2015 Kia Sorento Reviews and Ratings

54/70

Well equipped, attractive styling, a strong V6 engine, satisfying road manners, with a generous standard warranty.

Tight third row seating and rear cargo space, poorly performing voice recognition, and a sticker price that approaches $40,000; there are comparably-priced alternatives to consider from more established manufacturers.

The Kia Sorento received a major redesign in 2014. As a result of this, changes for the 2015 model are limited to a minor reallocation of features across the various available trim levels.

The 2015 Kia Sorento SX AWD's tight exterior lines and sleek profile hint at athleticism and efficiency, and the power-folding side mirrors, chrome accents, 19 inch alloy wheels, and power liftgate suggest "upscale". Shapes and materials integrate well with one another, and their quality and fit appear to be above average. Overall, the Sorento SX AWD exhibits a modern and attractive interpretation of a midsize SUV, and with some of its design cues being consistent with those of other models in the current lineup, Kia brand identity continues to increase.

The 2015 Kia Sorento SX AWD is powered by a 3.3 liter V6 engine that has direct injection and dual continuous variable valve timing, and its 290 horsepower and 252 lb.-ft. of torque are routed through a 6-speed automatic transmission, and a full-time all-wheel drive system. The all-wheel drive system has a locking center differential, and a torque vectoring system. At the Sorento's front and rear are independent suspension, and at all four corners are disc brakes, and 19" machined alloy wheels that are fitted with 235/55 R19 tires. Also standard on the Sorento SX AWD is sound-absorbing windshield glass, heated and power-folding side mirrors (with integrated turn indicators), halogen headlights, LED brakelights and turn signals, fog lights, intermittent windshield wipers, a chrome exhaust finisher, and a power liftgate. The Sorento SX AWD has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

The interior of the Sorento SX AWD is fairly good looking, the various components are logically situated and within easy reach, and most of the switchgear has a nice feel to it. Front and middle row seating is comfortable and supportive, and legroom is adequate in both places. Third row legroom is tight, however, and access is somewhat difficult. Also tight is the rear cargo space, especially when the third row seats are in the up position. As far as the infotainment system goes, it is pretty easy to learn and use, and its audio quality is good, but the voice recognition feature does not work very well. And lastly, the panoramic moonroof is a great feature, but a venting position with the shade mostly closed would be a welcome improvement.

Standard interior features for the 2015 Kia Sorento SX AWD include dual-zone climate control and rear air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and door locks, keyless entry and push button engine start, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink, a tilting and telescoping steering column, a power driver's seat (with lumbar support), heating and ventilation on the front seats, and a panoramic moonroof. The steering wheel and gear shift knob are leather wrapped, while the first and second row seating is leather trimmed. The second row seating can fold in a 40/20/40 split, and the third row can fold 50/50. There is a 10-speaker Infinity surround sound audio system with AM/FM/HD Radio/CD/MP3/Sirius XM capability, and a voice-command navigation system with an 8" touchscreen display, UVO eServices telematics, and SiriusXM Traffic. Connectivity options include bluetooth, a USB port, and an auxiliary input jack. There is also a 115-volt power inverter on board.

With its compliant ride, predictable handling, 290 horsepower V6 engine, and decent brake pedal feel, the 2015 Kia Sorento SX AWD delivers a mostly satisfying driving experience. Cornering is what you would expect from a relatively heavy SUV, acceleration is slightly more so, and braking distances seem acceptable. Areas where the Sorento could be improved include steering feel, feedback is minimal and resistance is too light, and sound insulation, where wind noise is somewhat noticeable while driving at highway speeds.

19.4 MPG