Teresa’s View

Sat., Feb. 25, 2006

Teresa Mccallion Marketing Department Correspondent

With the swagger of an Olympic athlete, the Kia Sorento challenged me to give it a workout on Mt. Rainier’s muddy, off-road logging trails. It wasn’t the first time this midsize sport-ute has called me out. The Sorento is a regular at the annual SUV-of-the- Year contest sponsored by the Northwest Automotive Press Association. Despite being a bit long in the tooth – it was first introduced in 2003 as a 2004 model – the scrappy SUV earned my esteem and picked up a few awards, including Best of Class and Best Value.

Kia offers the Sorento in a choice of four-wheel drive configurations, including a part-time system that engages with the turn of a knob for convenient shift-on-the-fly operation or a Torque-on-Demand automatic full-time system. The part-time arrangement is equipped with a low range capable of tackling challenging off-road situations.

An impressive independent suspension moderates most of the dips and divots in the road, but don’t expect a car-like ride. The Sorento is a genuine, truck-based sport-ute utilizing a body-on-frame construction.

All trims share the same 3.5-liter V-6 engine that generates 192 horsepower and 217 foot-pounds of torque. Last year, Kia replaced the Sorento’s previous four-speed automatic with an electronically controlled five-speed transmission on the EX models.

What Kia hasn’t replaced is the Sorento’s mediocre gas mileage. Fuel consumption figures of 15 mpg for the city and 20 mpg on the highway are typical of much larger SUVs.

The Sorento is a handsome son of a gun. When optioned with the two-toned lower body cladding it favors the rugged exterior of its stable-mate the Sportage. Without it, the sport-ute looks minivanesque. Not that there’s anything wrong with that!

What Is It?: Technically the Sorento is a five-passenger, midsize SUV. Available in two trims — the LX and EX, and offered in two- and four-wheel drive — prices for the 2WD LX start at $19K.

Gadget Rating: 8 out of 10.The entry-level LX comes with air conditioning, cruise control, AM/FM/CD, heated mirrors and power windows and door locks. The upscale EX adds a power sunroof; steering wheel mounted audio controls, premium sound system, power driver’s seat and remote keyless entry. An EX Luxury Package increases the indulgence factor and a Sports Package adds, you know, sportiness. Kia says the packages are so feature-rich there are only a few available options. Unfortunately, a navigation system, satellite radio or DVD entertainment system aren’t among them.

The Back Seat: The biggest gripe most often heard about the Sorento is its and lack of a third-row seat option. The good news it that there’s lots of room for the family in the spacious interior and, without a third row, the cargo area is equally generous.

Safety: The Sorento has received a number of awards, but the best from this mom’s perspective is the federal government’s highest safety rating of five stars for both front and rear side impact crash tests.

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