Exactly. Any car I buy has to have three rows these days, yet be small enough for me to walk around and open the hatch inside my closed garage. Telluride is great, but doesn’t pass that test. Sorentos all day for me.
Great Review Steve. The odd thing to me about this redesign is that there is no 5 passenger model. Now that they have the Telluride, the third row should be optional on these for people who want a midsize 5 seat CUV.
I own a 17 Cadenza with the V6. I’m saddened they didn’t stay with the v6 for the top motor in the Sorrento because they had no engine issues with this one. Let’s hope they have all their 4 cylinder motors figured out because the 2.4 and 2.0 turbo were a disaster recall issue.
This Aruba green looks amazing, my brother in law just bought a Hyundai Palisade calligraphy in Rainforest I saw it and it looks green in the sun and gray on dark days…… is Hyundai Rainforest color Kia Aruba Green? Thanks for the help :)
American cars are the master of recalls. Kia has been recalled because issues with their turbo. I own one. Toyota limit their cars with turbo cause they know it has quality issues.
Two of my cars are a 2017 CX-5 and a 2019 Sorento. Cant comment on the 2021 Sorento, but will say that the Kia and the Mazda are fundamentally different in ways beyond seating capacity: Style, ride, transmission, tuning, ergonomics. You’d absolutely have to test drive both if you’re in the market and you have them (and possibly other comparable Kias and Mazdas) on your short list. All nice cars. Just a matter of what suits you.
Great review Steve! Indeed, it does look quite a bit like the Dodge Journey, especially from the side profile. And I love the startup animation and music the best!
I am aberrant because I actually want the smallest 3-row I can find, so I’d pick this over the Telluride (and did). Takes nothing away from the excellence of the Telly. Also glad they departed from the 2020 strategy of decontenting the Sorento (compared with the 2019) so as to avoid making it too price- and feature-adjacent to the Telluride. That said, I am praying that the coming Sorento PHEV will be crappy or outrageously priced, so I won’t have to have an awkward conversation with my wife. I think I’m gonna really want that sucker, and I am (I suspect) past my limit of Kia acquisitions for a little while. Unless I can parlay the broken vanity mirror in my 2019 Sorento into a whole new car. Lemme call my insurance rep... And finally, my usual note to Hyundai/Genesis/Kia: STOP QUILTING EVERYTHING. There’s a difference between fancy and fussy.
Another HIT... Not just for Kia, but in terms of great videos, Steve Hammes. Thank you!! PS: I can see this Kia moving in the right direction, and the refresh in a few years will even be a better hit. Which may address your Audio concerns.
Love the Sorento but Kia made a HUGE mistake by leaving out the Drivers Seat Memory feature. Its not available on any trim, including the SX Prestige. This feature is a MUST HAVE for anyone who shares the driving with someone else. Come on Kia...fix this oversight ASAP so that I can buy an SX Prestige!
@@stephenhendricks103 slow car can be unsafe car, in cars with similar drivetrain accelerations are full 1-1.5 sec faster. By your logic we should go back to comfy station wagons with v8 engine from 70s that took 14 sec to reach 60.
@@robertduklus6555 What utter nonsense. A 7 to 8 second 0-60 time is more than sufficient acceleration. That level of acceleration or less applies to about 95% of all vehicles on the road.
Quite the opposite. I bought a 2015 accord and I regret not getting the Optima or Sonata. Honda is lagging in tech/features, and their reliability isn't what it used to be.
I think you are greatly underestimating Kia/Hyundai... they are going to eclipse Honda and Toyota in quality, as well as value, very soon. Watch out Japan!
Specific to the Sorento, there really isn’t a direct Honda competitor if you want a smaller three-row (the Pilot is several inches bigger). As for other vehicles, there are instances where you have a case (?Civic>Forte), and instances where you may not (?Telluride>Pilot). Of course, if relatively low resale is a dealbreaker, you may be right.
The best looking vehicle in the segment, hands down.
The Sorento belongs to one who doesn't need a Telluride, but has outgrown a Sportage.
Exactly. Any car I buy has to have three rows these days, yet be small enough for me to walk around and open the hatch inside my closed garage. Telluride is great, but doesn’t pass that test. Sorentos all day for me.
they're going to sell a boat load of these ...Kia and Hyundia are just bringing it with all the tech features
Love your reviews, concise and to the point!
I appreciate that!
I actually really like this, well done Kia, great video Steve.
Glad you enjoyed it
Only $43k for that XLine trim? Yeah, looks like Kia has yet another home run hitter on deck!
Style wise, it does look like the departed Dodge Journey, but the Kia Sorento is a lot more reliable.
Great Review Steve. The odd thing to me about this redesign is that there is no 5 passenger model. Now that they have the Telluride, the third row should be optional on these for people who want a midsize 5 seat CUV.
Totally agree
I own a 17 Cadenza with the V6. I’m saddened they didn’t stay with the v6 for the top motor in the Sorrento because they had no engine issues with this one. Let’s hope they have all their 4 cylinder motors figured out because the 2.4 and 2.0 turbo were a disaster recall issue.
Kia and these captains chairs for the top of the line version is such a no for me. There should be an option for the bench.
Kias killing it.
Nice looking vehicle!
Speaking as a kia stinger gt2 awd owner, give me a sorento with the stinger powertrain.
This Aruba green looks amazing, my brother in law just bought a Hyundai Palisade calligraphy in Rainforest I saw it and it looks green in the sun and gray on dark days…… is Hyundai Rainforest color Kia Aruba Green? Thanks for the help :)
Stop sleeping on Kia/Hyundai....they are making amazing products for the last 10 years and they keep out doing themselves every year!
Except for those random fire incidents, and all those recalls. Some serious QC issues that I hope are addressed for these new cars.
@@mikem2253 Toyota is the master of recalls. Doesn't make them any less reliable
Ah yes, Kia...like putting lipstick on a pig!
American cars are the master of recalls. Kia has been recalled because issues with their turbo. I own one. Toyota limit their cars with turbo cause they know it has quality issues.
How would you compare the cabin, drive and tech to the CX-5? Any idea when the hybrid and plug in come to canada?
Drive is slightly more refined with a quieter cabin than CX-5. No mention of the hybrids on Kia's Canada media site.
Two of my cars are a 2017 CX-5 and a 2019 Sorento. Cant comment on the 2021 Sorento, but will say that the Kia and the Mazda are fundamentally different in ways beyond seating capacity: Style, ride, transmission, tuning, ergonomics. You’d absolutely have to test drive both if you’re in the market and you have them (and possibly other comparable Kias and Mazdas) on your short list. All nice cars. Just a matter of what suits you.
Does this model have a rear differential Central Lock?.
X-Line in Canada is the 3rd of 6 trims. Cloth seats. Many other differences to US trim.
Interesting
a lot of new owners are reporting connectivity issues with wireless carplay. So I’d say the wired carplay might be a better option.
Me, too! But in all cars right now. I think it’s more of an iOS issue.
Nice looking ride. Too bad they went with Bose instead of Harman Kardon for the sound system and there’s no memory seating.
Great review Steve! Indeed, it does look quite a bit like the Dodge Journey, especially from the side profile. And I love the startup animation and music the best!
It's a neat touch, for sure! Thanks.
Kia/hyundai aint my cup of tea.. But i watched the whole review and thank you for taking time to show us. good review as always.
Stop car shaming
@@ebonix33 you pay nothing here bro dont worry bout this
Def can't unsee that Dodge Journey now Steve!!!
I am aberrant because I actually want the smallest 3-row I can find, so I’d pick this over the Telluride (and did). Takes nothing away from the excellence of the Telly.
Also glad they departed from the 2020 strategy of decontenting the Sorento (compared with the 2019) so as to avoid making it too price- and feature-adjacent to the Telluride.
That said, I am praying that the coming Sorento PHEV will be crappy or outrageously priced, so I won’t have to have an awkward conversation with my wife. I think I’m gonna really want that sucker, and I am (I suspect) past my limit of Kia acquisitions for a little while. Unless I can parlay the broken vanity mirror in my 2019 Sorento into a whole new car. Lemme call my insurance rep...
And finally, my usual note to Hyundai/Genesis/Kia: STOP QUILTING EVERYTHING. There’s a difference between fancy and fussy.
Another HIT... Not just for Kia, but in terms of great videos, Steve Hammes. Thank you!!
PS: I can see this Kia moving in the right direction, and the refresh in a few years will even be a better hit. Which may address your Audio concerns.
You bet!
No V6 is a deal killer!
😍😍😍
Little bit annoyed how there’s no memory seats?!?!
A little but they had to leave something to the Telluride, right?
All highs and no lows must be Bose.
Right!?
Love the Sorento but Kia made a HUGE mistake by leaving out the Drivers Seat Memory feature. Its not available on any trim, including the SX Prestige. This feature is a MUST HAVE for anyone who shares the driving with someone else. Come on Kia...fix this oversight ASAP so that I can buy an SX Prestige!
True. I think they felt like they had to leave some features exclusive to the Telluride.
Missing MANY features that the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe has.................
More like the new explorer than journey not even close
I don’t see the explorer in this design even one bit.
Incandescent license plate lights. :(
I’ve been seeing the top of the line Tellurides going for 10k more than this.
I have a 2017 Dodge Journey SXT V6 w/ FWD and I'm considering this as my next. Except that I prefer EX with AWD over SX Prestige X-Line.
It’s the foreign Dodge Journey lol. No memory seats either. Don’t like the black mirrors on almost every trim.
Dodge Journey?...nah Ill keep my 2017 sx Sorento
You want AWD with that engine.
Good point
I think that back end looks a little Mustsng-ish... minus one vertical brake light.
7.5 sec 0-60 out of 280 hp and dual clutch transmission is not impressive at all
Feels much quicker IRL
@@stevehammes feels quicker but it aint.
Unlike internet fan boys customers looking for a midsize crossovers put scalding acceleration about 25th of the top ten priorities in their vehicles.
@@stephenhendricks103 slow car can be unsafe car, in cars with similar drivetrain accelerations are full 1-1.5 sec faster.
By your logic we should go back to comfy station wagons with v8 engine from 70s that took 14 sec to reach 60.
@@robertduklus6555 What utter nonsense. A 7 to 8 second 0-60 time is more than sufficient acceleration. That level of acceleration or less applies to about 95% of all vehicles on the road.
Kia Seltos: Best in class
Kia Telluride: Best in class
Kia Sorento: Not best in class.
Which standard sized 3-row would you choose?
@@stevehammes Telluride/Palisade is best in class.
Imagine buying a Kia and living with the regret that you could have had a Honda.
You're mistaken my friend. Not anymore
Quite the opposite. I bought a 2015 accord and I regret not getting the Optima or Sonata. Honda is lagging in tech/features, and their reliability isn't what it used to be.
I think you are greatly underestimating Kia/Hyundai... they are going to eclipse Honda and Toyota in quality, as well as value, very soon. Watch out Japan!
Specific to the Sorento, there really isn’t a direct Honda competitor if you want a smaller three-row (the Pilot is several inches bigger). As for other vehicles, there are instances where you have a case (?Civic>Forte), and instances where you may not (?Telluride>Pilot). Of course, if relatively low resale is a dealbreaker, you may be right.
I've owned two Sorentos without a moment of regret.