Introduction

The 2020 Kia Sorento does nearly everything well, with high marks for style, driver comfort, space and safety in the top models. It has good infotainment and a great warranty; its ride is wonderfully damped. It looks fresh after an update to the face and tail in 2019. 

Power from its base 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine is thin, but that problem can be overcome with the available V-6, which is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. It brings ample performance with 290 horsepower, along with a friendly growl. 

The base 4-cylinder gets an EPA-rated 22 mpg city, 29 highway, 25 combined. All-wheel drive lowers those figures to 21/26/23 mpg. The V-6 Sorento falls to 19/26/22 mpg with front-wheel drive, or 18/24/20 mpg with all-wheel drive.

The NHTSA gives the Sorento five stars overall in safety, and the IIHS calls it a Top Safety Pick.. 

Lineup

For 2020 the Sorento comes in a lineup of L, LX, S V6, EX, and SX trims. 

The base $27,735 Sorento L comes with the 4-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. It's reasonably well equipped, with cloth upholstery, power features, and a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. 

The $29,035 Sorento LX adds blind-spot monitors, an acoustic windshield, and quick-charge USB ports. 

The new $34,035 Sorento S V-6 gets 19-inch wheels, three-zone climate control, blind-spot monitors, automatic emergency braking, heated front seats, reverse parking sensors, and keyless ignition. It's our choice, thanks to the safety features. 

The $36,335 EX brings leather, a power tailgate, pedestrian detection for automatic emergency braking, a panoramic roof, and adaptive cruise control.

The $41,035 Sorento SX has a 4-way driver seat, Harman Kardon audio, front parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, wireless smartphone charging, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with navigation. 

Every 2020 Sorento gets a 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.. 

Walkaround

The design of the Sorento is well-balanced and dashing. The details are carefully groomed. The best of the bits have been discreetly moved on to the beautiful Telluride. 

The Sorento carries the latest Kia grille theme, shimmery and wide-angle, with sweeping headlamps (LED on top trims). The sides are sculpted, while the artfully draped roofline echoes other crossovers. The taillamps are pert and mounted high. . 

Interior

The pleasant instrument panel is well organized, and the Sorento's displays are bright, with a standard 7.0-inch touchscreen mounted high on the dash and an oval-shaped cluster of climate controls using toggle switches. 

The cabin is basic in black and warm in earthtones, comfortable at any event. Top trims feature satin plastic and sweet leather that lift it above its status as a family hauler. The fit and finish of all models is excellent. 

Even in the base L and LX models, the cloth front seats offer good sculpting with excellent support. In the upper models they're leather, heated and cooled, and on the SX they're 14-way adjustable. The second row is wide enough for three adults. It's low, but it slides forward to make access to the third row easier. 

If you need a third row for the family, the bigger Telluride is a better bet than the Sorento (although the Sorento's overall length of 189 inches fits more easily into parking spots). Also, if there's a child car seat in the second row, the third row is hard to reach. And there isn't much room behind the third row, a mere 11.3 cubic feet. 

With the third row folded, there's a more usable 38.0 cubic feet. And with the second row split and folded, there's a total of 73.0 cubic feet. 

Models beyond the L and LX have acoustic glass, so they're fairly quiet. Outward vision is good. The SX comes with a surround-view camera system.. 

Driving Impression

The standard 2.4-liter engine that comes on the L and LX makes a modest 185 hp and 178 pound-feet of torque, coupled to an older 6-speed automatic transmission. With the V-6 models you get more features than just another 105 horsepower, so a V-6 is worth the money.

With 290 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque, the 3.3-liter V-6 returns impressive acceleration. It works well with its 8-speed automatic. It can tow up to 5,000 pounds, with all-wheel drive and the trailer package.

The available all-wheel-drive system has a mode for snow and mud, and with the Sorento's 7.3 inches of ground clearance, it's quite capable of rugged driving situations, although it falls short of being an all-road contender.

The Sorento is blessed with an absorbent ride. The steering offers a precise feel that's even better in the SX. Compared to rival three-row crossovers, the Sorento is full of confidence, if not exactly zeal for sporty cornering. . 

Summary

Go for the V-6, and the 2020 Kia Sorento checks all but one or two of the boxes. It sports good looks, strong performance, and stylish cabin. It's a capable family hauler, one with safety scores to match.

 

-By Sam Moses with driving impressions by The Car Connection.