Driving Impressions
With either V6 under the hood, the 2009 Kia Sorento has plenty of power for both city traffic and swift highway cruising. The suspension provides a pleasant ride and adequate handling on smooth pavement, but when the road gets rough, the ride gets bouncy, with a good deal of the bumps transmitted directly into the cabin. The Sorento's brakes might also be a cause for concern; in previous testing, we noticed significant brake fade after just two panic stops from 60 mph. Drivers who plan on any traversing of mountainous roads should keep this in mind.
The Sorento's steering feel, however, is satisfying and there's a minimum of body roll when cornering. Thanks to the Sorento's low-range transfer case and truck-based origins, off-road excursions can be tackled with relative ease, but the Sorento's capabilities still fall short of those possessed by more competent vehicles like the Xterra and FJ Cruiser.
See also:
DRIVER-ORIENTED INTERIOR DESIGN
With the 2011 Optima, Kia has made big strides forward in the use of cabin
materials, while interior layout and design are also strong points. Much like
how the exterior conveys a dramatic message ...
2010 Kia Soul
Confession time: I’m in the target market for the Kia Soul and the vehicle’s engineers thought of something even I didn’t know I wanted.
FAST FACTS
1. Not the most powerful, or mo ...
Storage compartment
These compartments can be used to
store small items.
CAUTION
• To avoid possible theft, do not
leave valuables in the storage
compartment.
• Always keep the storage compartment
covers close ...


