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:
Key
Illuminated ignition switch
Whenever a front door is opened, the
ignition switch will be illuminated for your
convenience, provided the ignition switch
is not in the ON position. The light will ...
Owner maintenance
Owner maintenance schedule
The following lists are vehicle checks
and inspections that should be performed
by the owner or an
Authorized Kia Dealer at the frequencies
indicated to help ensure
sa ...
Yes, One Trim Is Really Called the “ !”
Dealers will have four trim levels with which to lure the young and
impressionable—Soul, Soul+, Soul ! , and the top-of-the-line Soul Sport. “!” is
pronounced “exclaim,” although we’d ...