Kia Sorento

Kia Sorento
Overview
Manufacturer	Kia Motors
Production	2003–present
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size SUV (2003–2010) Mid-size crossover SUV (2010–present)
Body style	5-door SUV

The Kia Sorento is a mid-size crossover SUV (mid-size SUV in its first generation) produced since 2002 by the South Korean manufacturer Kia Motors.

First generation (2003–2010)

2003–2007

First generation (BL)
Overview
Also called	Naza Sorento (Malaysia)
Production	2003–2010 2007–2011[1] (Russia assembly by Izh Auto)
Assembly	Hwasung Plant, Hwasung, South Korea Izhevsk, Udmurtia, Russia
Body and chassis
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Related	Hyundai Santa Fe
Powertrain
Engine	2.4 L I4 3.3 L Lambda V6 (2005–2009) 3.5 L Sigma V6 (2002–2006) 3.8 L Lambda V6 (2007–2009) 2.5 L Diesel I4
Transmission	4-speed automatic (2002–2005) 5-speed manual (2002–2007) 5-speed automatic (2005–2009)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,710 mm (106.7 in)
Length	2002–2006:4,570 mm (179.9 in) 2006–2009:4,590 mm (180.7 in)
Width	1,865 mm (73.4 in) 1,885 mm (74.2 in)
Height	1,435 mm (56.5 in) 1,515 mm (59.6 in)

Rear view

Debuting in 2002, the first generation Sorento was a traditional truck-based body-on-frame SUV. It was offered in two trim levels: LX and EX. All American Sorentos also came with dual front airbags and dual side-curtain airbags in the front and rear. An optional four-wheel drive system with low range received praise for adding to the vehicle's off-road ability.

It had two transmission options: a 5-speed manual or 4/5-speed automatic transmission (pre-2005 models have a 4-speed automatic, whilst 2005 Sorentos came with a 5-speed tip-tronic style automatic transmission). First generation Sorentos are equipped with a Hyundai-manufactured 3.5L 24-valve DOHC V6 producing 192 hp (143 kW) at 5500 rpm, and 217 lb·ft (294 N·m) of torque at 3,000 rpm.

Common features of the first generation Sorento were 4-wheel disc brakes (standard on all models), optional anti-lock braking system (ABS), and a 21.1-gallon (79.9 litres) fuel tank.

2007–2008

2007–2008 Kia Sorento LX (US)

The 2007 Sorento received upgrades, such as the transition from the 3.5L Sigma to the 3.8L Lambda boosting horsepower from 192 to 262 and doubling towing capacity to 5000lbs. Projector beam head lamps were added, along with new tail lamps. The 5-speed manual transmission was no longer available; the 5-speed Sportmatic tip-tronic automatic transmission was made standard for all vehicles. The 2007 Kia Sorento earned a five-star crash safety rating, the highest rating possible, for all seating positions in frontal and side impact crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).^[2]

2009

2009 Kia Sorento EX (Australia)

The Kia Sorento received another grille facelift, and went on sale in August 2008 in Canada. The facelifted 2009 model did not begin American sales until April 2009.

Second generation (2010–2015)

Second generation (XM)
Overview
Also called	Kia Sorento R (South Korea & China)
Production	2010–2015
Model years	2011–2015
Assembly	Hwasung Plant, Hwasung, South Korea West Point, Georgia, USA Kaliningrad, Russia (Avtotor) Oskemen, Kazakhstan[3]
Designer	Peter Schreyer
Body and chassis
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Related	Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai Veracruz/ix55
Powertrain
Engine	2.4L Theta II I4 petrol 2.7L Mu V6 LPG 3.3L Lamba II GDI V6 petrol 3.5L Lambda II V6 petrol 2.2L CRDI R-Line I4 diesel
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 5-speed automatic 6-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,700 mm (106.3 in)
Length	4,685 mm (184.4 in)
Width	1,885 mm (74.2 in)
Height	1,710 mm (67.3 in)

2012 Kia Sorento right-hand-drive Interior

2009-2012 Kia Sorento Si 2.4 (Australia)

A redesigned Sorento (codename XMA) was launched in South Korea in 2009 as a 2010 model. The second generation was Kia's first model to be manufactured in the United States, in Kia's new US$1 billion West Point, Georgia, factory (which also builds the sister vehicle to the Sorento, the Hyundai Santa Fe). The second generation used Kia's corporate Tiger Nose grille, and was the first to have Kia UVO.^[4] No longer based on a truck frame, the 2010 Sorento was of unibody construction.^[5] The vice president of marketing for Kia Motors America said that Kia initially considered changing the name due to the radical change in the Sorento's body style.^[6]

The four-cylinder model returned to the lineup for North American models after being absent between 2007 and 2010. The engine was transverse, and the suspension all-independent. The change in body construction as well as the loss of a low-ratio transfer case made the Sorento 475 pounds less than the old one model for model, to gain in performance and economy.

The second generation Sorento was originally available in 3 models, the LX, EX and top of the line SX models. The SX is only available with the 3.5L 276 hp (206 kW) V6. The LX comes standard with the 2.4L straight-4 175 hp (130 kW) and EX has the GDI version of the same engine which is rated 191 hp. The V6 is available as an upgrade for both the LX and EX.

The Sorento received a mid-cycle refresh for the 2014 model year, unveiled in 2012 at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, and went on sale in first quarter of 2013.^[7] Major changes included a revised instrument panel, front and rear end with new tail lights modeled after the Optima, as well as several other mechanical and interior changes.

Awards

The 2011 Sorento wasawarded the maximum safety rating from the crash safety experts, European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) ^[8] and Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).^[9] The XM Sorento awarded 'Top Safety Pick' from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States.^[10]

The second generation Sorento was awarded New Zealand Autocar magazine SUV of the Year, "great looker, does absolutely everything as it should. Engine is world class".^[11] The Kia Sorento EX V6 model earned an “Excellent” overall score by American magazine Consumer Reports’ July 2010 issue.^[12]

Marketing

As part of 2014 Sorento market launch in the US, a campaign titled "It has an answer for everything" was unveiled during Super Bowl XLVII. "Space Babies" (directed by Jake Scott) commercial was premiered in the fourth quarter, featuring the existence of a faraway planet known as "Babylandia" and follows infant boys, girls, dogs, pandas and more on their journey to Earth to join their new families. After taking it all in, the curious child begins to offer an alternative theory passed on by a friend but his quick-thinking father calls upon UVO's voice-activated jukebox feature to hurriedly change the subject and survive another day in the adventures of parenthood. "Tight Space" (directed by Peter Darley Miller and Colin Jeffery) showed two of the CUV's available features – power-folding mirrors and power liftgate – help a determined father make the slimmest parking garage space manageable while his skeptical wife and children look on.^[13][14]

Third generation (2015–present)

Third generation (UM)
Overview
Production	2015–present
Model years	2016–present
Body and chassis
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Related	Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Kia Carnival/Sedona
Powertrain
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 5-speed automatic 6-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,780 mm (109 in)
Length	4,759.96 mm (187 in)
Width	1,890 mm (74 in)
Height	1,685 mm (66 in)

Rear view

Kia Motors revealed the third generation Sorento in South Korea in August 28, 2014. The vehicle later made its European debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. The third generation Sorento shares a platform with the 2015 Kia Carnival, which is available in either 5-seater or 7-seater, depending on configuration. The length of the vehicle was stretched by 95mm longer than the previous generation but had made lower for better handling than its predecessor. KIA also claimed a rigidity strengthen by 14% on its high tensile steel and the Sorento scored good evaluation in small overlap crash test by IIHS. In the U.S., the Sorento continues to be produced at the West Point, Georgia, assembly plant.

Available engines are a 3.3L Lambda V6 that will make 290 horsepower, the existing 2.4L Gasoline direct injection I4 that will make the same 190 horsepower as the outgoing engine, and the new 2.0 Turbocharged I4 that will make 240 horsepower. For diesel models, It came with 2.2L CRDi engine with variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) .

The third generation Sorento comes equipped with a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic transmission. Drivetrains are front wheel drive or all wheel drive, the latter only being available with the automatic transmission.

Models

In the United States, the 2016 Kia Sorento is offered in five models:

The L is a new model, and base model, for 2016. It offers a 2.4L GDi I4 engine that makes 190 HP with a six-speed automatic transmission, and is only available with front-wheel-drive. Standard features include an A/M-F/M radio with single-disc CD player and six speakers, and input jacks for an auxiliary audio device, as well as an iPod or other USB device, and can be controlled from the Sorento's radio, and SIRIUS Satellite Radio is also standard, as is Bluetooth and A2DP stereo audio streaming. Also included are alloy wheels, cloth seating surfaces, and keyless entry.

The LX was previously the base model, and is now an upgrade from the base model for 2016. It builds off of the L model, and also offers a 3.3L Lambda V6 engine that makes 290 HP, and is available with front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive. A Popular Package is offered that adds a touch screen Kia Uvo radio, heated front seats, a sunroof, and front fog lamps.

The EX is the midlevel model, and offers a standard 2.0L turbocharged I4 engine that makes 240 HP (the V6 engine is also available). The UVO radio comes standard, and there are leather seats as standard equipment. Third-row seating is also available. Alloy wheels with black-finished inserts are standard equipment, as are fog lamps and heated seats. An EX Premium Package adds such features as an Infinity sound system, navigation system, HD Radio, and more.

The SX is the next to top-of-the-line model, and offers the V6 engine as standard.^[15] The navigation system comes standard, as does HD Radio and the Infinity sound system. Push-button start with a smart key comes standard.

The Limited, previously known as the SX Limited, is the top-of-the-line model. It offers the same I4 engine as standard and the V6 engine as optional in the EX and SX models. Nappa leather seating surfaces are standard equipment, as are heated and ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. A panoramic sunroof is also standard, as are chrome alloy wheels.

Marketing

In November 2014, Kia Motors collaborated with 20th Century Fox to create a Wolverine-themed Sorento to promote the home media release of X-Men: Days of Future Past. The custom Sorento made its debut at the 2015 Australian Open, with a series of videos featuring Rafael Nadal teaming up with the X-Men to save the tennis event from the Sentinels.^[16]

In January 2015, Kia Motors released their Sorento Super Bowl XLIX commercial featuring Pierce Brosnan.^[17]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kia Sorento.

• Official website
• Kia Sorento (XM) minisite (Korean)
• Naza Sorento (Malaysia)
• Kia Sorento (Australia)