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2009 Kia Sorento Quality Review

February 23, 2009

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

stylish bobbed tail limits cargo capacity
Car and Driver

equally adept at shuttling business clients [and] the kids and dog
Kelley Blue Book

interior dimensions are comparatively closer to midsize SUVs
Cars.com

TheCarConnection.com notes generally positive comments on 2009 Kia Sorento's interior materials, but the use and arrangement of interior space are less than effective.

The seats offer a reasonable level of comfort in the 2009 Kia Sorento: Edmunds says that "the seats are comfortable and the rear bench is wide enough for three adults, though knee and toe room may be tight for taller folks." Car and Driver notes that the vehicle, in which the rear seats fold down in a 40/60 split, has no third-row seating. Kelley Blue Book comments that the "Sorento's rear seats provide good headroom and legroom"—though they add that in the nominally five-passenger vehicle, "if those passengers are adults, four would be a more comfortable fit."

The Kia Sorento's storage capacity is limited; one problem with the Sorento's use of interior space has to do with its exterior styling. Car and Driver points out that its "stylish bobbed tail limits cargo capacity," which could put a damper on extended off-road camping excursions. With the rear seats folded flat, reports Edmunds, "the Sorento can hold approximately 66 cubic feet of cargo, less than most of its competitors." According to ConsumerGuide, however, "interior cubbies and storage compartments abound."

Cars.com points out that "amenities increase with each trim level, topping out with the EX Luxury Package," which features genuine leather seats as well as "front active headrests and a new rear seatback lever for easier reclining adjustment," according to Motor Trend. ConsumerGuide describes the materials and assembly as "a notch above similarly priced domestic-brand rivals." Kelley Blue Book says that the Kia Sorento's "interior quality is commendably good, with substantial plastic components, rich textures and plush surfaces."

When it comes to "silent running," the Kia Sorento isn't the greatest. ConsumerGuide reports that the larger engine puts out more decibels than most rival models, while "wind noise and coarse-surface tire thrum intrude but aren't irksome."

Ride quality could also be an issue to some. The Kia Sorento’s suspension leaves a bit to be desired on rough roads. Edmunds says that the "ride can get bouncy over broken pavement," a finding also reported by ConsumerGuide, which contends that while "generally comfortable and composed," the Sorento can be "stiff and jiggly over modest road imperfections...[while] larger bumps and sharp-edge ruts can be jolting [and ] large humps and dips trigger hobby-horse pitching." This may be due to what Kelley Blue Book describes as the Kia Sorento's "somewhat soft suspension" that also "displays more front-end dive and rear squat...during harder acceleration and braking."

Conclusion

The 2009 Kia Sorento has class-competitive space inside, and materials are perhaps better than expected for the price tag, but ride comfort could be a deal-breaker.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:stylish bobbed tail limits cargo capacityCar and Driverequally adept at shuttling business clients [and] the kids and dogKelley Blue Bookinterior dimensions are comparatively closer to midsize SUVsCars.com TheCarConnection.com notes generally positive comments on 2009 Kia Sorento's interior materials, but the use and arrangement of interior space are less than effective. The seats offer a reasonable level of comfort in the 2009 Kia Sorento: Edmunds says that "the seats are comfortable and the rear bench is wide enough for three adults, though knee and toe room may be tight for taller folks." Car and Driver notes that the vehicle, in which the rear seats fold down in a 40/60 split, has no third-row seating. Kelley Blue Book comments that the "Sorento's rear seats provide good headroom and legroom"—though they add that in the nominally five-passenger vehicle, "if those passengers are adults, four would be a more comfortable fit." The Kia Sorento's storage capacity is limited; one problem with the Sorento's use of interior space has to do with its exterior styling. Car and Driver points out that its "stylish bobbed tail limits cargo capacity," which could put a damper on extended off-road camping excursions. With the rear seats folded flat, reports Edmunds, "the Sorento can hold approximately 66 cubic feet of cargo, less than most of its competitors." According to ConsumerGuide, however, "interior cubbies and storage compartments abound." Cars.com points out that "amenities increase with each trim level, topping out with the EX Luxury Package," which features genuine leather seats as well as "front active headrests and a new rear seatback lever for easier reclining adjustment," according to Motor Trend. ConsumerGuide describes the materials and assembly as "a notch above similarly priced domestic-brand rivals." Kelley Blue Book says that the Kia Sorento's "interior quality is commendably good, with substantial plastic components, rich textures and plush surfaces." When it comes to "silent running," the Kia Sorento isn't the greatest. ConsumerGuide reports that the larger engine puts out more decibels than most rival models, while "wind noise and coarse-surface tire thrum intrude but aren't irksome." Ride quality could also be an issue to some. The Kia Sorento’s suspension leaves a bit to be desired on rough roads. Edmunds says that the "ride can get bouncy over broken pavement," a finding also reported by ConsumerGuide, which contends that while "generally comfortable and composed," the Sorento can be "stiff and jiggly over modest road imperfections...[while] larger bumps and sharp-edge ruts can be jolting [and ] large humps and dips trigger hobby-horse pitching." This may be due to what Kelley Blue Book describes as the Kia Sorento's "somewhat soft suspension" that also "displays more front-end dive and rear squat...during harder acceleration and braking." ConclusionThe 2009 Kia Sorento has class-competitive space inside, and materials are perhaps better than expected for the price tag, but ride comfort could be a deal-breaker. 2009 KIA SORENTO STYLING | [6 out of 10] Motor Trend: "refined" Car and Driver: "Stylish bobbed tail" Kelley Blue Book: "could easily be mistaken for a high-end Japanese SUV" Automobile Magazine: "remarkably similar to the Grand Cherokee " With a shape that’s somewhat rugged ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Sorento, which soldiers on for 2009, is part of a seemingly dying class of trucklike mid-size sport-utility vehicles. The Ford Explorer used to be the best seller in the class, but its popularity is fading and it’s slated to soon be replaced with a more carlike vehicle. The Mercury Mountaineer is nearly identical to the Explorer; both offer three rows of seating and optional V-8 engines. The GMC Envoy and its Chevrolet TrailBlazer twin are both very outdated and will soon be discontinued. The Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen are similar vehicles that offer V-8 engines and four-wheel drive. However there’s a wild card: Kia’s own Borrego, which is even burlier and more trucklike than the Sorento, yet brings better standards of refinement. However, the Borrego’s (lower) fuel economy and (larger) size are likely a step in the opposite direction for those who might consider the Sorento.

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See the Kia Sorento in Other Years:

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