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2003 Kia Sorento
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| Chock Full of Surprises |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:27:51 |
| Rating |
 1107 ( -84 -7.58% ) | | Author | Tara Baukus Mello |
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Description:
2003 Kia Sorento
Chock Full of Surprises
Writer's Notes
Test Car: 2003 Kia Sorento
Curb Appeal: Styling is basically non-descript, so it's hard to feel anything but neutral about it.
Asphalt Rating: The standard engine is a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 192 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 217 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm
Real World: About $27,000 for a fully optioned model that's on par with much more expensive SUVs has oodles of appeal.
Handling: A wide track and solid suspension keep the Sorento stable, yet not too rough on long rides.
Comfort: Leather interior, heated front seats, eight-way power driver's seat, automatic climate control, wood grain and chrome interior accents, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and a six-disc, in-dash CD audio system await those who order the LX with the luxury package.
The Sorento proves that you can buy a quality SUV with luxury features without breaking the bank.
Comments or suggestions about this review? Send an e-mail to: editor@autobytel.com
Autobytel Inc. operates the popular automotive websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com, and Autosite.com.
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As an automotive journalist, I test drive a different vehicle nearly every week and when the 2003 Kia Sorento rolled into my driveway, it was on week that was sandwiched between two other mid-size SUVs. The other two vehicles were from luxury automakers whose vehicles I'm normally quite fond of and both vehicles are extremely popular with buyers. One vehicle was priced about $10,000 more than the Kia, while the other was nearly $20,000 more. Of the three, I liked the Kia best. It was hard not to like it when it felt like I was driving a luxury SUV and my fully loaded, four-wheel-drive EX model was priced at $27,125, including freight charges.
Kia says that when it introduced the Sorento it raised the bar in the mid-size SUV segment. In some respects, I think it lowered it----saying to other automakers, "How good a vehicle can you build for a 24-grand starting price?" The Sorento proves that you can buy a quality SUV with luxury features without breaking the bank. My test model had such niceties as a leather interior, heated front seats, eight-way power driver's seat, automatic climate control, wood grain and chrome interior accents, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and a six-disc, in-dash CD audio system. Sounds an awful lot like the feature list for a luxury automobile, doesn't it? Indeed, every friend and relative I took for a ride questioned me: "This is really a Kia?" You bet it is.
The Sorento is the ninth vehicle in Kia's U.S. fleet and its first mid-size SUV. Thanks to its somewhat vanilla styling, the Kia is not likely to turn many heads on the road. Its nondescript, sport ute lines could result in it being mistaken for one of many other SUVs currently available---which is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, just because you paid a lot less, you don't want to drive a vehicle that looks cheap, do you?
Rear seat passengers have ample leg and headroom, while the 60/40-split rear seat flips and folds for added cargo space.
The 2003 Kia Sorento comes standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 192 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 217 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm. No underpowered four-cylinder engines here. The engine is mated to an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. The result is a nicely powered vehicle that shifts smoothly. A rear-wheel-drive model, as well as two four-wheel-drive versions (one part-time and one on-demand), is offered. With the part-time four-wheel-drive model, the system is a shift-on-the-fly set-up, where it can be engaged with one simple turn of a knob and includes a transfer case that comes with a low range for off-road driving. The other version, Torque-On-Demand, has a low range as well and automatically transfers power as needed from the rear to the front with no driver input. The Sorento also offers an Eaton carbon limited-slip differential, which transfers as much as 50 percent of the torque between the rear wheels.
Overall, the Sorento offers a fairly long wheelbase (106.7 inches) with short front and rear overhangs, giving it the ability to traverse steep inclines in an off-road environment. A wide track (62.2 inches) combined with a double wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension makes the Sorento stable while giving it a comfortable ride. The body on frame construction is rounded out by four-wheel disc brakes and standard Michelin 16-inch tires, with a full-size spare mounted under the body. It has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
Inside, the Sorento seats five comfortably. Interior volume is slightly larger than that of competitors Jeep Liberty and Ford Escape. Rear seat passengers have ample leg and headroom, while the 60/40-split rear seat flips and folds for added cargo space. Loading cargo is a snap with the split-opening rear hatch and a flat cargo floor.
Even the base model, the Sorento LX, is well outfitted. Standard features include air conditioning, power windows/door locks/mirrors, a flip and fold rear seat, cruise control and eight-speaker sound system as well as dual front airbags, and front and rear side-curtain airbags. The upscale EX features two-tone body cladding and chrome alloy wheels. Comfort and convenience features include all the items in the LX, plus eight-way power driver's seat, power sunroof, HomeLink programmable remote and an overhead console with a computer listing outside temperature, compass, altimeter and barometer. My test 2003 Sorento EX also came equipped with anti-lock brakes and the luxury package, which included chrome exterior trim, leather interior, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, automatic climate control, a 280-watt audio system with in-dash six-disc CD player and Torque-On-Demand four-wheel-drive.
Like all Kias, the 2003 Sorento comes with a five-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty. A five-year roadside assistance plan is also included.
---Photos Courtesy of Kia North America
---Story by Tara Baukus Mello
© 2003, Tara Baukus Mello, All Rights Reserved. |
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