Driving The Used 2020 Kia Sorento

One of Sorento’s most enticing attributes is its sub-$28,000 price tag. Unfortunately, to get that price one must also sacrifice power for passing and merging. That’s because the entry-level L and LX trims come equipped with a rather weak 185-horsepower 4-cylinder engine.

We’d recommend moving to the S trim, which pushes up the price by about $4,000 but also brings the more potent 290-horsepower 3.3-liter V6. With this engine under the hood, the Sorento is much better able to haul around its 7-passenger complement and has the kind of power needed when climbing mountain passes or overtaking slower-moving traffic.

The V6’s 8-speed automatic is a good transmission, with smooth shifts and good response. It also helps the Sorento achieve a combined EPA fuel-economy rating of 22 mpg.

In the areas of steering, acceleration, handling, and ride quality, the Sorento falls about mid-pack. It neither leads the segment nor lags behind, and we think most people will be quite happy with the vehicle’s overall performance.

For those who do appreciate a more dynamic ride, we suggest opting for the all-wheel-drive models that include Torque Vectoring Cornering Control. This system enhances traction on both dry and wet pavement by sending power and torque to the wheel or wheels needing it most.

For 2020, all models come with three rows and seating for seven. That’s good news for families seeking a 3-row crossover SUV across a broad range of prices. If your family is at the stage where messes and spills are inevitable, there’s also good news if you don’t opt for the leather interior — the cloth on the other models has been treated with YES Essentials to resist stains and quell odors.

There’s plenty of room and comfort in the first and second rows, but the third row is for small passengers and short trips. There’s not a lot of cargo space behind the third row either, although the seats fold down to expand that dramatically.

Kia’s Sorento gets a slight freshening for 2020, with front and rear bumpers, taillights and headlights all modified to give a more sculpted, upscale feel. It’s not vastly different, and that’s not a bad thing. The Sorento projects a handsome, strong design that belies its price point.

Higher trims emphasize that point with nice features like stainless-steel bumper trim, a dark metallic grille and chrome roof rails. Lesser models, meanwhile, forgo roof rails as standard, while the least expensive Sorento L lacks the acoustic windshield and shark-fin antenna found on the other models. Wheels range in size from 17 to 19 inches.