February 25, 2002

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Preview:
2003 Kia Sorento
by Greg Wilson

It's hard to keep up with Kia these days – this upstart South Korean automaker, now owned by Hyundai Auto, is the fastest growing car company in Canada. Sales went up an amazing 95% last year to 26,013 – higher than such established nameplates as Subaru and Suzuki.

After a flurry of Kia vehicle introductions in the past couple of years, such as the subcompact Rio RX-V wagon, the compact Spectra sedan/hatchback, the mid-size Magentis luxury sedan, and the Sedona minivan, Kia is about to enter the mid-size SUV market with the new Sorento.

The Sorento was unveiled at the Chicago auto show February 7th, and was on display all last week at the Toronto auto show. It's expected to make the rounds of auto shows across Canada, and will go on sale in Canada this summer.

The Sorento bears an uncanny resemblance to the new Honda Pilot SUV (see CanadianDriver's Preview of the Honda Pilot) – in fact if you were to remove the Sorento's side body-cladding, you could be forgiven for not being able to tell the two apart. The Sorento's wheelbase (106.7 in.) is within half an inch of the Pilot's wheelbase, and the Sorento has a 3.5 litre V6 engine, just like the Pilot.

There are some noteworthy differences though – the Sorento has two rows of seats while the Pilot has three rows of seats, and the Sorento has a four-speed automatic transmission while the Pilot has a five-speed automatic. As well, the Sorento is built on a truck-like ladder frame while the Pilot has unit body construction, and the Sorento offers both part-time and full-time 4WD systems with Low Range gears while the Pilot is offered with a full-time system only without a Low Range.

The Sorento's standard and only powerplant is a 192 horsepower 3.5 litre V6 engine (the same engine used in the Sedona minivan) mated to a standard four-speed automatic transmission. Towing capacity is 1588 kg/3,500 pounds (same as the Honda Pilot) and the Sorento comes pre-wired for trailer lights. A load-levelling system is also available.

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In the U.S.A, the Sorrento is available in both 2WD and 4WD models, but in Canada it's likely only the 4WD model will be sold. Two 4WD systems will be offered, a part-time system that can be engaged with the turn of a dial and which includes a low range gear; and a full-time four-wheel-drive system that automatically apportions torque between the front and rear wheels as needed. The full-time 4WD system also includes a separate Low Range gear. Additionally, the Sorento is available with an Eaton limited-slip differential that transfers up to 50 percent of torque between the rear wheels.

With its wide track, fully independent suspension (double wishbone in the front and multi-link at the rear), standard 16 inch tires, and four wheel disc brakes, the Sorento's ride and handling is expected to be less 'truck-like' than many SUV's - while its high ground clearance, short front and rear overhangs, and versatile four-wheel-drive system will enable it to handle difficult off-pavement terrain.

The interior of the Sorento has plenty of headroom and legroom for five passengers and standard 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks that fold down for an almost flat cargo area. There are numerous storage compartments including a front underseat storage box, a total of eight cupholders, a separate rear opening rear window in the hatch door, and a full-size spare tire mounted underneath the cargo floor.

Standard features will include air conditioning, an eight-speaker AM/FM/CD sound system, power windows, power door locks, power mirrors, cruise control, dual airbags and front and rear side-curtain airbags. Also available will be alloy wheels, two-tone body cladding, automatic climate control, leather interior, a 280-watt in-dash six-disc CD player, power sunroof, eight-way power driver's seat, and overhead console with outside temperature gauge, compass, altimeter and barometer.

Like other Kias, the Sorento will be covered by what is currently the best bumper to bumper warranty available on a non-luxury automobile brand: 5 year/100,000 km for the whole vehicle, not only the powertrain.

Knowing Kia's past pricing strategy, the Sorento will be priced below its competitors. Again, Kia will be offering a new vehicle with similar features, a similar appearance, and a better warranty for a lower price. That goes a long way to explaining why they're the fastest growing automaker in Canada.

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Greg Wilson is a Vancouver-based automotive journalist and editor of CanadianDriver