Note: We had an error in calculation. Combined legroom is 112.7 inches, not 116.2. That still puts this ahead of Pilot, Highlander, CX-9, Ascent, MDX and Acadia, but behind the Atlas, and Pathfinder.
Thanks for the clarification. Can you confirm the 0-60 was 6.9 seconds? That doesn’t seem too impressive given the HP/TQ and DCT. Isn’t the Highlander and Pilot a tiny bit quicker?
@@danielsaucedo5863 What update in the Forte? On Monday I bought a 2021 Forte GT with the GT2 package. Loving it so far! I didnt know they were going to update it further...? I think the GT is a new trim since 2020 only...
KIA and Hyundai is where Honda and Toyota was back in the late 90's. Their market share is gaining on them and at full speed ahead. Nobody is making fun at them anymore. They are real and serious contenders! look out!
You've got one guy making fun of them right here. Kia and Hyundai need 20 more years of proving themselves before anyone can say they're as good as a Honda/Toyota. After all, the only reason why they exist is because Honda/Toyota do the heavy lifting. The Koreans copy. In other words, the market goes as the Japanese go.
@@iamthedutchbro everyone copies what brings $$, Japanese copy German, Koreans copy Japanese, Chinese copy American. This is not something new. It is matter of who convince the most population. Reputation comes with it.
Been waiting for what seems like forever for this review. My wife and I have owned two Sorentos. The 2012 model was the first KIA I've ever owned (or even considered buying). We replaced it in 2018 to take advantage of the numerous upgrades KIA has added over those six years. Each has been completely trouble free and among the best vehicles I've ever owned. It's my wife's daily driver (She LOVES it) and the family's (2 adults, a teenage daughter, and a big dog) road tripping "truckster." For us, the Sorento has been a true "Goldilocks" vehicle. At 189" long, it's 6" to 8" shorter than a Highlander or a Telluride. And while that doesn't sound like a lot, we often hang a multi-bike rack on the trailer hitch that adds more than a foot to its length and the shorter length is critical for parking, in crowded suburban traffic, and when lowering the door in a crowded garage. Like most owners we use the third row of seats rarely. But it's a huge convenience when we chauffeur a gaggle of teenagers or need to carry six or seven passengers on a local trip and would otherwise have to rely on two vehicles. Each of our Sorentos was equipped with the optional 3.3L V6 engine. Although I'm a fan of turbocharged 4 bangers in smaller vehicles (My daily driver is a GTI), I was initially skeptical when KIA retired that NA V6 and replaced it with a turbo 2.5L four in the new generation. The fact that the same engine is not only available in the new K5 GT (and the Sonata N-Line) sedan but is the base engine in the Genesis GV80 SUV was reassuring. Add the standard 10 yr/100K drive train warranty and I suspect it will prove to be not only a better performer but just as durable. Otherwise, KIA appears to have maintained their practice of upgrading their models from year to year as well as from one generation to the next without significantly impacting the MSRP. The infotainment system and driver assistance features, already among the best in the industry, are improved. Sadly, the extending thigh support for the driver has been eliminated. It's not a big deal but my wife is especially sad about that. And I have to agree that it's a benefit on long drives. I think I'd have to pry my wife's cold dead fingers from the steering wheel of her current Sorento but I may try to interest her in taking a look at the new generation.
Oh wow congrats on your new Sorrento! I’m low key jealous I was wondering if they had hit dealer lots yet!! I’m going to wait too because I don’t want to pay retail. I’m hoping for $500 off
I wanted to ask if you checked out the Driver 1 - Driver 2 option feature on the infotainment. I noticed it when I was test driving and wanted to know if that allows it to memorize driver settings not only for infotainment but does it function to keep driver seat settings as a work around to not having physical memory seat buttons?
My family got a 2016 Sorento, the EX V6 model and man. Its niiiceee. Full leather interior, heated seats, boomin sound system. And its friggen quick man! Especially in sport mode.
A huge change with these 2021 Hyundai and Kias are the new 2.5 turbo and non turbo engines now have Multi-Port Injection as well which solves the issue of carbon build up and burning through oil (eventually setting fire to the engine) that older models had. This is huge and makes these cars much more reliable. I'm not sure what other brand still has Port Injection besides Toyota. That's a huge reason Toyota's are still super reliable.
I am amazed by how well Kia makes their cars these days. After owning my Telluride top trim SX Prestige for close to a year, I am still totally enjoying the car so with this excellent new Sorento I am so tempted to own BOTH together especially the Plug-in Hybrid....Oh wait....the new Sportage is coming out soon which should be a great RAV4 and CRV fighter.....I love Kia!!!!!!
Just bumped into my own comment....and 10 months later I just traded in my Kia Telluride SXP AWD and now I am a proud owner of the Kia Sorento PHEV!!!! I still love Kia!!!
Just got to test drive the X-Line at a dealership and it drives surprisingly well with a good amount of pep. The 6 SX trims they had in stock all had deposits put down for them already...
My wife and I just purchased a new 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid EX, and we love it. The air vents are ugly but the rest of the car is beautiful. My only complaint is when I'm in the driver seat my right knee is pretty much touching the air vent that is below the big vent, and its kind of annoying, but I'm 6'4 with long legs so this probably doesn't affect most people.
Alex. I am impressed by the quality of your review. Straight to the point, and very very detailed. You have shared with us information on this vehicle that was not shared by other sites. Keep the great job coming !!!!
@@keithkang5399 hey Keith, it’s been great it’s the previous gen 2018 been running great no issues, but just looking for a change and living in NYC with tight driveways the Sorento is just the right size vs the bigger wider SUVs like the Telluride, Pilot and Highlander which are very tight in my driveway.
This will stand out like the Telluride and sell well. People want to be noticed and feel that their vehicle makes a statement. How a vehicle looks is obviously the first thing your eyes are drawn too and Kia I would say is forefront in the non luxury market at the moment. What's the first thing you're likely to notice when you hop into a new car? The infotainment screen and instrument cluster. These new "EASY TO USE" large digital displays are what shoppers want and Kia I'd say are leading the way here too in the non luxury market. Kia includes great standard safety tech, nice exterior and interior color options and an industry leading warranty. I think the 2.5 Turbo model with 280HP and the 311lbs ft torque is ample power and the previous V6 won't be missed. At 42K plus for the SX and SX Prestige models I was expecting after seeing reviews in other world markets1) Memory Seats, 2) Ambient Lighting Accents for the Interior 3) Nappa Leather? 4) "Smart Pahk"? 5) Rotary Shifter (personally not a big deal) I think the markets where these features are available don't offer gasoline options ( but diesel and hybrid options) so it's probably a cost related issue to keep the Sorrento competitive in the States. Pity they're omitted though. Other than that Alex says she handles as good as if not better than the Mazda Cx-9 which is high praise and is pepppy enough for most with the 2.5 Turbo. Now what Color Combo to chose? Fingers crossed high demand low supply don't cause the "Telluride Mark-up Nightmare"! Kia also need to simplify their "build" feature on-line. It's not intuitive at all and borderline frustrating to use!
VW could take lessons from almost anyone. I was astonished at how crummy the build quality was on the interiors of the lower trim models of the Atlas, Jetta, and Passat when I saw them at an auto show a year ago. They don't look so bad in pictures, but they are heavy with hard plastic and cheap-feeling switchgear. The difference between those models designed for the US and the Golf was striking, in an ugly way.
@@markmiller3279 dang. I have a new Tiguan and the lower doors have lots of plastic but I was also shopping the expensive Audi E-Tron first, and the Audi had tons of plastic too. It’s hard to escape. My switch gear doesn’t feel bad. I’ve tried switch gear in competitors that felt worse. I looked at about everything as my budget was not too strict as I always lease cars. I don’t disagree with you tho that the Jetta tends to feel plasticky on lower level. And sadly on the Atlas. But most reviewers here have said the interiors are well bolted together. I know we all have our opinions and I am particular about these things as it sounds like you are. Savage Geese is the channel that says although there are plastics that things feel solid. Car confections and redline reviews said the same thing. I’m not saying you should care what they say but I’m not totally alone in thinking that the plastics are used in the usual places that get dirty and such. I will say that prior to 2011 when VW used premium materials everywhere the cars reflected the price and their sales were low and the masses complained. VW wanted to reach lofty sales goals and purposely used more cheap feeling plastic and I hear from the dealers that people do complain but that the public doesn’t want to pay for the expense of soft plastic. I was told VW was working to address the problems where they exist. So you are certainly not alone either. Who doesn’t want better materials? I was just driving a new Camry & a new Accord for my 2nd vehicle and I was disappointed in some of their switch gear and plastics as well.
Recently drove the Hybrid as my wife's Sorrento lease is up. She's probably going to get it, its very nice and 37 mpg is crazy, besides its faux luxury is affordable I'm probably going to wait for the plug-in hybrid with larger battery. Been very impressed with the Sorrento on the small turbo the past couple of years, so yeah, Kia is definately going to be knocking Toyota/Nissan down a knotch.
US model gets Blind View Monitor, but gives up Remote Smart Park, Ambient Lighting, Air Ionizer and other technology that the Sorento had before or this generation has in other markets. I’m hoping Kia will introduce these features back into this model over time.
@@dalex7777 we are not getting blind view monitor here in Canada either which is a bummer. Sounds like Kia is pushing the brand down to be a cheaper alternative for Hyundai here in North America
I think it looks great and is a very good option. It's disappointing that for about $44k they don't include things like memory seats or ambient lighting that even the Soul gets. On other markets they come better equipped. I hope we had those options available.
But look at how much you DO get for 44k. You’re not getting anywhere near as many features in the competition for that price. As is always the case, you can’t have it all. And if you do have it all, it’ll cost too much and people will complain about price.
The 2021 Sorento has moved to the top of the list as a mid sized SUV consideration. I quite like the design in and out plus appreciate the powertrain choices with those wider tires on the turbo model. The previous top contender was the Telluride lol so Kia's doing some good things here.
I just checked one of these out at a local dealer in AZ. If it hadn’t been marked up $2000 with an additional $1500 of “value added protection” in the middle of a dealer showroom that looked like it was from 1989, I would have considered it.
I am surprised there is no seat memory settings in the US and limited adjustments for the driver's seats. In Canada, there is driver's seat memory settings , 4 way power lumber for driver's seats and 2 way power lumber for front passenger's seat. Looks like Canada has a little bit more trappings.
Watching you try to squeeze in the back almost made me choke on my pancake with laughter. But, point taken, if I need to store a body in the back of my 3-row SUV, I might want to consider stepping up to the Telluride.
the exterior design is really damn good. Considering how they formatted the font of the model name on the back of the Sorento and Telluride, my guess is that KIA is trying to appeal to land rover customers who can't afford a land rover but want affordability/reliability. KIA is killin it lately
This US model Sorento makes me sad. In Korea, we get all of the awesome features Alex noted as missing here. We get the gorgeous Nappa trimmed leather interior, ambient lighting, rotary shifter and "smaht pahk", heated and ventilated 1st and second row seats and our hybrid has AWD as an option. Just like the K5, I don't think I could buy this knowing about the Korean model.
The feature advantages of the Sorento in Korea vs the US isn't the only edge you have in Korea, John. The total number of deaths from COVID over the last year in South Korea is 540 compared to nearly 280,000 in the US. That difference stems from a national government and population who took the virus seriously from the start versus a totally incompetent administration and close to half the population taking their cues from the lies put forth by a con man. As far as the Sorento is concerned, it's worth noting that when we bought our top trim, fully loaded version in 2018 prior to the introduction of the Telluride, its MSRP was slightly over $48,000. And as far as I can recall, it didn't lack any significant features compared to the Korean version. At the time, I guess-timated that the MSRP of the forthcoming Telluride top trim would be about $55,000. Boy was I wrong! Many buyers have paid that much but only because the traditional dealer discount from a KIA MSRP was replaced by either long waiting lists or "market adjustment" stickers. The MSRP of a top trim fully loaded Telluride began and remains a bit over $49K. With the Telluride's MSRP and strong feature content KIA couldn't retain a $48K MSRP for the Sorento. So they dropped it to around $42K in 2019 and 2020. But with the new 2021 generation that includes a new engine, a new wet clutch DCT transmission and an upgraded infotainment system that MSRP would be difficult to retain without some cost cutting elsewhere. That largely accounts for the elimination of the features you mention while keeping the MSRP of a fully loaded top trim Sorento at $42.5K plus destination charges. Furthermore, KIA faces a completely different competitive environment in Korea versus the US. First, the Telluride is not even offered in Korea. That eliminates the need to price the Sorento significantly below its big brother. Second, sales of the Japanese and American brand "midsize" SUVs (e.g. Highlander, Pilot, Explorer, Durango, CX-9, etc) are almost literally non-existent in Korea. Compare that competitive landscape to the US where two and three row midsize mainstream vehicles constitute the principal rivals. In fact, the Sorento's major rivals in Korea are the entry level European luxury models where feature content comparisons are important for KIA to counter. (The same issue applies to the K5 by the way.) All in all I can sympathize with American consumers who envy the features KIA offers in the Korean versions of their vehicles. But KIA is hardly alone. American owners of the GTI (like me) have long complained that the German version gets features and performance upgrades never offered on this side of the Atlantic. :)
@@stephenhendricks103 I love reading your detailed posts Stephen! It's like reading a well written article that thinks just like me! About the virus, you're absolutely right. I feel very grateful to be among people that are socially responsible. I sure hope you and your family are safe! Everything you said about the price/ feature positioning of the Sorento/Telluride is correct too! However, I wonder if something else is involved? As you mentioned, some models are "fully" equipped and come in at a competitive price. However, of late, the K5 and now the Sorento are both more expensive and yet have fewer features than the models sold in Korea. I don't think we can blame shipping or import taxes. For example, the Stinger is fully equipped in Canada but is cheaper than the price we pay in Korea. As for the market here in Korea, no we don't get the Telluride. The only foreign competition we get are the Traverse, Pilot and Explorer from mainstream brands. Of course we have the Palisade and Kia's own Mohave. We also have the similarly sized Santa Fe. The market here simply wouldn't support too many big three row crossovers. We have tax issues, high gas prices and tight streets to deal with here. I test drove this Sorento with the diesel engine. Just love it! I need to buy a car next spring. It's a good time to be a shopper! Take care Stephen!
one area this Sorento beats even some luxury brands is that the rear passengers aren’t forgotten. even though it’s faux wood it looks good and they carried it to the rear doors too. in an Acura RDX for example the back doors are barren. only the front doors get the pretty trim pieces.
Very comprehensive review. Hopefully these are easier to find than the Tellurides. I was considering an Atlas but this seems to beat it in every category except size.
I really like what Kia/Hyundai is doing my only question is their long term reliability. Many mechanics I’ve spoken to say, they get expensive to maintain after 70k miles. Alex it would be great if you can do a segment on vehicle brands and their long term reliability?
This is in line more with a Ford Edge, Honda Pilot, Atlas Cross, Jeep GC, and Hyundai Santa Fe... it just offers a third row which the 2022 Jeep GC with offer now.
Looks like a very nice SUV for the class. I like the design inside and out. Disappointed to hear they didn't drop in the Telluride's V6 as optional, instead of the turbo 2.5L. A turbo 4cyl with a DCT transmission will likely not be a longevity wonder. Simpler is better in that regard.
@@ozzyngcsu No you don't. The Sorento provides a total 75.5 cubic ft of overall cargo space. The closely related and near identical size Hyundai 2 row Santa Fe provides 72.1 cubic ft in a vehicle only one inch or so less in length and virtually identical legroom in rows one and two.
Love the new Sorento but Kia made a HUGE mistake by leaving out the Drivers Seat Memory feature. Its not available on any trims, including the SX Prestige. This feature is a MUST HAVE for anyone who shares driving with someone else. Kia puts it on most other models except the Seltos. Come on Kia...fix this ASAP!
Liking the idea of the hybrid or PHEV version of this car to get great gas mileage as well as enough room to enjoy packing all my fishing gear into it comfortably.
I’m a bit disappointed. The previous Sorento could tow 5,000 pounds and had nicer seats. If you want that, you now have to step up to the Telluride. The problem is, part of the appeal of the old Sorento was it was a lot of car in a smaller package than the Highlander.
Alex, thank God the Canadian product planners of Kia Canada have spec'ed driver seat memory and 4-way lumber for the SX trim. Still have to buy the top dog trim but at least it is available
GLAD YOU HAD THIS REVIEW. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE mpg AND THE FACT THAT THEY CRAMMED IN A THIRD ROW. IMO, THIS IS STILL IN THE EDGE, GC AND PASSPORT CLASS AND THE ADDITION OF THE THIRD ROW ACTUALLY TAKES AWAY VALUABLE CARGO SPACE. IF I WANTED A THIRD ROW, I WOULD GET THE FORD EXPLORER, GET MORE POWER, MORE SPACE WITH A THIRD ROW and BETTER mpg.
@Mr.Tweezy007 that is not the point. the point was as I stated...why. more than enough space is a relative term... why get this over the edge? why get this over the explorer? why get it over the honda passport? why get it over the subaru outback? really, you shouldn't.
You are among the best car and truck reviewers going. I do wish that instead of sitting in the trunk yourself you tried to fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood, a 2x4, and a bicycle. It would also be good to see how these look at night. It would also be good to load 200 lbs of sand bags into these cars to test the family on board performance. I have had bad luck with poor windshield defrosting and crappy wipers in the past. How do these feel after a 4-8 hour drive? Do you feel exhausted or do you feel like you could go 200 more miles?
As a former owner of Toyota Land Cruiser and Sequoia looking to downsize to a smaller end of a mid-size SUV w 3 rows (~190 inches), I was very interested in this new Sorento. But I'll pass due to lack of 2nd row benchseat option for the top trim SX Prestige and no heated 2nd row seats. I found it really frustrating that most 3 row SUVs only offer 2nd captain chairs for their top trim (e.g., highlander platinum, pilot elite, palisade sx, etc.). For larger families, having a 2nd row benchseat is more important and practical than 2 captain chairs.
You don't get the V6 basic found in Australia in 2wd only or the 2.2 diesel with 8 speed DCT found everywhere outside N America. The trim levels vary greatly between countries but in the UK we only get three models, all with the 1.6 turbo hybrid gas engine. The diesel is only available here for some reason in the middle trim level 4wd. The 2wd models are not offered here. The diesel is only available in the middle trim that loses Nappa quilted and cooled seats, the Bose stereo, sunroof, blind spot vision in the instrument panel, head up display and, the only one that matters to me, front seat memory linked to the driver profile and keys. The UK middle spec does get vents in the very rear though, complete with a dedicated adjustable blower. Yes, we get the ambient lighting but as I understand it, coloured lights in the footwells and rear is extra as is exit lights with embossing at the bottom of the doors. Yes I've ordered a diesel. Should have within the next ten days, nicely timed for Christmas. It replaced a Volvo XC90 Inscription D5. I'll miss seat memory which I have on all other cars apart from a Ranger pickup, but otherwise I hope it will be the better car. Main limitation of the Volvo was excessive tyre/road noise and a rather harsh ride on its mechanical suspension. This one ruclips.net/video/JrTFgGR1RFA/видео.html is the same colour and spec I've ordered more or less. Note the air vent controls for the third row. These are Korean built for Europe of course.
Jeez I've never seen 255's in something that isn't a high end luxury vehicle. Their old non oil cooled DCT always overheated, hopefully this is improved. I'd still be a little hesitant if I was doing a lot of trail driving.
Great review, as usual. MotorTrend just did their first drive review and really did not like the dual clutch transmission for everyday driving. What's your take on the dual clutch transmission for a daily driver/commuter car? I'm really interested in the turbo Sorento, but the dual clutch makes me leery.
@@justinrcall I ended up buying the Sorento X-Line with the DCT about a month ago. Honestly, I don't have any problem with the how the DCT shifts from stops or at slow speed. And it's definitely great when you're at speed. For me, it's been perfect. Yes, you can tell it's not a traditional torque converter, but it's not bad at all. No complaints from my wife in the passenger seat either (except when I try to have some fun and wring the turbo out a bit).
@@jeffweeber523 Wow, thank you so much for your response! Not having driven a Kia DCT before, can you tell me what it is that stands out where you know it's not a traditional torque converter? Is it at lower speeds with how it's engaging from a stop? Just curious. I've watched hours of reviews and some have mentioned the DCT in the Sorento feels "unrefined". Let me know what your thoughts are if you have a moment. Thank you!
@@justinrcall Honestly, your best bet is to test drive one and see how you feel about it. I drove test drove two different X-Lines before I ordered mine, I tested acceleration from stops and did not have any deal-breaking problems. I think you can tell there's a slight "hesitancy" or a little bit of a lurch when accelerating from a stop, or the 1-2 shift but not enough for my wife to complain or for me to care. To me, people complaining that it "shudders" are overstating it. I drive through stop-'n-go traffic in Atlanta without issue. The problem is, I'm not familiar with any other DCTs to compare against. Some say, that's just the way DCTs are. I can tell you the DCT is buttery smooth and extremely quick accelerating to highway speeds on an onramp. So, from a stop, the DCT may not be as refined as today's modern transmissions, but I don't think it's too far off from my old 2012 Dodge Charger V6, and that had the acclaimed ZF 8-speed. But I don't think Dodge put the effort into programming it for super smooth operation like other manufacturers do. And we'll see, Kia/Hyundai may release some additional software updates that smooths out operation further - it seems common in todays new cars that transmission software is routinely updated to iron out kinks. I also wish all these reviewers would state what mode they're driving the vehicle in or state what modes they felt the transmission was acting up. I generally keep my Sorento in "comfort" mode, and I think that has to best acceleration feel to it. "Sport" and "Eco/Smart" modes seem to have a slightly rougher feeling acceleration from a stop to them. But that's just my seat-of-the pants feeling. Again, my best recommendation is to test drive, and test drive with your family if you have one, and see for yourself.
@@justinrcall Also, let me just add that I've been going to the Kia Sorento forums a lot and nobody is complaining about the DCT on the forums. Most complaints are about "decontenting" the US model: no memory driver seat available; prop rod instead of hood struts (in 2021!); no HUD; no ambient lighting; no laminated side glass for noise reduction. If you're looking at International reviews (even Canada) you'll see Sorento with these options that don't exist on the US model. I think Kia wants to avoid stealing sales from the Telluride. If you're looking at the Sorento, make sure you know what's included and what's not and your OK with it (I was considering how the car drives and looks, none were deal breakers). If you need these features (and not a 3rd row), don't forget to look at the Hyundai Santa Fe.
These two are my choices: 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid - S model -39 mpg/35/37 -gas/electric -$34, 000 -6 seats 3 rows Great MPG but less cargo space 2021 Kia Telluride - LX Model -19 mpg/24/21 -gas only -$32, 000 -7 seats 3 rows Lose the great mpg but gain some cargo space. I commute about 94 miles round trip Mon-Fri Lots of fishing on the weekend and (occasional camping (2-4 times/year)) Not planning to off-road Occasional snow fun (3-6 times/year) Occasional road trips from Norcal to Socal. 500 miles 1-way (3-5 times/year) I have 2 teenagers and a 7 year old. No more additions to the family. I'm having a hard time deciding which is best for me. It's a choose and lose situation. Can you all give me some insights and your reasons so I can make up my mind? You may have been in my situation and can give me your regrets and your decision. Thanks in advance.
With the 3rd row down, is the Sorento designed for use of a cargo cover? Also, excluding the 3rd row, for the price, wouldn't an comparably equipped Acura RDX be the better value?
It's surprising that this one has similar legroom to the Telluride. I guess they sacrificed some cargo space for that. However I think, Hyundai and Kia make most space efficient vehicles in the industry. They know how to make most space out of the limited exterior dimensions.
I have an '18 sorento sx and my lease is done. Been waiting for this since Tellurides aren't leasable and my wife can't stand the looks of the Palisade. I'm just bummed the front seat doesn't have the thigh extender and memory. Other than that it looks like a great vehicle. Hope they don't add $5-10k in dealer markup.
Time will tell but dealers differ significantly in terms of their use of "market adjustment" second stickers. My local KIA dealer, for example, never sells even the Telluride above MSRP. The unfortunate side effect of that practice, of course, is a longer waiting list for a Telluride but that's an inevitable effect of strong consumer demand.
What I would like is an AWD model that is plug in hybrid. I don't want the 3 row seating as my lifestyle don't require them. A simple folding back seat with 6/40 rear seat will do because the cargo capacity is important to me. I really enjoy weekend getaways. So luggage and camping equipment storage is everything. Also I would prefer my new car to be a plug-in hybrid for obvious reasons. My daily short commutes can easily be completed on an EV battery. To be fair my dream car is a Tesla Model Y (LR). But, I could short term live with hybrid version of this car. Too bad VW don't make an plug in hybrid of the Tiguan with an R-Line package for under $35K. I enjoyed this review as it was a lot of information to take in.
It is annoying when automakers take amenities out of their models so as to force folks to move up in size and price. Some folks just want smaller vehicles, no matter the price! As well, makers need to start offering hybrids in their compact and subcompact cuv/suv.
If I had child seats on both of the 2nd row captain's chairs, does it then become impossible to get to the third row short of crawling in through the trunk? Is there enough space between the captain's chairs that someone could scoot over and between them to get to the third row. Thinking in terms of a petite adult, as larger adults probably wouldn't fit comfortably in the third row regardless.
How does this compare to the refreshed Hyundai Santa Fe? I think they’re on the same platform. I don’t need a 3rd now - just a relaxed, quiet hwy cruiser to replace my similarly sized 2010 rx350.
@@fcex558 the prior gen was pretty quiet and had acoustic side windows. I wonder if the new version also had acoustic side windows? I really like the palisade and telluride, but they’re just too big for my needs.
No heated rear seat option on higher trims? Doesn't affect me but that's strange. No memory seats doesn't make much sense either from what I'm reading.
Kia USA making you choose between features and size to try and limit the pricing overlap among models. Personally I feel there is room for overlap because some people (like me) want the features but don't need the extra space. The old Sorento didn't have to deal with the Telluride when it was introduced and had the memory seats, thigh extenders and other features Kia USA decided to leave off this new one. Hopefully they add them back like they did with the Stinger when people saw the Canadian version had the 360 cam and heated rear seats. They did this with the K5 also because they offer are so many midsized optionsm
Note: We had an error in calculation. Combined legroom is 112.7 inches, not 116.2. That still puts this ahead of Pilot, Highlander, CX-9, Ascent, MDX and Acadia, but behind the Atlas, and Pathfinder.
Thanks for the clarification. Can you confirm the 0-60 was 6.9 seconds? That doesn’t seem too impressive given the HP/TQ and DCT. Isn’t the Highlander and Pilot a tiny bit quicker?
@@jrwaters943 Pilot is faster 6.4 0-60
@@jrwaters943 be realistic, who is doing 0-60 runs in a crossover?
@@jrwaters943 I think he is right, the turbo hyundai sante fe does 0-60 in 8 seconds. Something wrong
@@singingLeaf123 That's a smaller, less powerful engine.
Kia's design team has been killing it lately. Love the look of this.
That grille actually looks really nice
I can’t wait to see the forte be updated to this new style, maybe another year or two. I know the current one is rather recent.
Lately? I saw this turnaround coming way back in 2011 when the Optima SX and Sonata Turbo launched.
yeah, German designers actually)))
@@danielsaucedo5863 What update in the Forte? On Monday I bought a 2021 Forte GT with the GT2 package. Loving it so far! I didnt know they were going to update it further...? I think the GT is a new trim since 2020 only...
KIA and Hyundai is where Honda and Toyota was back in the late 90's. Their market share is gaining on them and at full speed ahead. Nobody is making fun at them anymore. They are real and serious contenders! look out!
welcome to 10 years ago...
You've got one guy making fun of them right here. Kia and Hyundai need 20 more years of proving themselves before anyone can say they're as good as a Honda/Toyota. After all, the only reason why they exist is because Honda/Toyota do the heavy lifting. The Koreans copy. In other words, the market goes as the Japanese go.
@@iamthedutchbro truth
@@iamthedutchbro everyone copies what brings $$, Japanese copy German, Koreans copy Japanese, Chinese copy American. This is not something new. It is matter of who convince the most population. Reputation comes with it.
if so far ahead mmmmm look at your USA Tesla Y 💚🌍😂😂😂😂
Been waiting for what seems like forever for this review. My wife and I have owned two Sorentos. The 2012 model was the first KIA I've ever owned (or even considered buying). We replaced it in 2018 to take advantage of the numerous upgrades KIA has added over those six years. Each has been completely trouble free and among the best vehicles I've ever owned. It's my wife's daily driver (She LOVES it) and the family's (2 adults, a teenage daughter, and a big dog) road tripping "truckster."
For us, the Sorento has been a true "Goldilocks" vehicle. At 189" long, it's 6" to 8" shorter than a Highlander or a Telluride. And while that doesn't sound like a lot, we often hang a multi-bike rack on the trailer hitch that adds more than a foot to its length and the shorter length is critical for parking, in crowded suburban traffic, and when lowering the door in a crowded garage. Like most owners we use the third row of seats rarely. But it's a huge convenience when we chauffeur a gaggle of teenagers or need to carry six or seven passengers on a local trip and would otherwise have to rely on two vehicles.
Each of our Sorentos was equipped with the optional 3.3L V6 engine. Although I'm a fan of turbocharged 4 bangers in smaller vehicles (My daily driver is a GTI), I was initially skeptical when KIA retired that NA V6 and replaced it with a turbo 2.5L four in the new generation. The fact that the same engine is not only available in the new K5 GT (and the Sonata N-Line) sedan but is the base engine in the Genesis GV80 SUV was reassuring. Add the standard 10 yr/100K drive train warranty and I suspect it will prove to be not only a better performer but just as durable.
Otherwise, KIA appears to have maintained their practice of upgrading their models from year to year as well as from one generation to the next without significantly impacting the MSRP. The infotainment system and driver assistance features, already among the best in the industry, are improved. Sadly, the extending thigh support for the driver has been eliminated. It's not a big deal but my wife is especially sad about that. And I have to agree that it's a benefit on long drives. I think I'd have to pry my wife's cold dead fingers from the steering wheel of her current Sorento but I may try to interest her in taking a look at the new generation.
Just got my Blue SX Prestige last week and I’m so in love with it ♥️
Oh wow congrats on your new Sorrento! I’m low key jealous I was wondering if they had hit dealer lots yet!! I’m going to wait too because I don’t want to pay retail. I’m hoping for $500 off
I wanted to ask if you checked out the Driver 1 - Driver 2 option feature on the infotainment. I noticed it when I was test driving and wanted to know if that allows it to memorize driver settings not only for infotainment but does it function to keep driver seat settings as a work around to not having physical memory seat buttons?
@@2004cyrus luckily i was able to negotiate $4k off so I couldnt pass it up since I knew it would be sold within the next week!
@@derickvtan sadly no the driver 1 and 2 feature is strictly for infotainment and digital display settings
@@romxnh wow a dealer was willing to take $4k off of a brand new fresh model like a Sorento?
Currently have 2016 Sorento SXL and I love it. Over 112,000 miles on the clock. Love the look of the new Sorento.
My family got a 2016 Sorento, the EX V6 model and man. Its niiiceee. Full leather interior, heated seats, boomin sound system. And its friggen quick man! Especially in sport mode.
A huge change with these 2021 Hyundai and Kias are the new 2.5 turbo and non turbo engines now have Multi-Port Injection as well which solves the issue of carbon build up and burning through oil (eventually setting fire to the engine) that older models had. This is huge and makes these cars much more reliable. I'm not sure what other brand still has Port Injection besides Toyota. That's a huge reason Toyota's are still super reliable.
I am amazed by how well Kia makes their cars these days. After owning my Telluride top trim SX Prestige for close to a year, I am still totally enjoying the car so with this excellent new Sorento I am so tempted to own BOTH together especially the Plug-in Hybrid....Oh wait....the new Sportage is coming out soon which should be a great RAV4 and CRV fighter.....I love Kia!!!!!!
@MAGA Agreed. Kia is better than Chevy and Ford. The only thing the American brands have over Kia now is their pickup trucks
Just bumped into my own comment....and 10 months later I just traded in my Kia Telluride SXP AWD and now I am a proud owner of the Kia Sorento PHEV!!!! I still love Kia!!!
Just got to test drive the X-Line at a dealership and it drives surprisingly well with a good amount of pep. The 6 SX trims they had in stock all had deposits put down for them already...
My wife and I just purchased a new 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid EX, and we love it. The air vents are ugly but the rest of the car is beautiful. My only complaint is when I'm in the driver seat my right knee is pretty much touching the air vent that is below the big vent, and its kind of annoying, but I'm 6'4 with long legs so this probably doesn't affect most people.
Kias designs just keep getting better and better.
They sure do cutie
Alex. I am impressed by the quality of your review. Straight to the point, and very very detailed. You have shared with us information on this vehicle that was not shared by other sites. Keep the great job coming !!!!
My lease is expiring on my RAV4 late next year eyeing this car. Thanks Alex for this review been waiting for this!
How's Rav4 ? Why not keeping ?
@@keithkang5399 hey Keith, it’s been great it’s the previous gen 2018 been running great no issues, but just looking for a change and living in NYC with tight driveways the Sorento is just the right size vs the bigger wider SUVs like the Telluride, Pilot and Highlander which are very tight in my driveway.
@MAGA 😁😁😁😁😁
How has your RAV4 been for you? I was looking at one. I currently have a VW Tiguan
This will stand out like the Telluride and sell well. People want to be noticed and feel that their vehicle makes a statement. How a vehicle looks is obviously the first thing your eyes are drawn too and Kia I would say is forefront in the non luxury market at the moment. What's the first thing you're likely to notice when you hop into a new car? The infotainment screen and instrument cluster. These new "EASY TO USE" large digital displays are what shoppers want and Kia I'd say are leading the way here too in the non luxury market. Kia includes great standard safety tech, nice exterior and interior color options and an industry leading warranty. I think the 2.5 Turbo model with 280HP and the 311lbs ft torque is ample power and the previous V6 won't be missed. At 42K plus for the SX and SX Prestige models I was expecting after seeing reviews in other world markets1) Memory Seats, 2) Ambient Lighting Accents for the Interior 3) Nappa Leather? 4) "Smart Pahk"? 5) Rotary Shifter (personally not a big deal) I think the markets where these features are available don't offer gasoline options ( but diesel and hybrid options) so it's probably a cost related issue to keep the Sorrento competitive in the States. Pity they're omitted though. Other than that Alex says she handles as good as if not better than the Mazda Cx-9 which is high praise and is pepppy enough for most with the 2.5 Turbo. Now what Color Combo to chose? Fingers crossed high demand low supply don't cause the "Telluride Mark-up Nightmare"! Kia also need to simplify their "build" feature on-line. It's not intuitive at all and borderline frustrating to use!
Kia cars continue to get prettier and prettier. The future looks bright for them. Go KIA!
Kia become very good at designing interiors now, seriously all the Americans makers and Volkswagen should take some lessons
VW is doing good as for the Americans they’re popular in hometown
VW could take lessons from almost anyone. I was astonished at how crummy the build quality was on the interiors of the lower trim models of the Atlas, Jetta, and Passat when I saw them at an auto show a year ago. They don't look so bad in pictures, but they are heavy with hard plastic and cheap-feeling switchgear. The difference between those models designed for the US and the Golf was striking, in an ugly way.
@@yes8032 I have a new Tiguan
@@markmiller3279 dang. I have a new Tiguan and the lower doors have lots of plastic but I was also shopping the expensive Audi E-Tron first, and the Audi had tons of plastic too. It’s hard to escape. My switch gear doesn’t feel bad. I’ve tried switch gear in competitors that felt worse. I looked at about everything as my budget was not too strict as I always lease cars. I don’t disagree with you tho that the Jetta tends to feel plasticky on lower level. And sadly on the Atlas. But most reviewers here have said the interiors are well bolted together. I know we all have our opinions and I am particular about these things as it sounds like you are. Savage Geese is the channel that says although there are plastics that things feel solid. Car confections and redline reviews said the same thing. I’m not saying you should care what they say but I’m not totally alone in thinking that the plastics are used in the usual places that get dirty and such. I will say that prior to 2011 when VW used premium materials everywhere the cars reflected the price and their sales were low and the masses complained. VW wanted to reach lofty sales goals and purposely used more cheap feeling plastic and I hear from the dealers that people do complain but that the public doesn’t want to pay for the expense of soft plastic. I was told VW was working to address the problems where they exist. So you are certainly not alone either. Who doesn’t want better materials? I was just driving a new Camry & a new Accord for my 2nd vehicle and I was disappointed in some of their switch gear and plastics as well.
Ford should take some lessons!
best car in this segment
Gotta be honest, even if I'm not interested in the vehicle you're reviewing, I love watching your reviews. It's binge watching my favorite show.
Very competitive product. I am intrigued by the turbo 1.6 hybrid. This is in consideration for our next family vehcile.
“... Kia’s forte...” never gets old 😝
Recently drove the Hybrid as my wife's Sorrento lease is up. She's probably going to get it, its very nice and 37 mpg is crazy, besides its faux luxury is affordable I'm probably going to wait for the plug-in hybrid with larger battery. Been very impressed with the Sorrento on the small turbo the past couple of years, so yeah, Kia is definately going to be knocking Toyota/Nissan down a knotch.
“And efficiency has never been KIA’s forte.” Alex is running that joke into the ground. 😂😂😂
That's the plan...
That joke is Alex's Forte. Groan.
Lol probably because you always point it out haha
I don't get it
@@smallhatshatethetruth7933 Kia makes a car called Forte
Crazy how much room they squeezed out of this smaller package! I’ve always been a fan on Hyundais and Kias, great cars and SUV’s.
“Definitely more fun than a CX-9”. Wow, wasn’t expecting that!
yes the Korean edition has ambient light and blind spot camera
US model gets Blind View Monitor, but gives up Remote Smart Park, Ambient Lighting, Air Ionizer and other technology that the Sorento had before or this generation has in other markets.
I’m hoping Kia will introduce these features back into this model over time.
@@dalex7777 we are not getting blind view monitor here in Canada either which is a bummer. Sounds like Kia is pushing the brand down to be a cheaper alternative for Hyundai here in North America
I think it looks great and is a very good option. It's disappointing that for about $44k they don't include things like memory seats or ambient lighting that even the Soul gets. On other markets they come better equipped. I hope we had those options available.
Totally agree. In Europe and Asia this generation of Sorento has remote smart park feature like current Hyundais.
But look at how much you DO get for 44k. You’re not getting anywhere near as many features in the competition for that price. As is always the case, you can’t have it all. And if you do have it all, it’ll cost too much and people will complain about price.
The 2021 Sorento has moved to the top of the list as a mid sized SUV consideration. I quite like the design in and out plus appreciate the powertrain choices with those wider tires on the turbo model. The previous top contender was the Telluride lol so Kia's doing some good things here.
If you can afford it check out the gv80
I just checked one of these out at a local dealer in AZ. If it hadn’t been marked up $2000 with an additional $1500 of “value added protection” in the middle of a dealer showroom that looked like it was from 1989, I would have considered it.
Thank you, Alex!!! I've been waiting for this!!
I am surprised there is no seat memory settings in the US and limited adjustments for the driver's seats. In Canada, there is driver's seat memory settings , 4 way power lumber for driver's seats and 2 way power lumber for front passenger's seat. Looks like Canada has a little bit more trappings.
i really love that Alex's Trunk Comfort Index Score test hahah thank you
Kia is killing it! 🔥
Ooo it's been a hot minute since I've seen Kia content. I'd actually consider buying one
Watching you try to squeeze in the back almost made me choke on my pancake with laughter. But, point taken, if I need to store a body in the back of my 3-row SUV, I might want to consider stepping up to the Telluride.
20:33 PUN INTENDED!
Turn signals: are red
Alex: What. The. F*ck. 😂
the exterior design is really damn good. Considering how they formatted the font of the model name on the back of the Sorento and Telluride, my guess is that KIA is trying to appeal to land rover customers who can't afford a land rover but want affordability/reliability.
KIA is killin it lately
When will the full review of the Kia Sorrento be available? Love the videos!
I need occasional seating for 7 or 8, this looks great
trunk comfort index is how I make my buying decisions
No good if you have a big butt..... 😝😝
never know when you have to kidnap someone in a pinch
Hahaha well I hope you don’t have a big ass booty
You get 6 seats in Turbo and 7 in NA as per configurator, sucks to miss in bench seat in turbo.
KIA is on fire. Great vehicles. The Stinger is an over-looked GT sports sedan
"… efficiency hasn't exactly been Kia's 'Forte.'" 😎
I love your reviews!!!
This US model Sorento makes me sad. In Korea, we get all of the awesome features Alex noted as missing here. We get the gorgeous Nappa trimmed leather interior, ambient lighting, rotary shifter and "smaht pahk", heated and ventilated 1st and second row seats and our hybrid has AWD as an option. Just like the K5, I don't think I could buy this knowing about the Korean model.
It's no different than Honda and Toyota selling crappier versions of some of their cars in the U.S.
@@palebeachbum I suppose so. But I don't live in Japan. :)
The feature advantages of the Sorento in Korea vs the US isn't the only edge you have in Korea, John. The total number of deaths from COVID over the last year in South Korea is 540 compared to nearly 280,000 in the US. That difference stems from a national government and population who took the virus seriously from the start versus a totally incompetent administration and close to half the population taking their cues from the lies put forth by a con man.
As far as the Sorento is concerned, it's worth noting that when we bought our top trim, fully loaded version in 2018 prior to the introduction of the Telluride, its MSRP was slightly over $48,000. And as far as I can recall, it didn't lack any significant features compared to the Korean version. At the time, I guess-timated that the MSRP of the forthcoming Telluride top trim would be about $55,000. Boy was I wrong! Many buyers have paid that much but only because the traditional dealer discount from a KIA MSRP was replaced by either long waiting lists or "market adjustment" stickers. The MSRP of a top trim fully loaded Telluride began and remains a bit over $49K.
With the Telluride's MSRP and strong feature content KIA couldn't retain a $48K MSRP for the Sorento. So they dropped it to around $42K in 2019 and 2020. But with the new 2021 generation that includes a new engine, a new wet clutch DCT transmission and an upgraded infotainment system that MSRP would be difficult to retain without some cost cutting elsewhere. That largely accounts for the elimination of the features you mention while keeping the MSRP of a fully loaded top trim Sorento at $42.5K plus destination charges.
Furthermore, KIA faces a completely different competitive environment in Korea versus the US. First, the Telluride is not even offered in Korea. That eliminates the need to price the Sorento significantly below its big brother. Second, sales of the Japanese and American brand "midsize" SUVs (e.g. Highlander, Pilot, Explorer, Durango, CX-9, etc) are almost literally non-existent in Korea. Compare that competitive landscape to the US where two and three row midsize mainstream vehicles constitute the principal rivals. In fact, the Sorento's major rivals in Korea are the entry level European luxury models where feature content comparisons are important for KIA to counter. (The same issue applies to the K5 by the way.)
All in all I can sympathize with American consumers who envy the features KIA offers in the Korean versions of their vehicles. But KIA is hardly alone. American owners of the GTI (like me) have long complained that the German version gets features and performance upgrades never offered on this side of the Atlantic. :)
@@stephenhendricks103 I love reading your detailed posts Stephen! It's like reading a well written article that thinks just like me!
About the virus, you're absolutely right. I feel very grateful to be among people that are socially responsible. I sure hope you and your family are safe!
Everything you said about the price/ feature positioning of the Sorento/Telluride is correct too! However, I wonder if something else is involved? As you mentioned, some models are "fully" equipped and come in at a competitive price. However, of late, the K5 and now the Sorento are both more expensive and yet have fewer features than the models sold in Korea. I don't think we can blame shipping or import taxes. For example, the Stinger is fully equipped in Canada but is cheaper than the price we pay in Korea.
As for the market here in Korea, no we don't get the Telluride. The only foreign competition we get are the Traverse, Pilot and Explorer from mainstream brands. Of course we have the Palisade and Kia's own Mohave. We also have the similarly sized Santa Fe. The market here simply wouldn't support too many big three row crossovers. We have tax issues, high gas prices and tight streets to deal with here.
I test drove this Sorento with the diesel engine. Just love it! I need to buy a car next spring. It's a good time to be a shopper! Take care Stephen!
one area this Sorento beats even some luxury brands is that the rear passengers aren’t forgotten. even though it’s faux wood it looks good and they carried it to the rear doors too. in an Acura RDX for example the back doors are barren. only the front doors get the pretty trim pieces.
Very comprehensive review. Hopefully these are easier to find than the Tellurides. I was considering an Atlas but this seems to beat it in every category except size.
Love the design! Front and rear looks good. Sorento and cx9 are my favorite. Under $45k. Hard choice.
On my shortlist coming from a Honda CR-V. Extra trunk space and better styling plus upmarket features and more oomph are huge bonuses.
I really like what Kia/Hyundai is doing my only question is their long term reliability. Many mechanics I’ve spoken to say, they get expensive to maintain after 70k miles.
Alex it would be great if you can do a segment on vehicle brands and their long term reliability?
I think the air vents look like an X-Wing targeting computer from Star Wars.
This is in line more with a Ford Edge, Honda Pilot, Atlas Cross, Jeep GC, and Hyundai Santa Fe... it just offers a third row which the 2022 Jeep GC with offer now.
saw my first one on the road today! Definitely stood out
Me too! It definitely got my attention. It's a very attractive vehicle.
Bought one 3 days ago . I love it
I like how they try not to look like scalled versions because Ford does that a lot and I tbh don’t like it
Wow, this is a great video full of informative content. "Like!"
Very handsome auto . Love the new interior. Still waiting for the 2022 redesign Kia Sportage.
Looks like a very nice SUV for the class. I like the design inside and out. Disappointed to hear they didn't drop in the Telluride's V6 as optional, instead of the turbo 2.5L. A turbo 4cyl with a DCT transmission will likely not be a longevity wonder. Simpler is better in that regard.
Will this kia be as reliable and solid and durable as the Japanese competitors and European cars ?
Can it still be solid after 150000 km ?
Easily, i have 2014 sedona with abou 240,000km, drives like new
No driver side memory seat is a deal breaker for me, but it does look very nice inside and out
They are useless to me as I adjust my seat a dozen times while spending an hour driving the car
I wish Kia would start offering the Sorento as a two row again.
It would make a lot of sense with other makes offering two-row crossovers close to this size. A little more cargo space is always appreciated.
Simple fix, just fold down the 3rd row
@@adelalansari6785 thanks for your wonderful insight, but you still loose cargo space bc of the third row seating
@@ozzyngcsu No you don't. The Sorento provides a total 75.5 cubic ft of overall cargo space. The closely related and near identical size Hyundai 2 row Santa Fe provides 72.1 cubic ft in a vehicle only one inch or so less in length and virtually identical legroom in rows one and two.
Love the new Sorento but Kia made a HUGE mistake by leaving out the Drivers Seat Memory feature. Its not available on any trims, including the SX Prestige. This feature is a MUST HAVE for anyone who shares driving with someone else. Kia puts it on most other models except the Seltos. Come on Kia...fix this ASAP!
Hearing Alex say Dodge Journey blew my mind. I just figured he had always been pretending it didn’t exist out of disgust. 😅
Liking the idea of the hybrid or PHEV version of this car to get great gas mileage as well as enough room to enjoy packing all my fishing gear into it comfortably.
I’m a bit disappointed. The previous Sorento could tow 5,000 pounds and had nicer seats. If you want that, you now have to step up to the Telluride. The problem is, part of the appeal of the old Sorento was it was a lot of car in a smaller package than the Highlander.
Alex, thank God the Canadian product planners of Kia Canada have spec'ed driver seat memory and 4-way lumber for the SX trim. Still have to buy the top dog trim but at least it is available
GLAD YOU HAD THIS REVIEW.
I AM CONCERNED WITH THE mpg AND THE FACT THAT THEY CRAMMED IN A THIRD ROW. IMO, THIS IS STILL IN THE EDGE, GC AND PASSPORT CLASS AND THE ADDITION OF THE THIRD ROW ACTUALLY TAKES AWAY VALUABLE CARGO SPACE.
IF I WANTED A THIRD ROW, I WOULD GET THE FORD EXPLORER, GET MORE POWER, MORE SPACE WITH A THIRD ROW and BETTER mpg.
sorry about the caps...didn't see before typing and to tired to correct.
sorry
@Mr.Tweezy007 that is not the point.
the point was as I stated...why.
more than enough space is a relative term...
why get this over the edge?
why get this over the explorer?
why get it over the honda passport?
why get it over the subaru outback?
really, you shouldn't.
You are among the best car and truck reviewers going. I do wish that instead of sitting in the trunk yourself you tried to fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood, a 2x4, and a bicycle.
It would also be good to see how these look at night.
It would also be good to load 200 lbs of sand bags into these cars to test the family on board performance.
I have had bad luck with poor windshield defrosting and crappy wipers in the past.
How do these feel after a 4-8 hour drive? Do you feel exhausted or do you feel like you could go 200 more miles?
I am looking at the Crystal Beige SX-Prestige AWD, this is big enough for me, I do not need a Telluride Size
I’m trading my Telluride for the SX prestige Sorento ..
@@dawnshiree really? Why?
As a former owner of Toyota Land Cruiser and Sequoia looking to downsize to a smaller end of a mid-size SUV w 3 rows (~190 inches), I was very interested in this new Sorento. But I'll pass due to lack of 2nd row benchseat option for the top trim SX Prestige and no heated 2nd row seats. I found it really frustrating that most 3 row SUVs only offer 2nd captain chairs for their top trim (e.g., highlander platinum, pilot elite, palisade sx, etc.). For larger families, having a 2nd row benchseat is more important and practical than 2 captain chairs.
You don't get the V6 basic found in Australia in 2wd only or the 2.2 diesel with 8 speed DCT found everywhere outside N America. The trim levels vary greatly between countries but in the UK we only get three models, all with the 1.6 turbo hybrid gas engine. The diesel is only available here for some reason in the middle trim level 4wd. The 2wd models are not offered here. The diesel is only available in the middle trim that loses Nappa quilted and cooled seats, the Bose stereo, sunroof, blind spot vision in the instrument panel, head up display and, the only one that matters to me, front seat memory linked to the driver profile and keys. The UK middle spec does get vents in the very rear though, complete with a dedicated adjustable blower. Yes, we get the ambient lighting but as I understand it, coloured lights in the footwells and rear is extra as is exit lights with embossing at the bottom of the doors.
Yes I've ordered a diesel. Should have within the next ten days, nicely timed for Christmas. It replaced a Volvo XC90 Inscription D5. I'll miss seat memory which I have on all other cars apart from a Ranger pickup, but otherwise I hope it will be the better car. Main limitation of the Volvo was excessive tyre/road noise and a rather harsh ride on its mechanical suspension.
This one ruclips.net/video/JrTFgGR1RFA/видео.html is the same colour and spec I've ordered more or less. Note the air vent controls for the third row. These are Korean built for Europe of course.
Jeez I've never seen 255's in something that isn't a high end luxury vehicle. Their old non oil cooled DCT always overheated, hopefully this is improved. I'd still be a little hesitant if I was doing a lot of trail driving.
Great review, as usual. MotorTrend just did their first drive review and really did not like the dual clutch transmission for everyday driving. What's your take on the dual clutch transmission for a daily driver/commuter car? I'm really interested in the turbo Sorento, but the dual clutch makes me leery.
I’m with you. Biggest deciding factor for me.
@@justinrcall I ended up buying the Sorento X-Line with the DCT about a month ago. Honestly, I don't have any problem with the how the DCT shifts from stops or at slow speed. And it's definitely great when you're at speed. For me, it's been perfect. Yes, you can tell it's not a traditional torque converter, but it's not bad at all. No complaints from my wife in the passenger seat either (except when I try to have some fun and wring the turbo out a bit).
@@jeffweeber523 Wow, thank you so much for your response! Not having driven a Kia DCT before, can you tell me what it is that stands out where you know it's not a traditional torque converter? Is it at lower speeds with how it's engaging from a stop? Just curious. I've watched hours of reviews and some have mentioned the DCT in the Sorento feels "unrefined". Let me know what your thoughts are if you have a moment. Thank you!
@@justinrcall Honestly, your best bet is to test drive one and see how you feel about it. I drove test drove two different X-Lines before I ordered mine, I tested acceleration from stops and did not have any deal-breaking problems. I think you can tell there's a slight "hesitancy" or a little bit of a lurch when accelerating from a stop, or the 1-2 shift but not enough for my wife to complain or for me to care. To me, people complaining that it "shudders" are overstating it. I drive through stop-'n-go traffic in Atlanta without issue. The problem is, I'm not familiar with any other DCTs to compare against. Some say, that's just the way DCTs are. I can tell you the DCT is buttery smooth and extremely quick accelerating to highway speeds on an onramp. So, from a stop, the DCT may not be as refined as today's modern transmissions, but I don't think it's too far off from my old 2012 Dodge Charger V6, and that had the acclaimed ZF 8-speed. But I don't think Dodge put the effort into programming it for super smooth operation like other manufacturers do. And we'll see, Kia/Hyundai may release some additional software updates that smooths out operation further - it seems common in todays new cars that transmission software is routinely updated to iron out kinks.
I also wish all these reviewers would state what mode they're driving the vehicle in or state what modes they felt the transmission was acting up. I generally keep my Sorento in "comfort" mode, and I think that has to best acceleration feel to it. "Sport" and "Eco/Smart" modes seem to have a slightly rougher feeling acceleration from a stop to them. But that's just my seat-of-the pants feeling. Again, my best recommendation is to test drive, and test drive with your family if you have one, and see for yourself.
@@justinrcall Also, let me just add that I've been going to the Kia Sorento forums a lot and nobody is complaining about the DCT on the forums. Most complaints are about "decontenting" the US model: no memory driver seat available; prop rod instead of hood struts (in 2021!); no HUD; no ambient lighting; no laminated side glass for noise reduction. If you're looking at International reviews (even Canada) you'll see Sorento with these options that don't exist on the US model. I think Kia wants to avoid stealing sales from the Telluride. If you're looking at the Sorento, make sure you know what's included and what's not and your OK with it (I was considering how the car drives and looks, none were deal breakers). If you need these features (and not a 3rd row), don't forget to look at the Hyundai Santa Fe.
Looks nicer in green
I don't usually like SUV/CRVs...but I like this..a LOT.
These two are my choices:
2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid - S model
-39 mpg/35/37
-gas/electric
-$34, 000
-6 seats 3 rows
Great MPG but less cargo space
2021 Kia Telluride - LX Model
-19 mpg/24/21
-gas only
-$32, 000
-7 seats 3 rows
Lose the great mpg but gain some cargo space.
I commute about 94 miles round trip Mon-Fri
Lots of fishing on the weekend and (occasional camping (2-4 times/year))
Not planning to off-road
Occasional snow fun (3-6 times/year)
Occasional road trips from Norcal to Socal. 500 miles 1-way (3-5 times/year)
I have 2 teenagers and a 7 year old. No more additions to the family.
I'm having a hard time deciding which is best for me. It's a choose and lose situation. Can you all give me some insights and your reasons so I can make up my mind? You may have been in my situation and can give me your regrets and your decision. Thanks in advance.
Unfortunately you can't have 7 seats and adaptive cruise control together. 2nd row bench seats not available on higher trims. Bummer!
I’m surprised they didn’t make the led accent lights amber colored like with the K5 and Telluride SX
Playing BTS in CarPlay was a nice touch!
With the 3rd row down, is the Sorento designed for use of a cargo cover? Also, excluding the 3rd row, for the price, wouldn't an comparably equipped Acura RDX be the better value?
Yes with the 3rd row down you can use a cargo cover. On the RDX, not really since this is MDX sized.
I like the new intro!
Idk which interior is better between this and the Telluride.
Well just by the fugly air vents in the Sorrento, the telluride is better.
Tell.
It's surprising that this one has similar legroom to the Telluride. I guess they sacrificed some cargo space for that. However I think, Hyundai and Kia make most space efficient vehicles in the industry. They know how to make most space out of the limited exterior dimensions.
This is a smaller vehicle
I have an '18 sorento sx and my lease is done. Been waiting for this since Tellurides aren't leasable and my wife can't stand the looks of the Palisade. I'm just bummed the front seat doesn't have the thigh extender and memory. Other than that it looks like a great vehicle. Hope they don't add $5-10k in dealer markup.
Time will tell but dealers differ significantly in terms of their use of "market adjustment" second stickers. My local KIA dealer, for example, never sells even the Telluride above MSRP. The unfortunate side effect of that practice, of course, is a longer waiting list for a Telluride but that's an inevitable effect of strong consumer demand.
So this is Telluride's mini me, got it.
Telluride lite......😁😁
What I would like is an AWD model that is plug in hybrid. I don't want the 3 row seating as my lifestyle don't require them. A simple folding back seat with 6/40 rear seat will do because the cargo capacity is important to me. I really enjoy weekend getaways. So luggage and camping equipment storage is everything. Also I would prefer my new car to be a plug-in hybrid for obvious reasons. My daily short commutes can easily be completed on an EV battery. To be fair my dream car is a Tesla Model Y (LR). But, I could short term live with hybrid version of this car. Too bad VW don't make an plug in hybrid of the Tiguan with an R-Line package for under $35K. I enjoyed this review as it was a lot of information to take in.
Its amazing! Inside and out!
Im curious, how are the DCT holding up on kias?
I work at a dealer. So far so great !
How is it compare to CX9 2021? Which one have better reliability?
I love the design - it looks really good to me. I also love your car review, I watched all your videos :).
I love the new look in and out. I know it’s not out yet but how would the plug in Hybrid compare with Volvo’s XC60 T8 in abilities... price too?
I’m a toyota lover. But this is a nice looking ride.
Wish there was still a v6 option.
It is annoying when automakers take amenities out of their models so as to force folks to move up in size and price. Some folks just want smaller vehicles, no matter the price! As well, makers need to start offering hybrids in their compact and subcompact cuv/suv.
I want the 2021 Kia Sorento SX with the Prestige package
If I had child seats on both of the 2nd row captain's chairs, does it then become impossible to get to the third row short of crawling in through the trunk? Is there enough space between the captain's chairs that someone could scoot over and between them to get to the third row. Thinking in terms of a petite adult, as larger adults probably wouldn't fit comfortably in the third row regardless.
How does this compare to the refreshed Hyundai Santa Fe? I think they’re on the same platform. I don’t need a 3rd now - just a relaxed, quiet hwy cruiser to replace my similarly sized 2010 rx350.
@@fcex558 the prior gen was pretty quiet and had acoustic side windows. I wonder if the new version also had acoustic side windows?
I really like the palisade and telluride, but they’re just too big for my needs.
No heated rear seat option on higher trims? Doesn't affect me but that's strange. No memory seats doesn't make much sense either from what I'm reading.
In my country, and possibly in yours, even the mid price model has heated second row seats as standard.
Sadly not in the USA
@@hedydd2 I'm in Canada. I like the look and characteristics of the new Sorento
Yeah seems current kia strategy is remove features while raising prices on north American models
Kia USA making you choose between features and size to try and limit the pricing overlap among models. Personally I feel there is room for overlap because some people (like me) want the features but don't need the extra space.
The old Sorento didn't have to deal with the Telluride when it was introduced and had the memory seats, thigh extenders and other features Kia USA decided to leave off this new one. Hopefully they add them back like they did with the Stinger when people saw the Canadian version had the 360 cam and heated rear seats.
They did this with the K5 also because they offer are so many midsized optionsm
VW also offers two three-row crossovers in the Atlas and the Tiguan.
I also like amber turn signal.