BRISBANE: The five or seven passenger Sorento is Kia’s second bestselling vehicle, next to the Rio, therefore the launch of the third generation of this popular utility vehicle is an important one.
The all new Sorento has some major changes from the 2015 version. In the sport utility segment, size does matter.
The 2016 Sorento is 75 millimetres longer and five millimetres wider than its predecessor. It has improved cargo space and functionality. It’s also not as tall, giving it a sportier stance.
The 2016 Sorento looks more rugged. The quad LED fog lamps, dual projector headlamps and stainless steel bumper plates help the top trim SX version stand out on the road.
All trim levels get a new large contoured spoiler, chrome surround and door handles and gloss black pillars between the side windows. These new exterior features, along with the ‘tiger nose’ and distinctive inverted honeycomb grill, make you wonder.
Fifty three per cent of the body structure, compared to twenty-four per cent in the previous generation Sorento, is now constructed from Ultra High Strength steel.
Kia’s parent company, Hyundai Motor Group, is the only automotive manufacturer that produces its own steel. The 3.3-litre V6 GDI engine, available in the seven passengers Sorento, starting at the LX trim level, is not new but it has been significantly enhanced from 2015.
The 290 horsepower engine with 252 lb-ft of torque, combined with the strengthened chassis of the vehicle, can tow 43 per cent more weight than the 2015 Sorento (5,000 pounds or 2270 kilograms).
The new under the hood star of the Sorento show is the 2.0-litre power plant.
Available in the entire five passengers trim levels except the base LX, this new turbocharged four-cylinder engine, mated to Kia’s six speed automatic transmissions, produces 240 horsepower.
The 260 lb ft of torque means it can haul 3,500 pounds (1,587 kg). Fuel efficiency ratings for the new engine are 11.7/8.6 for the front-wheel drive and 12.3/9.3 for the AWD version.
