2016 Kia Sorento: Car Seat Check
Kia’s largest crossover got a more aggressive look for 2016 along with some new powertrains. Inside, the automaker upgraded the Sorento’s interior materials and increased passenger space. We tested a two-row version of the Sorento; a third row is optional. Accessible Latch anchors and plenty of second-row legroom made installing child-safety seats a breeze. Although we were able to fit three car seats across the second row, we couldn’t easily access the seat belt buckle for the booster seat, so it doesn’t meet our fits-three criteria.
How many car seats fit in the second row? Two
What We Like
- The outboard seats’ two sets of Latch anchors sit about an inch into the seat bight, but the seatbacks recline for better access. This made it easy to access the anchors with both rigid and hooklike connectors. There are three tether anchors midway down the seatbacks that are also easy to use.
- In both rear- and forward-facing modes, the convertible installed easily, and we did not need to move the front-passenger seat forward to accommodate the car seat in rear-facing mode.
What We Don’t
- The rear-facing infant seat installed easily and fit well, but we had to move the front passenger seat forward about an inch to accommodate it.
- The booster fit well on the lightly bolstered seat cushion but the seat belt buckles are floppy, so kids might have trouble buckling up independently. Parents also should note that the center position’s seat belt sits behind the booster seat, so buckling up could get complicated for someone sitting there.
