2013 Kia Sorento

The 2013 Kia Sorento matches up well with the competition when it comes to typical SUV features. Like its rivals, the Sorento offers a flexible cabin, popular technology and relatively fuel-efficient powertrains. But the Sorento also provides its share of surprises, from two cabin layouts to an air-cooled driver’s seat.

With its standard configuration, the 2013 Kia Sorento seats five. An optional third row allows for two more passengers. There are five Sorento trims for 2013: LX , LX V6, EX, EX V6 and SX. A six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are standard. All-wheel drive is optional.

Kia has tweaked content offerings for the Sorento lineup for 2013.

Exterior

The 2013 Kia Sorento has a sculpted exterior with prominent hood creases, fenders and body-side character lines. Up front, a typically aggressive Kia grille is set off by dramatic headlights and large fog-light pockets. Distinctively shaped rear roof pillars and modern two-piece taillights add detail at the back. The range-topping Sorento SX trim wears sporty cues such as stainless-steel front and rear “accent plates,” and chrome dual-exhaust outlets.

In the entry model, high-end touches, such as 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and heated mirrors with integrated turn signals, are standard. Kia also offers more premium content for the upper Sorento trims. Those models can supply fog lamps, a panoramic sunroof, LED taillights, a rear spoiler, power-folding mirrors and 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.

Interior

The 2013 Sorento boasts a dual-level dashboard with a molded upper level and a bold waterfall-style center stack. The driver’s side is especially athletic, with three metallic-rimmed gauges beneath a thick hood. The intricate design for the door panels shows much attention to detail.

The Sorento EX is equipped with standard air conditioning and a multifunction steering wheel on a tilt-and-telescoping column. Dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air conditioning and a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel are among the top interior upgrades for the Sorento.

How many seats are in a 2013 Kia Sorento?

Five seats, in two rows, are standard for the 2013 Sorento. Seating capacity can be expanded to seven with the addition of an available third row. In all models, a 60/40-split folding second row is standard. Behind the second row, the Sorento provides 37 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The optional third row is a 50/50-split folding bench. When that seat is in use, you can still fit 9.1 cubic feet of gear in the rear. The Sorento’s maximum cargo capacity, with all rear seats folded, is 72.5 cubic feet. Rivals such as the slightly longer 2013 Toyota Highlander have more cargo room, but less third-row legroom.

Stain-resistant tricot-cloth upholstery is standard. In the Sorento EX, EX V6 and SX, leather upholstery is standard for the front two rows and the driver gets an eight-way power-adjustable seat. Seating upgrades include heat for the front seats, air cooling for the driver and a four-way power-adjustable seat for the front passenger.

Performance

Three engine choices are available for the 2013 Kia Sorento. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is standard and produces 175 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque. The same engine with direct injection is an option for the LX and standard for the EX. It raises output to 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. A 3.5-liter V6 is standard for the other three trims. It can tow up to 3,500 pounds, thanks to 276 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. For all models, a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are standard, and all-wheel drive is available.

The 2013 Sorento achieves fuel-economy ratings of 21/30 mpg city/highway with its standard powertrain.

Technology

The 2013 Sorento has standard technology such as Bluetooth connectivity and an audio system with satellite radio, a CD player, a USB port and an auxiliary input jack.

For driver assistance, Kia offers rear parking sensors and, as part of a touch-screen infotainment system, a rearview camera with a 4.3-inch display. A navigation system with voice recognition and an Infinity audio system with 10 speakers also are available.