The safety features can be turned on and off via easily reached controls, or modified via a menu in the instrument panel. Operation was very straightforward; I tested the adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist on the highway, and both worked as advertised.
There are also plenty of helpful charging options. Everything above the base trim level comes with at least three USB ports, and the SX comes with a 110-volt household outlet in the second row (along with a 12-volt outlet for good measure). There’s a wireless smartphone charging pad up front to boot.
Nice Interior With Third-Row and Cargo Woes
The Sorento’s first two rows of seats are what you’d expect from a mid-size SUV: spacious, with plenty of legroom and headroom even for taller occupants. Materials quality pleasantly surprised me in a top-of-the-line SX Limited, where the fit and finish and cabin materials would have fit in for a vehicle with an even higher price tag. The interior uses a lot of black, though, which gives it a slightly Darth Vader-esque feel.
If the Sorento has a shortcoming, it’s a third row that could be a deal-breaker for shoppers who intend to use it frequently. Simply put, it lacks the space of larger competitors like the Atlas and Traverse. Those two vehicles in particular have expansive third rows that put this one to shame. The argument for the Kia’s smaller dimensions is that it makes it more city-friendly and easier to park; it’s 9.3 inches shorter from bumper to bumper than the Atlas and 15.3 inches shorter than the Traverse.
The Sorento’s smaller size also puts it at a disadvantage when it comes to cargo room, with just 11.3/38.0/73.0 cubic feet of space behind the third/second/front rows, respectively. That’s much less than the Traverse (23.0/57.8/98.2 cubic feet) and Atlas (20.6/55.5/96.8).
Value Star
One area where the Sorento really shines is value, and that holds true at both the bottom and top trims. The L starts at $27,335, which is only a $445 increase over the 2018 and a small price to pay for the newly standard third row (see a more detailed breakdown of each trim level’s price changes here). That undercuts all the competitors mentioned above by nearly $4,000, though the Traverse and Pilot both have standard V-6 engines.
My SX Limited test vehicle stickered at $48,370 with some dealer-installed options, and it was luxurious enough that I’d stack it up against the top trims of the same competitors. Even at that level, it undercuts the price of the Traverse by nearly $7,000, the Atlas by almost $2,000 and the Pilot by $1,500. It’s also worth noting (as with all Kias) the Sorento’s robust powertrain warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles — still tied for the best in the industry.
The 2019 Sorento’s well-roundedness works to its benefit; I found it to be a thoroughly easy-to-use and easy-to-like family vehicle.
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