2019 kia sorento sxl v6 awd

2019 Kia Sorento SXL V6 AWD Review — Head In The Clouds

Prices include $990 destination charge in the United States and $1924 for freight, PDI, and A/C tax in Canada and, because of cross-border equipment differences, can’t be directly compared.

The three-row crossover has quickly become the bellybutton car. Everyone’s got one. Much as the full-size station wagon was the people hauler of choice in the Seventies and early Eighties, followed by the mighty, mighty minivan, this genre of sorta-big tall wagon is everywhere.

This 2019 Kia Sorento is a refreshed example of a generation first offered in 2016. Kia keeps making impressive strides year after year. The example I sampled was packed to the gills with nearly every luxury bit possible, but does the new Sorento keep up with the competition?

Styling is at once handsome and anonymous. It doesn’t offend the eye, though Kia’s signature Tiger Nose grille is bigger and more bulbous than on other models in the lineup. Perhaps this tiger is overfed. I’m not a fan of the overly busy detailing under the rear bumper — the Sorento seems to be aping a diffuser, as found on a ground-effect race car. Nobody’s confusing a three-row crossover with a race car, Kia.

Engine noise under acceleration is a slightly unrefined growl — it’s noticeable mostly due to the surprising lack of wind noise. Be less aggressive on the throttle pedal, and you’ll never notice a thing.

Something I’ve noticed on several Kia models like this Sorento — there seems to be very little effort in opening the door from the inside. Pulling on the interior door release, there isn’t the usual click one might feel when the door latch releases. It’s something I’d get used to quickly, but it occasionally gives me a moment of concern that I’ve been driving around with the door open because there’s no effort involved in overcoming a door latch detent.

Cargo space behind a raised third row isn’t bad compared to some others in the segment — a pair of twenty-inch suitcases should fit standing up between the seat back and the powered liftgate. That space is, unfortunately, taken out of the third row legroom. It’s rather minimal. The designated third-row tester kid complained a bit when we wedged her in the wayback. Once seated for a road trip, she managed to make herself reasonably comfortable, but her knees were pressed in her sister’s back the entire trip.

Otherwise, the ride for front- and middle-row passengers is excellent. The front seat, especially, is spacious and supportive, with nicely finished two-tone leather. Kia does a brilliant job of making simple, intuitive user interfaces for all driver controls, whether on the touchscreen or on the steering wheel. Perhaps it’s familiarity — I’ve spent a good bit of time in Kia products over the last year or two — but whenever I sit in a new Kia like this Sorento, I’m relieved that all audio and navigation controls are perfectly laid out.

The steering wheel has a funky rubbery feeling on the inner edges of the lower spokes. It’s an odd, almost chalky feeling material that is incongruous with the plastic and the leather elsewhere on the wheel. Every other surface I can touch throughout the cabin feels of good quality; these little bits, however, are just weird.

I’m feeling that the little details are where the Sorento I tested falls down. I can forgive a little bit of engine noise, a tight third row, or oddball material texture in the price range where the Sorento starts — the sub-$30k market. In that price range, the Sorento is compelling. At over $48,000 as tested, this Sorento is playing in an entirely different market — one where expectations are different.

[Get new and used Kia Sorento pricing here!]

I’d be interested to see how the new Kia Telluride affects the pricing of the Sorento. I’d have to imagine that the new, bigger model will put some downward pressure on this venerable crossover.

[Images: © 2019 Chris Tonn/TTAC]

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So I bought a ’19 SX-L in January. I’ve previously owned a ’18 Explorer Platinum and a Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit V8. My plan is for the Sorento tie me over for a bit. I think my next CUV/SUV will be a loadedd Telluride or Highlander. So why did I opt for the Kia? 1. The Explorer was a horrible gas guzzler with lots of rattles and outdated infotainment. The JGC had build quality issues; most notably with the air suspension. The current gen Highlander is well built but the infotainment is old. 2. The Kia is a good value (I paid well under invoice) for what you get. Some must-haves for me are good infotainment and a soft, quiet ride. The UVO nav is good but not great. For example, the voice commands leave much to be desired and there’s no dynamic nav. On the other hand the HK stereo is pretty good (but not as good as the system in the JGC). But it’s okay. The ride is soft and super-quiet. 3. The gas mileage is not outstanding but considerably better than that in my prior SUVs (JGC, Explorer).

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2019 KIA Sorento SXL AWD – 3 Row SUV That Does It All

The 2019 KIA Sorento SXL AWD has a 3rd row that you can actually use.

We love 3 row SUVs. They are roomy, can haul everything from multiple kids to yard sale finds we can’t live without to all the outdoor gear we might need. While we love 3 row SUV for their hauling capabilities, sometimes we are a little disappointed that the 3rd row isn’t as comfortable or provides nearly enough leg room as we may like. That all changes with the 2019 KIA Sorento SXL AWD.

FURTHER READING: 9 OF THE BEST 3 ROW SUVS–FROM LUXURY TO AFFORDABLE

Who This Car Is For

• Large families
• Carpooling moms or dads
• Active families
• Drivers who need or want a 3rd row seat they can actually use
• Families who spend a lot of time in the car
• Families who like room to have some extra elbow room

Further Reading: 2018 Chevy Tahoe Review – Own The Road In This Full-Size SUV

What This Car Costs

The 2019 KIA Sorento is available in 6 trim levels ranging in price from $25,990 to $44,690 plus additional add-ons.

• L trim includes 7″ touch-screen display, Apple Car Play, Android Auto, rear camera display, Bluetooth connectivity, a full range of safety features. Starts at $25,990.
• LX trim includes the above plus blind spot collision warning, rear cross traffic collision warning, USB charger ports. Starts at $27,490.
• LX V6 trim includes 10-way power driver seat, dual-zone automatic temperature control w/ auto de-fog system, V6 engine. Starts at $31,290.
• EX V6 trim includes park distance warning-reverse, smart cruise control with stop and go, forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, driver attention warning. Starts at $35,590.
• SX trim includes LED map and room lights, integrated second-row window sunshades, premium leather gear shift knob, wireless phone charger, park distance warning-forward, panoramic sunroof with power sunshade, Harman Kardon 10-speaker surround sound audio. Starts $39,990
• SX Limited trim includes Automatic Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers, LED headlights, high and low beam assist, surround view monitor, premium Nappa leather seat trim, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, heated steering wheel. Starts at $44,690
• Price of the SX Limited edition that we test drove: $48,020, which included cross bars pano roof, $225, cargo net, $50, cargo cover, $150, cargo tray 7 passenger, $115.

Oh, For The Love Of A 3 Row SUV With Leg Room

Let’s just start with one of our very favorite things on the KIA Sorento – the 3rd row! For adults, climbing into the 3rd row may be a bit challenging, but once there you’ll find you actually have some leg room. Amazing, right? We are completely in love with this feature. We’re not saying we’d be comfy for a 12-hour road trip in the 3rd row, but its perfect for around town. Younger kids and teens will absolutely love sitting in the third row. It, quite honestly, could become their own little domain with enough room not to annoy their siblings.

If you don’t need the 3rd row it easily folds down to provide even more storage space for whatever life throws at you. We love having the option to haul more friends or more shopping bags.

For The Love Of Shopping

Some shopping is mundane and boring…like going to the grocery store. Other shopping, boutique, thrift or flea markets, is a lot more fun. The one thing they both have in common is the need for good storage space and easy access. The KIA Sorento delivers on both. A cargo net (an extra $50) keeps groceries and liquid libations from rolling around in the back of the SUV while the cargo cover ($150 option) keeps your best finds away from prying eyes.

Further Reading: The 2017 Toyota 4Runner 4×4 TRD: This SUV Feels More Like a BadAss Truck!

It’s The Little Things In Life That Help Keep It Real

The KIA Sorento SXL AWD that we test drove came fully loaded. It had all the bells and whistles that you could ever want or imagine on a vehicle. The SXL was designed with your complete comfort in mind, has loads of tech and, of course, a complete and thorough line up of safety features. We love it all, but it is the simple things on the KIA that really made this SUV stand out.

The second row built in sunshades made us happy. Many of us remember days of trying to block sun rays from blinding our children by using any means necessary including blankets shut in the car door or the suction cup sunshades to stick to the windows. KIA eliminates that from ever being a problem by installing sunshades that store in the door and easily pull up and clip to the top of the window trim. Genius!

Heated AND ventilated front seats are perfect for all seasons. We love keeping our bums warm on cold winter days but especially love the ventilated seats that keep us from looking like a hot mess on hot days.

A heated leather-wrapped steering wheel feels great in our hands and, lets admit, the leather is a great accessory to an otherwise boring part of the car.

The panoramic sunroof lets us feel the sun on our skin without having to worry about the wind messing up our hair. We love how the back seat passengers get to enjoy the sunroof as well.

A Little Tech Talk

We absolutely adore a car that is loaded with tech. The KIA kept our inner geek completely happy during our drive. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided instant smartphone integration with the car. A wireless phone charger kept us juiced up so we could simply grab our phones and go once we arrived at our destination. Phones that aren’t wireless charging compatible have plenty of USB and 12-volt options plus there is a 110-volt power inverter.

The UVO eServices w/ voice-command navigation system with an 8″ color touch-screen display that includes SiriusXM Traffic and HD Radio is the nerve center of the Sorento. SiriusXM Traffic relays real-time highway information which eases the pain from always running late. The information gets us to where we are going without, hopefully, any traffic jams.

The Surround View Monitor system shows the SUV from a birds-eye view by showing images from four cameras. This makes parking in small spaces, parking garages or even parallel parking a breeze.

Safety Features That Keep Your Loved Ones Safe and Sound

The KIA packed as many safety features as possible into their SXL trim edition. Including, but not limited to:

• High beam assist
• Low beam assist
• Park Distance Warning – Forward and Reverse
• Blind spot collision warning
• Smart cruise control with stop and go
• Forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Drive attention warning
• Vehicle Stability Management
• Electronic Stability Control
• Traction Control System
• Brake Assist System
• Hill Start Assist Control

What We Loved

• 3rd-row seats that can are big enough for adults and plenty roomy for kids
• Panoramic sunroof that lets the sunshine in
• Wireless phone charging station
• Multiple USB and 12-volt outlets
• A 110-volt inverter for phone charging plus its perfect for tailgating (yo, plugin that crock pot)
• Cargo net that keeps items from rolling around
• Harmon Kardon premium audio to listen to the best tunes
• Heated leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Ventilated front seats–a life saver on melting hot days

What You Need To Know

• Seats 7 in a pinch, but 6 comfortably
• Big SUV, but the surround view monitor makes parking easy
• Average fuel economy at 21 mpg.
• Platinum Graphite exterior color is gorgeous
• Nappa leather seat trim will never go out of style, classy all the way

What We Listened to in the 2019 KIA Sorento SXL AWD

Disclosure: The 2019 KIA Sorento SXL AWD was provided for this test drive. All opinions are my own.

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