Kia is the practical car brand for today’s smart family, focused on building reliable and comfortable cars at competitive prices. With an ever-evolving fleet of sedans and SUVs, Kia has maintained a laser-sharp focus on things that matter the most to their drivers. Features like safety, comfort, and technology take center stage in their design and make for vehicles that are perfect daily drivers at an affordable price point. Take the Sorento, for example, a brilliant mid-size SUV that left nothing on the cutting room floor. Walk onto the showroom floor of any Kia Sorento dealer, and you’ll be greeted by a car that’s reliable, roomy, and packed full of safety features to give you maximum confidence on the road. If your commutes include children, this car hits the mark.
A Spacious and Comfortable Ride for Passengers Both Big and Little
The mid-size SUV market is inundated with cars from different automakers ranging widely in features and prices. This is why it’s so important to research and compare these SUVs so you can have peace of mind before you buy a vehicle that will be used by the whole family. The 2022 Kia Sorento stands out from the pack thanks to its package of safety features, enhanced performance, and impressive cargo space. It’s an SUV designed to grow with your family, with room for children of any age.
Every Sorento is designed with standard third-row seating, meaning parents can easily relax in the front while children can spread out in the second and third rows. The second row is available as Captain’s Chairs, meaning they can be ordered to slide forward at the touch of a button for easier access to the third row. Speaking of which, they’re simple to fold down and collapse to create even more cargo space. Without folding down the third row, the Sorento offers 12.6 cu.ft. of storage, easily fitting several suitcases, grocery hauls, or sporting equipment, but that’s just the beginning. Putting down the third row will open up the cargo volume to 45 cu.ft., while lowering the second will give you an impressive 75.5 cu.ft. of space. Kia also put a lot of thought into storage inside the cabin by including cubby space and cupholders in the console and throughout the back rows.
For times when your hands are full, Kia designed the smart power liftgate. With Smart Key in hand, your Sorento will detect when the key is nearby and activate the liftgate automatically, revealing a dual-level cargo floor that can accommodate taller items such as bicycles or act to conceal more valuable items. The Sorento makes it easy to pack for those family road trips and vacations, with plenty of space for everyone’s belongings, and since the car is outfitted with roof rails, it’s simple to add on extra accessories like a bike rack or a rooftop cargo box to get the most out of the roof space.
Innovative Safety Technology to Protect All on Board
One of the main family-friendly draws of the Sorento is the award-winning set of safety features. If you’re planning on transporting small children, safety can be a determining factor for whether or not a vehicle is right for you. Kia recognizes the importance of safety and designed the Sorento with bumper-to-bumper safety technology for ultimate peace of mind. This is why in 2022, Kia ranked the highest among mass market brands in J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study.
The study used data from three-year-old vehicles and tested them across nine major safety categories to determine long-term reliability. For 2022, Kia vehicles earned top scores among competing brands. As for the 2022 Sorento, it earned a Top Safety Pick from The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and was ranked number one among mid-size SUVs for the aforementioned J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study.
It’s no accident that Kia ranks so highly in safety tests. They’ve packed the Sorento with standard safety and driver assist features that help set it apart from most of its mid-size competitors. Every Sorento comes standard with forward collision-avoidance assistance which uses sensors to alert the driver of both cars and pedestrians. The available junction turning assist feature can even sense oncoming vehicles while turning through an intersection, and the available blind view monitor can detect vehicles that may be out of view and display a warning in the gauge cluster.
Another available feature called the 360-degree surround view monitor gives a full aerial view produced by five cameras and displays it on the touchscreen infotainment center. Rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance will alert the driver to anything behind the vehicle, making for safer reverse driving out of parking spots and driveways and applying the brakes if a collision is imminent. Finally, an available feature called safe exit assist is designed to alert both the driver and passengers to potential hazards, such as approaching cars, before exiting the vehicle. The system is even capable of initiating child locks on the rear doors in case of emergency.
Make Fewer Trips to the Pump and Keep More Money in Your Wallet
Along with the Sorento’s outstanding safety and driver assistant features, it’s also a practical car with a strong, capable powertrain and excellent fuel economy for a vehicle of its size. The base model is host to a 2.5L four-cylinder engine delivering 191 hp that makes for breezy acceleration without burning excessive fuel. It also gets an impressive EPA-estimated fuel economy of 24 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway. The available turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder engine churns out 281 hp, giving the car a boost in power with the fuel efficiency of 22 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway. Both variations of the gas-powered engine have smooth handling and an effective suspension that makes for a peaceful drive on the road.
For those looking to get the most savings with fuel, the Sorento comes as an available hybrid or plug-in hybrid. The PHEV can travel up to 32 miles on the electric motor alone after a full charge and throws up some impressive figures of 79 MPGe and an output of 261 hp. If you’re not interested in handling a plug-in, the hybrid Sorento scores a remarkable 39 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway. Since a growing family with small children has enough on their plate, it’s a relief to have a car that can perform while simultaneously saving you money at the pump.
An SUV That Grows With You and Your Family
Kia’s Sorento seems to fit in nicely with the rest of their thoughtful and affordable lineup of cars. With all their vehicles priced competitively, they still carve space for things like style and comfort. Kia outdid itself by building a spacious and durable three-row mid-size SUV that’s attainable for most families. Along with the use of attractive and durable materials in the cabin, the Sorento also features all the other sought-after automotive technology by integrating a touchscreen infotainment center. Its user-friendly interface can connect to any family member’s Apple or Android device to keep the whole crew entertained on a long commute. Kia also thought to include a wireless charging pad in the cabin’s design and provides an optional 12-speaker Bose sound system for outstanding audio. The kids can also be distracted by available rear seat entertainment monitors to provide the ultimate in kid-friendly tech.
Sorento’s collection of safety technology and creative use of space make for a vehicle that can change with the needs of the parents. It’s as close to being a personal assistant as a car can get. Plus, with entertaining features readily available, the pressure can be taken off the driver so they can focus on what counts. Kia did an outstanding job designing a vehicle with so much practicality. By prioritizing safety, space, and fuel economy, Kia has made the Sorento a prime example of what a family car should be.
