Kia Sorento takes the brand to a whole new level

As the Kia Sorento enters its second model year, you would think that the company would only make minor improvements to the 2012 edition. That’s especially true given that the 2011 model won many accolades.  In 2011, the Kia Sorento was selected as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It was the first vehicle built at the company’s Georgia manufacturing facility. And it was the first Kia vehicle to sell more than 100,000 units in a model year.

With the changes for 2012, it’s clear that Kia was not about to rest on it laurels with the Sorento. The 2012 model year includes the addition of an available 2.4-liter, four-cylinder GDI engine that offers significant gains in horsepower and fuel efficiency. The GDI engine puts out 191 horsepower, while delivering fuel economy of up to 32 miles per gallon on the highway.

The 2012 Sorento also offers additional cutting-edge technologies such as Kia’s new UVO that is powered by Microsoft’s voice-activated infotainment system. Greatly aiding driver connectivity, convenience and safety, UVO is standard on Sorento EX models.

Also new for 2012, and standard on all Sorento trims with cloth seating, is the YES-Essentials seat fabric. It provides anti-bacterial, anti-soil and anti-static properties for added longevity and livability. 

The 2012 Sorento also introduces new convenience, comfort and luxury features that are available across all trim lines. They include power-folding side mirrors, a heated wood-trim steering wheel, memory driver seat and side mirror positioning, a power passenger seat, and a cool ventilated driver’s seat.

It offers standard convenience features such as air conditioning, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, SiriusXM Satellite Radio capabilities with three months of complimentary service, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth wireless technology, and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. 

“They are all pretty much loaded with a lot of features,” said Eric Halleen, president of Halleen Kia, which recently opened its new Kia showroom and facility on the North Olmsted Auto Mile. “And I think you’ll find that the interior feels a lot more upscale, especially in this model.”  The Sorento is available in an LX, EX and SX trim level, and pricing begins at $23,150 for the LX trim. 

In terms of handling, the Kia Sorento has plenty of power with its available four-cylinder. The Sorento I drove had a V6 that put out an impressive 276 horsepower. It also had all-wheel drive with a locking center differential that evenly distributed power to all four wheels at low speeds. This makes the Sorento SX ideal for the sever weather conditions in Northeast Ohio. 

The top-of-the-line edition does have some excellent styling in the cabin, including leather seating and accents. It also has ebony wood treatments and softer touch materials that really give it the feel of luxury. There are small chrome accents around the instrument cluster, on the door handles and climate controls, and around the cup holders.

It’s such attention to design detail that takes the Sorento and Kia brand away from its home as a value-oriented brand and into the realm of everyday and even upscale branded vehicles.

Source: cleveland.com