With 2020 right around the corner, it’s time to take a look at some of the most prominent changes coming to one of Kia’s flagship models — the Kia Sorento.
While the Sorento has always been a performer, this year promises to be the best on record yet for the family-sized crossover. So, what’s new?
Performance
Steering is much improved over last year’s model, all thanks to Kia’s relentless focus on improving the Sorento’s ride quality as it continues to burgeon in popularity. The car’s straight-ahead tracking and braking system are easy to use, and very sprite compared to other vehicles in class.
While off-roading still isn’t the car’s strong suit, its intelligent safety suite, high ground clearance, and sturdy suspension give the vehicle a comfortable and confident feel, even under poor driving conditions.
Styling
The new Sorento is a bit bulkier and more imposing than the Sorentos of old, but it performs better in a wind tunnel and is more aerodynamic. As ever, the car screams “crossover,” and satiates the Kia driver’s need for a vehicle with both hauling power and ride quality, all without looking like a minivan.
The details around the outside of the car are a little more refined, the grille is more aggressive, and the overall exterior is more mature to offset it. All in all, it works very nicely. Kia have managed to produce their most visually stunning Sorento yet, and they’ve done it without reinventing the wheel.
Interior
The new Kia’s interior is softer, and more sophisticated than what we’ve seen in previous models.
Controls are packed nicely into their own instrumentation clusters, and are easy to use. With them, you can control the car’s new Infinity 10-speaker sound system, the navigation system, and any of the car’s other numerous features.
This time around the car is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, syncing your mobile device to the car for easier use. You’ll be able to effortlessly control the Sorento’s LED positioning lights, tail lights, fog lights, and other systems all from the instrument cluster.
Space isn’t really an issue, but the 7-seater version is optional. The second-row seats are comfortable, versatile, and very accommodating.
Engine
The Sorento has a strong, well-behaved engine that carries over from last year. The base models come with a choice between a modest yet capable 2.4-liter inline-4 engine, and a 3.3-liter V6 that churn out 240 and 290 horsepower, respectively.
A new engine/drivetrain combination is available for 2019 on the EX model — a turbocharged inline-4 engine that Kia have been paying a lot of attention to recently.
A six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are standard on the new car, but an all-wheel-drive model is available (and can tow up to 5,000 lbs) for drivers with a little extra hauling or adverse road conditions to deal with.
This AWD system constantly monitors the car’s steering wheel angle, stability inputs, wheel torque, yaw sensor, and other features, automatically adjusting them every few milliseconds to best match the needs of your daily drive.
In other models these systems may not kick on until it’s too late, usually after the car detects slippage or an impending collision. In the new Sorento, they’re always aiding the driver, divvying up power and splitting torque where necessary to keep the car steady under less-than-ideal driving conditions.
Safety and Warranty
The new Kia is chock full of the latest and most innovative safety solutions on the market today. That’s nothing new for Kia, who have always packed their cars with such features.
For the 2019 Sorento, they’ve added adaptive headlights and automatic emergency braking, and have garnered some of the most impressive crash test safety scores out of any automobile in class.
The car is also under the umbrella of a strong, flexible warranty that’ll cover drivers under most situations.
Conclusion
Is the new Kia Sorento worth taking a look at? Yes, absolutely. Without fail, Kia produce some of the safest, most driver-conscious vehicles on the road today. While most of the new car’s upgrades and improvements are subtle, modest, or outright difficult to notice, they’re definitely there, and the driving experience is pretty impressive.
After rolling out their changes, Kia have made the Sorento an extremely competitive, if not outright ideal, crossover for the new year.
Video courtesy of Redline Reviews
