What's New?
The Kia Sorento has been completely redesigned for 2007. The new Sorento remains a truck-based sport utility vehicle (SUV) with body-on-frame construction, V-6 power, rear- or four-wheel drive (4WD) (the latter with a low-range transfer case for heavy-duty off-roading), and a 5,000-pound towing capacity.

Overview
More and more midsize SUVs are moving to lighter and more fuel-efficient car-based construction, but what about buyers who still need the off-road or towing capabilities of a truck? Those needs require a truck-based SUV, and there are still several automakers that offer products to fill those needs; Kia is one of them.

The truck-based Sorento was first introduced in 2003 and has been redesigned for 2007. While sister company Hyundai has chosen car-based construction for its new Santa Fe and Veracruz SUVs, Kia retained the 5-passenger Sorento's truck-based configuration, employing a ladder frame, a longitudinal-mounted V-6 engine, and the choice of rear- or 4WD. The latter comprises a part-time system with a low-range transfer case and is standard on 4x4 LX and EX models; a fully-automatic Torque-On-Demand system is optional on the top-of-the-line Sorento EX. For 2007, the old Sportage's 3.5-liter V-6 gives way to a new 3.8-liter unit with 262 hp—a 36 percent increase over last year's engine—and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. A 5-speed automatic with a manual mode is the sole transmission offering.

Safety is a strong point of the Sorento; standard safety hardware includes full-length side curtain air bags, a driver's knee air bag, electronic stability control, and anti-lock brakes. Inside, features like metal and wood trim, air conditioning, a CD/MP3 player, power windows/locks/mirrors, and cruise control are all standard. Options include a leather interior, power-adjustable front seats, automatic climate control, and more. The Sorento is covered by Kia’s 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty with 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage.

The Competition
The Kia Sorento competes in the Midsize Utility segment, which consists of 16 models. Buyers in this segment look for performance, reliability, and comfort, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,^SM were the Honda Pilot (152,154 units sold), Jeep Grand Cherokee (139,148), and Ford Explorer (131,759). The Kia Sorento sold 50,672 units in 2006, an increase of 6.4 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Midsize Utility segment include the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Toyota 4Runner, Jeep Commander, Nissan Pathfinder, and Dodge Durango. Joining the segment in 2007 is the Chrysler Aspen.