2019 Kia Sorento Pros vs Cons

The 2019 Kia Sorento is newly redesigned and makes a great family SUV. It offers three rows of seating and a very high quality interior. The Sorento also offers one of the lowest base prices in its class. The low price tag is paired with some exceptional standard features. A wide array of upgrades and optional features offer buyers the chance to step up to a more luxurious Sorento. The Sorento also gets great gas mileage and features an optional 290 horsepower V6 for more acceleration. The Sorento is a strong entry in the midsize SUV category for 2019.

What’s New for 2019

Kia has done away with one engine option and the two row seating configuration for 2019. Despite the loss of the turbocharged four cylinder,Sorento still offers a fuel efficient four cylinder and an optional upgrade to a V6. The Sedona features a redesign for 2019 to update its look and feel.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2019 Kia Sorento – The Pros

1. Value at the base model.

The 2019 Kia Sorento has one of the lowest base prices of any midsize SUV. If you pair that with its impressive 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway from a standard 185 horsepower four cylinder, you have a very economical choice. The base model isn't a stripped down lackluster offering either. It offers great value with a standard seven inch touch screen infotainment system and a backup camera. You also get Bluetooth and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

2. Powertrain options

The standard four cylinder front wheel drive model is a very efficient offering, but you can also upgrade to the V6 engine option. The Sedona offers a 290 horsepower V6 that still gets adequate fuel economy with 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The FWD can be upgraded to Dynamax Fully Active AWD. Optional AWD means more safety and stability on the road, and many buyers will opt for it.

3. Pleasant ride

The Kia Sorento features a stylish interior. It is constructed from high grade trim materials and offers comfortable seating for seven. It also rides very smoothly on bumpy roads and has a very quiet cabin. Seating options include heated and ventilated front seats and heated, reclining and sliding second row seats. The Sorento also features a standard seven inch touchscreen infotainment system.

4. Smart Braking options

Braking features in the Kia Sorento are truly amazing and potentially life saving. The Sorento offers electronic brake-force distribution, which adjusts balance of braking power according to changes in weight distribution. It also offers a brake assist system which assists the driver by applying full braking power when they slam on the brakes. Finally, the Sorento offers forward collision avoidance. This system will automatically brake if it senses an unavoidable collision with a vehicle or even a pedestrian.

5. UVO feature and UVO app

The UVO feature on the Kia Sorento allows the driver to pair the vehicle to their mobile device. With UVO, the driver can stream music, access roadside assistance and check maintenance requirements. The UVO app also allows the driver to locate their car in a parking lot through the use of their mobile device. It also allows the driver to use all these features and more hands free.

6. High quality features available at multiple trim levels

There are five additional trim levels for the Kia Sorento. The Sorento LX offers AWD, the optional V6, blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert. The Sorento EX features the V6, leather upholstery, push button start, adaptive cruise control and heated front seats. The Kia Sorento SX comes with a sunroof, wireless phone charging and navigation on an eight inch touch screen. The SX Limited is the top trim level and allows the buyer to equip nearly everything the Sorento offers.

7. Additional safety upgrades

The 2019 Kia Sorento offers even more in the safety department. It can be equipped with lane keep assist, lane departure warning and driver drowsiness warning. It also has an optional surround view monitor that has four camera angles of the vehicle and its surroundings. There is also an optional parking distance warning that detects objects in the vehicle's path when parking.

8. Exceptional warranty

The 2019 Kia Sorento comes with a very generous five year or 60,000 mile warranty, and the powertrain is covered for ten years or 100,000 miles. Kia's warranty is one of the best in the industry. The added warranty coverage should do a lot to ease the buyer's worries.

9. Exterior features

The Kia Sorento features an attractive exterior design with many upgrades available. The side mirrors are customizable with optional LED turn signal indicators and defogging ability as well as power folding ability. The Sorento also offers a smart power rear hatch liftgate to allow ease of access. This feature allows the user to open the rear liftgate without a free hand. Rain sensing windshield wipers and automatic high and low beams can also be added. It also offers LED headlights, taillights and fog lights.

10. Optional V6 adds towing ability

The Sorento also offers towing capacity of 5,000 pounds with the V6 option. This added ability makes the Sorento more versatile. When equipped, the Sorento's capacity is enough to handle ATVs, Jet Skis and even some boats and smaller trailers.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2019 Kia Sorento – The Cons

1. Not a sporty SUV

While the upgraded engine offers some acceleration, the 2019 Kia Sorento lacks handling and cornering ability. The Sorento focuses mostly on being functional and offering a smooth, quiet ride. The fun of driving the Sorento is more about safety and comfort and less about excitement.

2. Less than desirable cargo space

The Sorento has some of the worst cargo space in its class. It offers only 11 cubic feet of usable space behind the third row seat. With all the seats folded down it offers a paltry 73 cubic feet of cargo capacity. While the situation isn't terrible, buyers shouldn't plan on hauling a lot of cargo as well as many passengers.

3. Cramped third row seating

As is the case with many three row SUVs, the third row leaves much to be desired. The 2019 Kia Sorento cannot reasonably accommodate full grown adults for any length of time. While the sliding second row does make a difference, the third row is mostly kids only.

How it stacks up to the competition:

The 2019 Kia Sorento has one of the lowest base prices of any midsize SUV available. One of its main competitors, the Toyota Highlander, has a much higher base price. The Highlander also has better cargo space compared to the Sorento. While the Sorento has similar engine options and available AWD, the Highlander also gets slightly better gas mileage. Some buyers will have to carefully weight the advantages of each SUV and see which one offers the more appealing standard features. The Sorento also did away with two row seating in 2019, so most buyers that don't want the third row seating will want to look elsewhere. The Honda Pilot comes with better cargo space, a standard V6 engine and seats eight. Compared to the Sorento, the Pilot makes a strong argument that it is the better buy with slightly better fuel economy. The Sorento has some advantages over the Pilot. The bottom line is the lower base price. The Sorento is several thousand dollars cheaper than the Pilot.

Conclusion

The 2019 Kia Sorento features a newly redesigned interior for 2019 and a very low starting price. It is a family friendly SUV with third row seating to seat seven people. It also checks all the boxes when it comes to safety features. The Sorento has been equipped with almost all of the best safety features available in a midsize SUV. While not all safety features are standard, there is a lot to choose from in the upper trim levels. The Kia Sorento will also appeal to buyers who are looking for a quality interior and smooth ride. The Sorento also features standard technological features like a seven inch touchscreen display. The Sorento may offer a low price for a base model, but the upgrades and upper trim levels do not disappoint with a wide range of optional equipment. The 2019 Kia Sorento is hard to beat for gas mileage and affordability and also comes with a very attractive warranty.