Kia Sorento 2020

The third-generation Sorento was unveiled in 2014 but was made commercially available in 2015. In 2018, Kia gave this midsize crossover a facelift incorporating better headlamps and a tweaked exterior. 

The Sorento shares the same platform as the Kia Grand Carnival. As a midsize crossover, the Sorento features a unibody chassis construction which is more agreeable than the traditional ladder-on-frame construction method employed by SUVs. In the front, the suspension setup is comprised of a MacPherson strut with a stabilizer for extra rigidity. For the rear, the Sorento uses a multi-link system to improve vehicle stability even while turning. The crossover rolls on a set of 17-inch alloy wheels for the front-wheel-drive variant, and a set of 18-inch alloys for the all-wheel-drive variant. Disc brakes can be found on all four corners, and the vehicle boasts a ground clearance of 185 mm. 

Kia has outfitted this midsize crossover with a 2.2-liter diesel engine that produces 197 hp and 441 Nm of torque, which is ample output from an engine of its size. The motor also features variable geometry turbo technology to ensure smooth output and smooth operation even at low RPMs. Power is fed to an 8-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic and drives the front wheels for the 2WD variant, or to all four in the AWD variant. The top of the line model also comes with a drive mode selector, which help sift through the profiles granted by the active on-demand AWD system. 

Driving the Kia Sorento is like any other midsize crossover. Handling is fair for a vehicle of its size, but it is still manageable. With light steering for its weight, and a well-engineered chassis, which allows it to remain comfortable and pliant even when road conditions are less than agreeable. Power and torque are adequate for the size and heft of the Sorento. The diesel motor which is standard for the lineup presents itself well with good power delivery and enough pull to bring this car up to speed with reasonable haste. 

The infotainment in the Sorento is a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto serving as the centerpiece in the cabin. The system outputs to a 6-speaker audio system that is comprised of four woofers and two tweeters. Cruise control is standard across the lineup, as are front and rear parking sensors. The rear camera is only available for the all-wheel-drive variant, however. Climate control is automatic and a mono-TFT LCD display is in the center of the instrument cluster flanked by two analog gauges. Other convenience features include a power tailgate for the ease of loading cargo to the rear and a smart key entry system with push-start functionality. 

Kia's tiger-nose grille features prominently on the front of the car. This piece is flanked by two LED projector headlamps. The base 2WD variant comes with halogen projectors, but a standard feature for all the models is projector fog lamps found in the front. To the rear, you get another cluster in LED for the top-spec model, and also standard is the rear spoiler, mirror-mounted turn signal indicators, chrome trim, and high mount stop lamp. 

The interior of the Sorento is large. For a crossover of its size, it features more than enough space for your average individual and can seat up to 7 people at once. The top of the line model gets leather upholstery and adds power seats along with a push-start button and smart key entry. middle-row passengers also have their own rear aircon vents, which complement the front's automatic system. The rear of the Sorento houses two more seats, which can be folded down to reveal a flat cargo area. The second-row seats can also be folded and it comes with a 40:20:40 configuration, which also folds flat, allowing you to maximize the space of the rear.