2021 Kia Sorento Walkaround (Canada) |
30Kia has refurbished its all-wheel-drive Sorento for 2021, introducing a brace of 2.5L engines and technology once reserved for expensive German sedans. Since its debut in 2002, the Sorento has become progressively more powerful, and arguably more attractive. Its price has also climbed accordingly.
In an interesting twist of sibling rivalry, Sorento is no longer the big dog in Kia’s expansive crossover-SUV lineup.
That slot was usurped by the well-liked Telluride not long ago, leaving Sorento as what could have been described as the forgotten middle child.
For 2021, it is now wearing clothes which crib some style from its bigger brother, creating a sharp-looking machine that’ll stand out in a crowd. It would seem creating a design team lead by Peter Schreyer and Luc Donckerwolke – both of whom styled expensive vehicles during their time at the VW Group – is paying dividends.
This year, there are no fewer than a half-dozen trims of Sorento available to Canadian car shoppers. All of them are equipped with all-wheel-drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Every 2021 Sorento also gets driving aids like collision avoidance assist and lane following. As one moves up the ladder, of course, snazzier features appear. Let’s dive in.
Serving as the value entry-level point to the model, the LX+ still comes styled with snazzy LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, and satin chrome garnish. In other words, Schreyer und Donckerwolke refused to permit Sorento to show up with flat black bumpers and hubcaps. However, only three colours are available – all on the greyscale – continuing an infuriating trend in which automakers force customers to walk up the ladder in order to get their vehicle in, y’know, visible light. Rubbing salt in the wound, two of those three shades are extra-cost options.
Inside, this trim is well-equipped with features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto baked right into its 8-inch infotainment system. Single-zone climate control may strain marital relations but the numerous power points will at least ensure all hands have a place to plug in. Cloth seats are heated up front (as are the sideview mirrors, by the way) and the steering wheel adjusts for reach and rake.
Under the hood is a naturally-aspirated 2.5L four-cylinder engine making 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. If this sounds familiar, it’s because this mill pops up in other machines across the Kia-Hyundai empire. Lane keep and lane follow assists shepherd Sorento LX+ back into shape when the driver tries to colour outside the lines.
Finally, standing atop the heap is this SX trim. It is here one will find real leather adorning the seats (air-cooled in the front!) which now have extra lumbar adjustments for those in the front row. The second-row can now be folded via remote, and memory functions permit multiple drivers to quickly recall their favourite seating positions.
A better sound system is courtesy of Bose, though speaker count is capped at six. A very snazzy 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a first for any Kia Canada SUV, now faces the driver along with a heads-up display. An around-view monitor keeps tabs on the surroundings while a Safe Exit Assist system attempts to warn driver and passenger alike if they’re about to open a door into the path of a moving vehicle.