Kia’s attempt to muscle in on the luxury market with an all-new all-wheel drive SUV is a smart move that looks likely to be a roaring success. The 2016 Kia Sorento SXL AWD is a crossover midsize on a mission, offering up to three rows of seats for up to seven passengers, it redefines its range, laying down a spacious gauntlet to its five-seat competitors such as the Jeep Cherokee, Nissan Murano and Ford Edge.
Inspired by the firm’s 2013 concept vehicle, our AWD SUV came complete with a turbocharged 2-litre four-cylinder gas direct injection V6 engine good for a stomping 240-hp and a whopping 260 lb-ft of torque while generating enough power to tow up to 3,500 lbs, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
We loved the oversized power tilt/slide sunroof, offering a feeling of even greater room and luxury in an already airy and comfortable cabin area. There’s plenty of space for long-legged passengers front and back with other features including Bluetooth phone and audio, voice recognition, navigation and adaptive cruise control. Safety features include all round airbags, four-wheel ABS with assist, lane departure warning, electronic stability control and auto-leveling headlamps.
You’ll find more than ample storage thanks to an array of storage cubbies, while its cargo compartment boasts more volume than the majority of its competitors. Also oversized are the gauges for ease of reading and the generous touch screen makes controlling the audio and climate a, well, breeze. The Nappa leather upholstery provides extra elegance (both front and backed seats are heated), backed by the leather-wrapped steering wheel and trim finished in brushed chrome and glossy black. The cabin is almost eerily quiet, too.
The SXL boasts some rather smart drive technology such as ‘torque on demand’, complete with a locking center differential, traction monitoring for maximum grip at each wheel and Torque Vectoring Corner Control, backed by a rear spoiler. Its ride is further smoothened by dual-flow dampeners and a MacPherson strut front/Multilink rear kit and tailored courtesy of the Normal, Sport and Eco settings of the console-mounted Driver Mode Select button. Expect 19 mpg in the city and 25 on the freeway as it rides on glorious 19-inch wheels.
Kia have certainly aimed for a more grown-up look, and it’s certainly a wise approach guaranteed to appeal to a wider – and wealthier – market. Its sawn-off front end with angled headlamps and gaping grille looks ready to devour both track and tarmac, you can almost see the ripple of the muscular bodywork and pronounced fenders, its sleek and sloping roof is the cherry on the top.