*Updated 12/11/2020: Model Pricing is now included.
The Telluride may be getting all the press lately but Kia has just provided the details on the Telluride's 3 row stablemate and little brother, the 2021 Sorento. Code named MQ4, the all new 4th generation Sorento rides on a new platform shared with the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe and brings with it a 1.4 inch stretch between the wheels allowing for more interior room. Not only that, there is more power under the hood including trendy battery power. Here are 5 things to know about the 2021 Sorento.
Styling
She's a looker, there is no way around that. I'd still call the Mazda CX-9 the style champ for SUV's under $50k but the Sorento has eye catching presence thanks to strong crisp lines. It looks bold and technologically modern like that slick new 4k TV in your living room. Kia has widen the "tiger nose" grill stretching it to the headlights and hood line. The hood line extends down the profile giving the look some visual width and height. LED's are now standard with the optional signature LED's giving the Sorento some Acura vibes. I just wish the Daytime Running Lights(DRL's) were yellow like on the SX trim of the Telluride.
Around back I think the design falls apart just slightly. The back end looks like a grimacing angry alien from some sci fi movie. That's not to say it looks bad, it just doesn't work as well as the rest of the vehicle. Vertical taillights provide some flash and pull your eyes away from the silver trim at the bottom that can't seem to decide if it wants to look like fake exhaust outlets or not. Sorento is spelled out across the back as is the norm nowadays but seems a little odd to have it under the license plate so low. Overall though I think the backside works better than the hockey stick taillights and bubble design on its big brother Telluride and feel this is now Kia's best looking crossover.
Inside Kia has really hit it out of the park with an all new design. First off, the vents look like something out a a 1970's tv or movie spaceship and I think they are just really cool. George Lucas would be proud. The center touchscreen can either be an 8 inch or 10.25 inch unit depending on the size of your wallet and the top trims bring a full 12.3 inch digital gauge cluster. Much of the center console looks straight out of the Telluride including the seat climate buttons on the grab handles. Kia even says real metal and open pore wood in-lays are available as is a power folding third row seat. I have to call out these in-lays, digital cluster, and power folding third row are not available in the Telluride as it gets fake wood in-lays, analog gauges, and manual fold seats. Kia, if you are reading this, if the Telluride is at the top then these need to make their way up the ladder. Advice column over. Finally, the Sorento can be had with either a bench seat or captain's chairs in the second row providing seating for either 6 or 7. This interior is a winner.
New Engines
Under the hood the Sorento will have 4 new engines on offer. Gone are the old 2.4L 4 cylinder and V6 engines, instead all engines are 4 pots with either some kind of forced induction or electrification to increase power and torque.
The base engine is a 2.5L GDI 4 cylinder hooked up to a traditional 8-speed automatic running through the front wheels as standard. A torque vectoring AWD system with a locking center differential is available. This engine puts out 191 hp and 182 lb-ft of torque. Kia is estimating 27 mpg combined, a 2 mpg improvement, though I am sure that number would be lower with the optional AWD
Next up, the Sorento can be had with a 2.5 L GDI 4 cylinder Turbo pumping out healthy 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, right in line with its V6 competition. Power is routed though an 8-speed dual clutch automatic with either FWD or optional AWD. Here Kia estimates 25 mpg combined. That is 2 mpg improvement over the old V6. More power and better fuel economy, what's not to like? Well it's not all sunshine and rainbows as towing tops out at 3500lbs; 1500 lbs less than before putting it right in line with the Mazda CX-9 but less than the 5000 lbs offered by the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot.
New to the Sorento is the option of a hybrid engine. This engine is a 1.6 L 4 cylinder Turbo unit paired up to a 44 kW electric motor. This traditional hybrid motor uses a 1.5 kWh battery pack and a 6-speed automatic. Total system output is 227 hp and is good for 39 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 37 mpg combined. The hybrid is FWD only.
Finally, in 2021 a plug-in hybrid powertrain with arrive in the US. Utilizing the same 1.6 L Turbo motor but this time hooked up to a 66.9 kW electric motor power jumps to a combined output of 261 hp. The transmission is a 6-speed unit with AWD as standard. With the larger 13.8 kWh batter pack Kia estimates 30 miles of all electric range. Kia did not disclose any towing figures for either hybrid powertrain.
Technology
If you haven't been keeping up with the auto industry you may not know Kia, as well as Hyundai, have some of the best technology on the market. Its intuitive and just works. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The center screen is offered in 8 inch and 10.25 inch sizing depending on trim level while a full digital gauge cluster is optional. The cabin also includes up to 8 USB ports to help with your screen addiction (or keep you charge up so you can read Driven GT content 😎). Even better, 2 are conveniently located in the front seatbacks
A 360 parking camera is available and these cameras can be used with the phone app to provide a live feed of your vehicles surroundings in case you forgot where parked or want to see what creepers are peeping in your windows. The side cameras are also used as blind spot cameras providing a live feed of your blind spot in the digital gauge cluster when the turn signal is active. All cars should have this. It really is useful.
Finally, you get the majority of Kia's excellent safety systems as standard including radar cruise control, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning and avoidance, and lane follow assist. There are optional systems including Kia's Highway Driving assist which uses the navigation system to adjust the speed of the radar cruise to current speed limit conditions. The Sorento can be had with occupant alert (standard) to let you know if you've be an inattentive parent and left your kid in the back seat, and Safe Exit Assist which can lock the rear doors if the vehicle detects a car approaching so your child doesn't open the door into that car.
Its Getting an "Off-Road" Trim Package
A what? Who is taking a Kia Sorento off-road? Look, I get why you are asking but I have a theory why Kia is doing this. That theory is predicated on 2 things. First, Kia, and Hyundai for that matter, are very proud of their AWD system and its ability to lock its center differential to add in traction off-road or in incremental weather. They even went so far as to slap some knobby tires on the prior model for a commercial where they drove the Sorento up a very steep and rocky hill to prove what it could do.. Second, Subaru's sales success with their Outback, Ascent, and Forester. That rugged outdoorsy image and capable AWD system have put a lot of Subaru's in garages across America. I believe Kia is after some of that market share.
So what does the X-Line package get you? The X-Line brings with it that for mentioned AWD system with its locking differential, a more rugged roof rack, hill decent control, and 1.0 inch of extra ground clearance (8.3 vs 7.3). It also nets you a different front bumper and exterior detail along with an exclusive set of 20 inch rims because nothing says off-road like lower sidewall tires. The X-Line package is only available on the top trim SX-Prestige trim which is also a perfect segue...
Trims and Availability
The 2021 Sorento will launch with 5 trims. All will be available with either FWD or AWD. The range starts at the $30,560 LX ($2,450 increase over prior years) trim and moves up through the S ($33,060), EX ($36,160), SX ($39,160), and then tops out at the SX-Prestige. AWD will cost you an extra $1800 Washington's. The most expensive model, the one Kia defines as the "hero" model, is the X-Line SX-Prestige with AWD. Say that 5 times fast. It comes in at $43,760. The hybrid powertrain is only offered in the S and EX trims and starts at $34,760 and $37,760 respectively. As a reminder the hybrid is only available in FWD. The new Sorento can be found on dealer lots now just in time for Christmas. Just make sure they throw in one of those obnoxiously large red bows with it if you decide to slap down the checkbook.
If you are in the market for a 3 row SUV and want something on the smaller end of the midsize market it would be worth your time to check out the Sorento. Competition at this size comes from the stylish Mazda CX-9 and venerable Toyota Highlander (all new for 2020). If you need something bigger Kia will be happy to sell you a Telluride or you could also look at the Hyundai Palisade, Subaru Ascent, or the recently redesigned Ford Explorer (she's pricy though).
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