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ATLANTA – The third new model from Kia Motors Corp. this year (fourth if you count the Forte Koup 2-door) doesn’t disappoint, as the next-generation Sorento cross/utility vehicle, now on a unibody chassis, keeps the momentum building toward a brand rebirth.
Like the Soul and Forte before it, the Sorento again shows Kia no longer is satisfied with being a brand of middling, largely forgettable vehicles.
On sale in early January, the new ’11 Sorento is a modern, functional, car-based CUV that is much better than its underpowered, body-on-frame predecessor.
The swoopy exterior design is progressive and sports the new brand-signature tabbed grille design, developed by Kia chief designer Peter Schreyer.
The interior matches the Japanese for fit-and-finish quality, and its two engines are refined and fuel efficient.
The Sorento shares the platform of – but is more advanced than – Hyundai’s 3-year-old Santa Fe. For proof, look under the hood.
The Sorento offers a 2.4L 4-cyl. and 3.5L V-6, both all-aluminum with continuously variable valve timing. They are well-suited for the midsize Kia CUV.
Although smaller, the 175-hp 4-cyl. nearly matches the performance of the Santa Fe’s 185-hp 2.7L V-6, without feeling underpowered. The 3.5L V-6 produces 273 hp, compared with 242 hp from the Santa Fe’s 3.3L V-6.
