2011 KIA Sorento Stronger Body And Performance

The new-generation 2011 KIA Sorento is the fruit of a radical redesign: this crossover utility vehicle has gone from rear-wheel drive and a body-on-frame design to a front-wheel-drive and unibody construction. The Sorento now shares the same platform as the Hyundai Santa Fe, with LX and EX trim lines, which are also available in four-wheel-drive. Inside, there’s room for five to seven people, depending on the trim line. Standard equipment is quite generous, and includes air conditioning, heated mirrors and seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, front wiper defroster, Bluetooth connectivity, a trip computer, and more. The top-line EX Luxury version adds such conveniences as leather seats and electric controls (for the driver), reversing camera, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

2011 KIA Sorento

Under the hood, two different power plants are available: the 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine puts out 175 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque, while the 3.5-litre V6 is good for 276 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. Both engines are paired with a new six-speed automatic transmission, the distinguishing feature of which is its ability to shift itself into neutral when the vehicle comes to a stop (e.g., at a traffic light), easing the load on the engine and in turn improving fuel economy.

2011 KIA Sorento

Only the four-cylinder Sorento comes with optional six-speed manual transmission, and this version is two-wheel drive only. For normal driving situations, the torque-on-demand all-wheel drive system is split 95/5 front-to-rear. If front wheel spin is detected, up to 50% of torque is distributed to the rear. The driver also has a 50/50 lock option; the system shifts back to automatic mode once the vehicle reaches 30 km/h.

The 2011 KIA Sorento is equipped with four-wheel independent suspension MacPhersonstrut up front; multi-link in the rear. It features 17-inch (235/65R17l) or 18-inch alloy wheels (235/60R18). Hill Start Assist Control, which keeps the vehicle from rolling backward on an incline, and Downhill Brake Control, which ensures a straight and steady trajectory down steep grades, are standard on all models. All four wheels feature anti-lock disc brakes. On the safety front, the Sorento has six airbags, active headrests on the front seats, Electronic Stability Control, and a hood that crumples, protecting a pedestrian in case of a collision, among other features.

2011 KIA Sorento

The new 2011 KIA Sorento is being built in a recently inaugurated, state-of-the-art plant that cost a whopping $1 billion US and is designed to help Kia reach the Hyundai Motor Company’s global quality objective, dubbed GQ 3355. The aim is to become one of the top three automakers as measured by actual product quality within three years, and achieve a top-five ranking for perceived quality within five years.

2011 KIA Sorento Interior

Driving the silky-smooth roads of Georgia, we were able to appreciate the Sorento’s superior roadability, comfortable seats and efficient soundproofing. Of course, the V6 is more muscular, but the four-cylinder version is a good fit for drivers who don’t place aggressive performance at the top of their priority list. The base-model Sorento is priced at $23,998, and the luxury version sells for $39,195.

The 2011 Sorento, the first vehicle to roll off the line at Kia’s new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia*, encompasses both the brand’s signature design cues as well as its distinct combination of value, safety and style. The 2011 Sorento, which has been Kia’s best-selling vehicle each month since going on sale in early January, offers consumers a well-equipped, wellappointed CUV, suited perfectly for the fun, dynamic and discerning driver. Available in LX, EX and SX trim levels, the 2011 Sorento features a starting MSRP of $22,3954.