Wanna ride shotgun with GRM?
Welcome to this week’s test vehicle, a 2024 Kia Sorento X-Line SX-Prestige.
Since there's a lot going on in that name so let's break it down: The "X-Line" means that this Sorento is a more off-road-oriented model (a more off-road-focused "X-Pro" model is also available), and the "SX-Prestige" means that this Sorento is the top trim in the lineup.
While …
I like it.
More? I really like it. How’s that?
It does everything that I expect of an SUV. It’s quiet, comfortable and not annoying. It has a real, mechanical-like shifter.
It has a knob for the radio volume. The screens fit nicely in the dash. The touch points have a rich feel to them. I think it looks good, especially in this green.
You want heated seats–or cooled ones? Instead of buttons, the Sorento has these rocker-type switches. Easy and intuitive.
Let’s talk about the rear door panels for a min. Photo for reference:
First, they have some style to them–check out how the grab handle is more than just a grab handle. It basically forms the major design element here.
The cup holder is right where you’d like it.
The leather feels soft, and the stitching looks good.
Button placement has some style to it, too.
I know, most people don’t buy vehicles based on the rear door panels, but it shows how everything seems very well thought out.
Kia’s audio/HVAC controls do take a few to get used to as you have to switch between the two. But once you get it, it all makes sense. The knobs have a solid click to them, too.
Don’t mind my finger in the lower-left corner. It’s lens flare.
It does have a lot of buttons, but where they felt overwhelming in the latest Chevy Silverado, here they make sense. So maybe the answer isn’t the number of buttons but, rather, how and where they’re placed.
Some pics for reference:
It pulls harder than I expected, but now I see why: 281 horsepower along with 311 lb.-ft. of torque.
Love the feel of the eight-speed auto box: crisp, tight shifts that don’t leave you hanging.
More to come as we’re just getting started here.
For those curious (because I was) here's the breakdown on powertrains throughout the lineup:
DeLand and back last night in the Sorento, so a little more than half an hour each way with a mix of highway and city. (And nearly half an hour stuck in I-95 traffic.)
Totally quiet, totally comfortable. Maybe a touch more seat back side support would be nice, but that’s my only nit to pick.
Controls are intuitive. More buttons than some others but never overwhelming. Somehow Kia found a good spot between traditional controls (real shifter, knob for temperature and sound) and today’s expected features.
Back to my original statement, nothing weird or annoying here. The vehicle simply disappears–and I mean that in a good way. If I had to drive this across the country, I’d be totally okay with that.
Our 2013 Sorento was a great family hauler, but the amenities were nothing like what this one offers. What a difference a decade makes.
In reply to nderwater :
I know, right? Kia used to represent a bargain buy, and that might have meant a few less extras. This one has everything. Plus, as a bonus, it goes down the road quietly.
Just popping it to say that although I didn't drive this one, I have test driven a Sorento plug-in.
Even with that limited seat time, it's very much a nice place to be and it felt like it hit that sweet spot of having plenty of space without feeling too big.
Its nice to see so many real buttons in this car. I don't like when you have to go into a menu in the infotainment screen to change basic things like the fan speed on the air conditioning.
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