In our Sorento SX FWD
and Sorento X-Line AWD
test SUVs, the dual-clutch
delivered an unacceptable
lack of refinement in everyday
driving. This is a family-
oriented SUV first, and the
early-production units we
drove lacked the smoothness
we praised in the Telluride,
a vehicle that comes with
a traditional automatic
transmission. An FWD SX
model especially had this
issue, occasionally exhibiting
shudders felt through the
pedals and seats at very low
speeds. In both SUVs, it was
more difficult than it should
have been to accelerate or edge
forward smoothly due to the
transmission and surges of
power from the turbo-four.
If you appreciate the 2021
Sorento’s combination of big
SUV style at nearly compact
SUV prices, try the LX or S
trims. Both offer FWD and
AWD, but with a 191-hp I-4 and
a more conventional eight-
speed automatic that gets
about the same fuel economy
as the big engine.
Every 2021 Sorento has
three rows of seating. If
you get a Sorento LX 2.5 or
S 2.5, the layout includes a
second-row bench seat and
seven-passenger capacity.
Go with a Sorento EX 2.5T,SX 2.5T, or hybrid for a
six-passenger layout with
second-row captain’s chairs.
Both of our test SUVs featured
this layout.
The Sorento’s not-quite-
full-size length compromises
the third row, but maybe not
in the way you expect. Roll
forward the second row, and
the third-row seats are cozy,
not unusable. The real issue—
what makes them more of what
Kia calls “5+2” seating—is the
height of the floor behind the
second row, which limits the
Sorento’s three-row abilities
from everyday carpooler to
occasional-use perk. When
the third row is folded down,
the second row can roll back to
create more passenger room.
If you actually need to use
the third row, press a button on
the second-row seats to watch
the backrest fold and the entire
seat roll forward. The resulting
opening into the third row is
still small, but you appreciate
the convenience.
If you’re searching for a road
trip ride, the Sorento could
work. Both of our test SUVs
rolled on 20-inch wheels and
delivered a stiff but not harsh
ride. They also provided a
moderately quiet experience
at speed. If the road ahead
turns twisty, the Sorento will
certainly feel sportier than
the more sedate Telluride.
Even with its stiff suspension,decent steering tuning, and
the available turbo engine,
though, the Sorento never feels
as sporty as, say, the smaller
Mazda CX-5.
If your trips involve towing,
know that the 2021 Sorento
tows just as much as the 2020
model in FWD form, but it
maxes out at 3,500 pounds
with AWD compared to the
2020 Sorento V-6 AWD’s 5,000.
We like the swifter and
more stylish Sorento, but
in our early experience, the
2.5T’s dual-clutch transmis-
sion isn’t worth the trade-off
in everyday smoothness. The
Sorento S or the moderately
priced hybrid could have
potential if you don’t mind the
latter’s FWD-only configura-
tion. Either way, the Sorento
is worth consideration for a
variety of buyers. Zach GaleNext to the
buttons to fold
the second row,
you’ll find a
12-volt outlet.SPECS 2021 Kia Sorento
PRICE $30,560-$43,
LAYOUT Front-engine, FWD/AWD,
6-7-pass, 4-door SUV
ENGINE 2.5L/191-hp/181-lb-ft DOHC
16-valve 4-cyl; 2.5L/281-hp/
311-lb-ft turbo DOHC 16-valve 4-cyl;
1.6L/177-hp/195-lb-ft turbo 4-cyl,
plus 60-hp/195-lb-ft electric motor,
227 hp/258 lb-ft combined
TRANSMISSION 8-speed auto, 8-speed
dual-clutch auto, 6-speed auto (hybrid)
CURB WEIGHT 3,700-4,150 lb (mfr)
WHEELBASE 110.8 in
L x W x H 189.0 x 74.8 x 66.7-70.3 in
0-60 MPH 7.2-8.9 sec (MT est)
EPA FUEL ECON 21-39/25-35/24-37 mpg
ENERGY CONSUMPTION, CITY/HWY
86-160/96-135 kWh/100 miles (est)
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.52-0.82 lb/
mile (est) ON SALE Nowfew lead-footed customers on
test drives. With help from
AWD traction, the eight-speed
dual-clutch transmission does
an admirable job extracting
performance from the turbo-
four, delivering the type of
near-immediate response
you expect of sports cars,
not three-row SUVs. This
transmission, however, is
also the Sorento 2.5T’s
greatest flaw.
APRIL 2021 MOTORTREND.COM 11TREND I 4.