# 5 You can have it in a 4 or a 6
Until recently, the Sorento in North America could be had with one of three gas-fed engines. In 2018, Kia pulled the 2.0L turbo from the lineup, probably because owners were finding it to be as gluttonous as the V6. That V6, a 3.3L unit, is still in the product offering, as is the 2.4L 4-cylinder.
If you’re finding your four-person family unit is already costing you plenty, the latter, more-economical powertrain is the way to go. It 185 horses and 178 lb-ft of torque, managed by a 6-speed automatic transmission, are sufficient to move you and your loved ones around. The only drawback that you should keep in mind is the towing capacity with this engine, an unimpressive 907 kg.
If you’re the type who can’t say no to your neighbour’s request to help them haul away all the crap they threw out during covid-confinement spring cleaning, then you’re probably better off with the 290 horses and 252 lb-ft of the V6, with which you can tow any number of old fridges, unused exercise machines and other flotsam totaling up to 2,268 kg. Which just happens to be the exact towing capacities of the Sorento’s trio of rivals at GM, the Acadia, Traverse and Enclave.
What’s more, your budget won’t take much more of a hit from stops at the pump, since the consumption figures of the 4-cylinder- and V6-configured Sorentos differ by only one measly litre per 100 km (10.2L for the former and 11.3L for the latter). For that you can thank the 8-speed automatic transmission that has been ably managing the V6 since 2019.
# 6 It might get a diesel… or it might not
In Europe, the automaker’s product offering consists of the 2.4L engine and a 2.2L turbo-diesel unit. Since 2017 Kia Canada has been hinting that it might bring the turbo engine to our market, but we’re still waiting for it. Unfortunately the nauseating vapours of the Volkswagen Dieselgate affair continue to permeate the air, so we’re not holding our breath as we hold our breath.
