2016 Kia Sorento Review – Bringing You the Best CUV Now

Media event accommodations and dining provided courtesy of Kia. All opinions are my own.

Type: CUV / Crossover Price: $24,900 Fuel Efficiency: 20 city/27 hwy Seats: 5-7

Best Suited For: Families, owners with dogs Notable Features: Optional third row, three engine types, aggressive design, digital cluster Links: Official site

I can’t be shy about it – the 2016 Kia Sorento is just what I’ve been waiting for. It’s stylish, roomy, and, man, does it look good! When the Sorento had a facelift in 2014, I was already in love. Add to that new features and further design refinements and the 2016 model has me hooked. How awesome is it that a spoiler is standard?! After driving in it for only one day, I might as well give Kia all my money now because this is on the top of my want/need list.

2016 Kia Sorento Review – A CUV Not to Be Ignored

The 2016 Kia Sorento is as quiet as they come with neither car noise or road noise to distract you, you can enjoy a tranquil ride or listen to your favorite tunes on the crisp Infinity speakers. The ride is smooth and you feel zero roll on turns. Handling is fantastic with its three modes of steering/suspension. The turning radius was decent but I need to double-check that on a future drive. It’s such a fab touch to have the panoramic sunroof span the whole top of the car.

Gas mileage of the three engine types is average, ranging from 18 to 22 MPG. The 2.0L Turbo added an extra 1-2 miles per gallon but the V6 offered an all-around nicer ride. There’s something about the V6 that just felt more luxurious. There is also a 2.4L engine but, after experiencing the turbo and the six-cylinder, I don’t think I could go back. If you plan on doing any kind of road tripping or towing, the extra power is needed.

Inside the 2016 Kia Sorento

I love the nice big touchscreen display! It’s easy to see at all angles and is perfectly responsive. We didn’t use the navigation during our test drive but, if it’s the same system used on other Kia vehicles, then I know it’s good.

As a newer vehicle, most of the current technology is available on it. The adaptive cruise control works perfectly and it’s so helpful that the originally set speed remains marked. I like that the lane departure warning gives an audio and visual cue versus shaking the steering wheel. The rear camera screen includes an overhead view, which is so nice for parking and not scraping those rims!

The two-tone leather interior is impressive and looks very classy. Unfortunately, during the day-long drive, I did not get the chance to ride in the back and check the amount of leg room in either of the back rows. I did not see a second lever for the second row to scoot up but I was told by the designer that it should be there. I guess that’s what happens when you drive a non-final version of a vehicle.

A collapsable third row is available on all models (except the Turbo) to bring the passenger limit to seven. Again, I’ll update this section when I drive the car for a longer length of time to check out the room and comfort. Even with the third row up, there’s still a good amount of space for cargo. Without a third row, there’s masses of room to put stuff.

2016 Kia Sorento – Perfect for Families

I definitely think families will enjoy this new 2016 Kia Sorento. And, while it’s not “cheap” it is quite a bit less than other crossover vehicles in its class plus offers more standard features.