash seems to be well thought out, with the exception of some climate control buttons that seem to be jumbled together. The rest of the interior appears to have a clean layout as well, occupant space it plentiful and the cargo area is more than adequate for a vehicle of this size. For once, the cup holders actually seem like they can perform the task in which they were designed for, unlike some Kia vehicles of the past. Storage pockets and spaces are adequate. The comfort of the seats, which is somewhat subjective, was better than average for this class.
Interior Fit/Finish:
Any of you who have read previous reviews that I've authored, know that the interior can make or break a car for me. I'm happy to report that interior fit and finish is excellent, if not better than much more expensive rivals such as the Ford Explorer or the Chevrolet Trailblazer. All vinyl, leather, and rubber materials found in this vehicle are superb for the price; and, nice touches can be found in the glove box that is lined with felt, how nice! There is one area of concern, the faux wood is just terrible, they didn't even try to recreate the graining pattern of real wood; it looked like a picture of fake wood, how unpleasant!
Safety:
Dual front and curtain airbags are a nice touch. Its strange, however, that safety equipment doesn't include dual side airbags. Never the less, the Sorento achieved five stars in the government's side impact tests. In the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's offset frontal crash, the Kia earned an "acceptable" rating, most likely due to it's body-on-frame design.
Features:
For $25,000, the Sorento has just about everything buyers are looking for in the $30,000 dollar range including a power moon roof, heated leather seats, a ten speaker CD sound system, and heated mirrors. In addition to this were some unexpected, upscale details like a nicely lined cargo area, and a First Aid Kit.
Audio:
As I mentioned above, the Sorento has a ten speaker sound system that is produced by Delco. I do believe that Delco is responsible for some of the worst audio reproduction that I've ever heard. However, this Delco system doesn't sound nearly as bad as the ones of yore, and is acceptable in this price range.
4WD:
The Kia has a true four-wheel drive system that actually has a low-range function. While I didn't have the opportunity to test it off-road, I think Kia would have been smart to put that money elsewhere and use an all-wheel drive system since very few SUV owners actually go off pavement.
Conclusion:
The Sorento seems to be a good buy. If you can get over the truck frame and some other outdated items, I think you will be rather pleased. At $25,000, its competitors are much more expensive, and Kia has a 5/60,000 mile warranty to boot. Initial Quality Surveys also came back in the Sorento's favor. If you're looking to purchase within this class, at least test-drive the Sorento, you won't be sorry.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 26000
Condition: New Model Year: 2004 Model and Options: EX, 4WD
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.