The 2019 Kia Sorento offers two different engine and transmission configurations to choose from, depending on the trim level you choose. The standard engine is a 2.4L Inline-4 motor producing 185 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic gearbox, which comes as standard on the L and LX trims. Only the LX trim can be upgraded with a more powerful 3.3L V6 under the hood producing 290 HP and 252 lb-ft of torque, and paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The latter is standard on the rest of the trims in the lineup. While FWD is standard on all the trims, all but the base L trim can be equipped with an AWD system.
The standard 4-pot motor is unacceptably underpowered, especially for a car of its size and mass. It makes overtaking very difficult, especially on the highway. Good thing most of the trims in the lineup come with the more powerful V6 engine under the hood or have the option to upgrade to one. Its power figures are relevant to its class, and make the car more competitive in the competition. People who don’t think much about the performance of a car, and rather save a few bucks in their gas bills, as the standard 4-pot motor is relatively more fuel-efficient than the V6, and that too by a considerable margin as well.
Models
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2019 Kia Sorento
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2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
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2019 Subaru Forester
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2019 Honda CR-V
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MSRP
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$26,290
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$25,750
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$24,295
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$24,450
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Engine
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2.4L Inline Four-Cylinder
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2.4L Inline Four-Cylinder
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2.5L Flat-Four
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2.4L Inline Four-Cylinder
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Drivetrain
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FWD
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FWD
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AWD
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FWD
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Transmission
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6-speed automatic
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8-speed automatic
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CVT
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CVT
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Power
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185 hp @ 6,000 RPM
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185 hp @ 6,000 RPM
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182 hp @ 5,800 RPM
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184 hp @ 6,400 RPM
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Torque
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178 lb-ft @ 4,000 RPM
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178 lb-ft @ 4,000 RPM
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176 lb-ft @ 4,400 RPM
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180 lb-ft @ 3,900 RPM
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0-60 MPH (seconds)
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9.1
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8.6
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8.3
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7.7
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Quarter-Mile (seconds)
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16.9
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16.5
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16.5
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16.0
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Top-Speed (MPH)
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130
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125
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130
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130
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With a 0 to 60 MPH time of 9.1 seconds, the standard engine in the Sorento is barely suited for the car. But the bigger more powerful V6 is there to the rescue. It has a better 0 to 60 MPG time of 7.2 seconds and a standing quarter-mile time of 15.5 seconds.All other cars in the segment are marginally more affordable and yet offer superior acceleration. The Honda CR-V is the quickest of the lot with the Subaru Forester half a second behind, while the Hyundai Santa Fe is right at its tail.
How well does the 2019 Kia Sorento handle?
While the handling prowess of the Sorento is better than what you would expect by looking at the SUV, it is still not as agile as many of the rivals in the class. That being said, the Strut suspension with coil springs set up at the front, and a multi-link suspension with coil springs at the back handles the movement of the car pretty well, and the fairly accurate steering wheel makes maneuvering through tight spaces pretty confidence-inspiring.
It is better to opt for the AWD trim level, which provides better stability while cornering at high speeds, and it especially comes in handy during rain or snow when the road surface becomes slippery. Body roll is noticeable around the corners but is pretty acceptable for a car of its size and weight. In short, while the handling prowess of the Kia Sorento is pretty decent, there is still a lot of room for improvement.
2019 Kia Sorento Braking Performance
The 2019 Kia Sorento is a bit of a miss in this regard, especially when there are far better rivals in the class in terms of braking performance. While the brakes have a smooth modulating feel to them and are intuitive to use as well, the 12.6-inch front and 12-inch rear lack in terms of punchiness. Taking 125 feet from 60 MPH to a standstill during emergency braking, it underperforms than most of its competitors. It is not very confidence-inspiring in that regard as well, which is a bit of a surprise considering the fact that the Sorento features larger brakes in the competition.
Models
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2019 Kia Sorento
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2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
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2019 Subaru Forester
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2019 Honda CR-V
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Brake Rotors: Front (inches)
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12.6
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12.6
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11.6
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11.1
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Brake Rotors: Rear (inches)
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12.0
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12.0
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11.3
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10.2
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Curb Weight (lbs)
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3,810
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3,591
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3,449
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3,307
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60-0 MPH (feet)
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125
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122
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120
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116
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In terms of rotor dimensions, the Kia Sorento does take the cake. But the fact that it is significantly heavier than most of its competitors makes it the underperformer in this regard. Although the Honda CR-V has the smallest brakes here, it is also the lightest and hence has the shortest braking distances in this comparison. The Santa Fe and Forester weigh similar to each other and have similar stopping distances as well, which although is shorter than the Sorento.