10 Reasons the 2018 Kia Sorento is the AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Midsize SUV

2018 Kia Sorento white mountains ・ Photo by Kia

The mid-size Kia Sorento crossover is the biggest SUV in the South Korean brand’s lineup, and it is currently in its third generation of production. The first-gen Sorento debuted as a 2003 model, followed by the second-gen in 2011 and the current iteration in 2016. Sorento vehicles are currently built in South Korea, Malaysia and the United States at Kia’s plant in West Point, Georgia. How did a Korean company, formerly known for cheap cars, come up with a mid-size SUV good enough to win the AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice award for its class? Well, the Sorento got better and better with each generation, and provided more and better content than its competitors, especially in the upper trim levels. The Kia formula of value, sharp design, abundant advanced features and a great warranty was perfectly calculated for success.

10) You can choose from three powertrains in the Sorento lineup.

While many manufacturers have condensed their powertrain choices, Kia still offers three unique options for Sorento. The base engine in L and LX models is a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder with 185 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. LX V6, EX V6, SX and SX Limited all get a 3.3-liter V6 (290 hp/252 lb-ft of torque), and the EX 2.0T has a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder (240 hp/260 lb-ft of torque).

Front-wheel drive is standard, and Dynamax all-wheel drive with torque vectoring is available on all but the base L model. Fuel economy ranges from 17 mpg city/23 mpg highway/19 mpg combined for the SX Limited AWD to 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway/24 combined for the base L.

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9) An available third-row seat adds to the Sorento’s versatility.

Most mid-size SUVs are configured as two-row, five-passenger vehicles. But sometimes you need a little bit more room for a carpool run or short family jaunt, which is where the Sorento’s available third-row seat can be a life-saver. Access to the third row is good, and there’s enough space for two small adults or teens to ride safely and comfortably around town. You wouldn’t want to confine any large folks back there for a long ride, but that’s not what Kia intended it for.

The third row folds flat and stows away to make room for cargo when it’s not in use. You may not always use it, but you’ll be glad to have it when you need it.

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8) Kia’s warranty is one of the best available.

Like its parent company Hyundai, Kia offers a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty on all of its vehicles, including the Sorento. Additionally, a five-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty is included, along with a five-year/60,000-mile limited anti-perforation warranty and five years/60,000 miles of limited roadside assistance. This package of warranties demonstrates the confidence that Kia has in the Sorento's manufacturing and engineering.

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7) Upper-trim Sorento models have near-luxury levels of features.

Select a Sorento SX or SX Limited and you’ll get a ton of standard and optional features, all executed with care and quality. Kia’s UVO infotainment system is standard on these models, with voice-command navigation, an 8-inch color touchscreen display, SiriusXM Traffic and HD Radio. They also have Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, an Infinity 10-speaker surround-sound audio system with an external amplifier and subwoofer, and a 360-degree camera system.

Kia’s full array of active and passive safety systems, including radar cruise control, are standard on the SX Limited (and optional on most other trims). You also get 14-way power adjustment on the driver’s seat, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row seats. And there’s more — too much to list here.

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6) The Sorento’s safety features and ratings are among the best in the class.

With a body that is built out of 53% advanced high-strength steel, the 2018 Kia Sorento has exceptional body rigidity, which is very important for safety in a collision. A full array of airbags and seatbelts for each of the seven seating positions contributes to passive safety, while electronic traction and stability control, electronic brake-force distribution and hill-start assist control actively intervene to keep you on track.

The Sorento has also been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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5) The Sorento’s design was led by the creator of the Audi TT.

Peter Schreyer has been the chief design officer for Kia since 2006 — not coincidentally, the same year that Kia’s remarkable climb in the sales charts began. Schreyer, who was born in West Germany, has had a hand in some very successful and influential vehicles during his career, most notably the Audi TT sports car and the retro Volkswagen New Beetle.

His accomplishments at Kia are many. Most experts point Kia's “Tiger Nose” grille as the big turning point, as it brought a recognizable face to a brand that had been mired in imitation. The 2018 Sorento wears the latest version of the Tiger Nose and fits nicely into the Kia vehicle portfolio.

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4) Infotainment features include Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Today’s drivers demand a sleek integration of technology in their vehicles, and the Sorento delivers. Kia’s UVO interface works smoothly with most smartphones. Bluetooth hands-free communication and audio streaming come standard, as do Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (both via wired USB connections). Thanks to UVO’s voice-command capability, it’s possible to operate many of the vehicle’s infotainment features completely hands-free.

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3) A 360-degree camera will help keep your bumpers pristine.

No, your 2018 Kia Sorento isn’t being followed by a drone with a camera. Sophisticated technology knits together the video feed from multiple cameras on the vehicle (front, side mirrors and rear) to synthesize a virtual overhead 360-degree view. In a split-screen setup with your selected front or rear view, you can see exactly what’s happening to your car while you’re parking — all the way to the corners. And helpful guidelines are automatically superimposed on the image to assist you with how sharply to turn the wheel in order to squeeze into that tiny parking space. Scrapes, no more!

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2) Its Smart Power Liftgate requires no dancing or calisthenics to operate.

The Sorento's EX, SX and SX Limited models come with a standard "Smart Power Liftgate." It can be operated via the keyfob, a button on the dash, a button on the liftgate handle — or magic.

Well, maybe it’s not magic, but an uninformed onlooker might think it is. Leaving the keyfob untouched in your pocket or bag, stand behind your Sorento for a few seconds, and the liftgate will automatically open. Unlike some hands-free systems that require a kick under the bumper or a semaphore motion with your arms, Sorento simply recognizes that you are waiting for it to open — and it does.

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1) The Kia brand continues to rise, taking the Sorento upscale with it.

Kia has made great strides over the past decade to change its image as a low-priced car of last resort to one of the elite car brands. Its latest effort, the Stinger premium sport sedan, has garnered breathless reviews and comparisons to cars with much higher profiles and price tags. The higher Kia rises in public opinion, the better its vehicles’ resale value will be — and the better choice leasing and buying a Kia becomes.

The Sorento has been part of this rising trend, as the current generation (2016 to present) has proven to be very competitive in its segment. Indeed, it became the AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Midsize SUV for 2018 — and that’s no mean feat.

Photo by Kia