In terms of ergonomics, the radio controls on the center stack are positioned a bit too far away from the driver’s seat. I literally had to lean over to reach them, or make do with the buttons on the steering wheel. It’s a small detail, I know, but it does take your focus off the road at times.
The cabin is generally roomy and easy to access. My son never complained when he had to sit right behind me as his pre-adolescent legs enjoyed more than enough room. I wouldn’t dare sentence him to the third row, however (by the way, these seats can disappear into the floor); his rebellious soul would probably have grumbled the entire ride.
As for cargo room, there is plenty of it and, once again, access never comes into question. Combined with the flat-folding second row, the trunk can swallow just about anything. Unfortunately, the awkward cargo cover gets in the way of objects you are loading and will likely get damaged pretty fast if you just leave it there. Now that’s a dilemma…
On the road
The 2011 Kia Sorento EX-V6 AWD only comes with minor flaws as far as driving dynamics are concerned. The 276-horsepower, 3.5-litre V6 and six-speed automatic transmission easily do the trick, showing definite enthusiasm and relentlessness. This powertrain is perfectly capable of delivering any type of acceleration, from explosive takeoffs to safe passing manoeuvres.
Even better: when stuck in traffic, the intelligent autobox will automatically slide in neutral to help you save fuel. Speaking of which, an ECO-Minder indicator will alert you whenever your fuel-efficient driving habits deserve recognition.
Elsewhere, the steering feels sharp and, unlike many SUVs, few corrections are needed to keep the Sorento going in a straight line. Only the suspension, which I found a bit stiff, fails to do justice to Kia engineers.
The Koreans are definitely sailing and with quality products like the new 2011 Kia Sorento, they’re about to pick up steam again!
The cabin is generally roomy and easy to access. My son never complained when he had to sit right behind me as his pre-adolescent legs enjoyed more than enough room. I wouldn’t dare sentence him to the third row, however (by the way, these seats can disappear into the floor); his rebellious soul would probably have grumbled the entire ride.
As for cargo room, there is plenty of it and, once again, access never comes into question. Combined with the flat-folding second row, the trunk can swallow just about anything. Unfortunately, the awkward cargo cover gets in the way of objects you are loading and will likely get damaged pretty fast if you just leave it there. Now that’s a dilemma…
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| The cabin is generally roomy and easy to access. (Photo:Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
On the road
The 2011 Kia Sorento EX-V6 AWD only comes with minor flaws as far as driving dynamics are concerned. The 276-horsepower, 3.5-litre V6 and six-speed automatic transmission easily do the trick, showing definite enthusiasm and relentlessness. This powertrain is perfectly capable of delivering any type of acceleration, from explosive takeoffs to safe passing manoeuvres.
Even better: when stuck in traffic, the intelligent autobox will automatically slide in neutral to help you save fuel. Speaking of which, an ECO-Minder indicator will alert you whenever your fuel-efficient driving habits deserve recognition.
Elsewhere, the steering feels sharp and, unlike many SUVs, few corrections are needed to keep the Sorento going in a straight line. Only the suspension, which I found a bit stiff, fails to do justice to Kia engineers.
The Koreans are definitely sailing and with quality products like the new 2011 Kia Sorento, they’re about to pick up steam again!
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