2016 Kia Sorento review
Kia Sorento highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Nicely constructed
- Easy-to-use cabin
- Quiet and comfortable ride
Cons
- Less spacious than some rivals
- Underpowered base engine
Mileage (EPA estimate)
17 city, 23 highway, 19 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
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The redesigned 2016 Kia Sorento is a great pick for a family hauler
The 2016 Kia Sorento is sized to fit in between smaller compact SUVs like the Honda CR-V and midsize rivals like the Toyota 4Runner. The Sorento is redesigned for 2016, and it offers an impressive cabin made with high-quality materials, along with optional third-row seating that's roomier than before. The Sorento also offers three powertrains to match your driving needs. The standard 2.4-liter engine produces merely adequate power, while a new optional 2.0-liter turbocharged engine feels significantly stronger. An available 3.3-liter V6 also provides nice power and higher towing capability.
All Kia Sorento years
What is new for the 2016 Kia Sorento?
- The Sorento is available in a new trim called the L.
- Sorento trims have been upgraded with Turbo Charged Engine as standard equipment this year.
- Automated Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning features are now available as options on select trims.
- The LX trim now comes with Rear View Camera as standard equipment.
2016 Kia Sorento trims
L
Comes with LED running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, 40/20/40-split second-row seats, three-mode drive settings, and more.
LX
Adds two USB ports, a 4.3-inch touchscreen, automatic headlights, and roof rails.
EX
Includes 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, rear parking sensors, heated front seats, and more.
SX
Adds a panoramic sunroof, eight-inch touchscreen, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems, a navigation system, and 19-inch alloy wheels.
SX Limited
Includes chrome-clad 19-inch wheels, heated second-row seats, ventilated front seats, and Nappa leather upholstery.
5 reasons to buy the 2016 Kia Sorento
1. Spacious cabin
Interior room is no doubt important if you're looking to buy an SUV. The 2016 Kia Sorento has seating for five in the standard configuration, but a third-row seat is available, increasing the capacity to seven. Second-row legroom measures at 39.4 inches, with 39.3 inches of headroom, whereas legroom in the front row is 44.1 inches, and headroom measures up at 39.5 inches. The available third-row seat is also relatively comfortable, especially for kids.
2. Attractive engine options
The 2016 Kia Sorento comes standard with a 2.4L four-cylinder engine that generates 185 horsepower. It's paired to a six-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive as an option. In addition to the base engine, the lineup includes a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 240 horsepower that's available on the EX and SX Limited trims, while a 290-hp 3.3L V6 engine is standard on the SX. These options make for a versatile engine lineup that is bound to contain something to fit your needs and driving style.
3. Stylish exterior
In addition to performance and utility, the attractive exterior design is another strong suit of the 2016 Kia Sorento. It boasts a modern, elegant, and somewhat sporty look. A large front grille and narrow headlights—along with an imposing lower air intake and a striking fog-lamp configuration—make the front end look sporty and aggressive. The LED taillights, chrome door handles, and roof rails only add to the overall exciting exterior.
4. Generous cargo capacity
Storage room is another important aspect of every SUV, and the 2016 Kia Sorento has plenty of it. You'll find 38.8 cu ft behind the second row, while the maximum capacity is 73.5 cu ft when the rear seats fold down. With so much room, you'll have no problem hauling several large suitcases or lots of grocery bags, as well as sporting equipment, fishing gear, or similar bulky items.
5. Refined interior
On top of being quite spacious and accommodating, the interior of the 2016 Kia Sorento is pretty refined and upscale, too. Thanks to the use of quality materials and clever design solutions, all passengers can have an enjoyable and extremely comfortable riding experience. With soft touch surfaces throughout, as well as easy-to-use infotainment systems and various vehicle system controls, the driver and passengers will appreciate every ride and look forward to the next one.
Similar vehicles
If you're interested in the 2016 Kia Sorento, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.
The Ford Edge is a midsize SUV with a spacious interior and an attractive engine lineup. 2017–2021 models come standard with a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder EcoBoost® engine delivering 245 horsepower—this is plenty for a spirited drive. They also have seating for five and come equipped with lots of standard tech features. Here's what you'll find on 2017–2021 models:
4.2-inch infotainment touchscreen
Bluetooth connectivity
18-inch alloy wheels
A comfortable interior with nice materials and abundant cargo space are among the strongest suits of the Honda Pilot. Model years 2017–2021 are fitted with various standard driver-assistance features and an easy-to-use infotainment system. You can seat up to eight people thanks to the third-row seat, which means you can bring your whole crew along for the ride in models from 2017. Here are some of the standard features you'll find on all 2017–2021 Honda Pilots:
Five-inch touchscreen
Bluetooth connectivity
Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration
In addition to typical SUV characteristics such as a spacious interior and high cargo capacity, the Jeep Grand Cherokee boasts great off-road abilities as well. This really makes it stand out from the crowd, especially if you go for the higher-end trims. The Trailhawk configuration is specifically designed with off-road driving in mind. 2017–2021 models come equipped with all-wheel drive, low-range gearing, adjustable air suspension, and 18-inch wheels. Some of the most notable standard features on the 2017–2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee include:
Uconnect® infotainment system
Rear parking sensors
17-inch wheels
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Ratings & reliability
Customer ratings
4.5 out of 5
44 customer reviews| 5 Stars | 29 |
|---|---|
| 4 Stars | 12 |
| 3 Stars | 0 |
| 2 Stars | 0 |
| 1 Star | 3 |
RepairPal gave the Kia Sorento an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Kia Sorento 12th out of 29 among Compact SUVs.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Kia SorentoKia Sorento features and specs
EX 2WD 4D Sport Utility
Standard Features
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Bluetooth Technology
- CD Audio
- Cruise Control
- Front Seat Heaters
- Leather Seats
- Overhead Airbags
- Parking Sensors
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Seat(s)
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Side Airbags
- Traction Control
- Turbo Charged Engine
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Bluetooth Technology
- Full Roof Rack
- Infinity Sound System
- Navigation System
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Power Hatch/Deck Lid
- Rear Sunshade
- Running Boards
- SiriusXM Trial Available
- Smart Key
- Tow Hitch
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
2.0L
Horsepower
240
Torque (ft-lbs)
260
Engine type
Turbo Gas
Fuel capacity
18.8
Wheelbase
109.4"
Overall length
187.4"
Width
74.4"
Height
66.3"
Leg room
F 44.1"/R 39.4"
Head room
F 39.5"/R 39.3"
Front tires
P235/60HR18
Rear tires
P235/60HR18
Seating capacity
5
Max towing capacity
350/3500 lbs.
Transmission
Automatic
2016 Kia Sorento FAQ
The 2016 Kia Sorento can tow an estimated 2,000 pounds with a 2.4L four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive, when properly equipped. Various factors may impact towing capacity, including weight of passengers, cargo, and options/accessories.
The trunk on a 2016 Kia Sorento has 38.8 cu ft of space behind the second row, and 11.3 cu ft behind the optional third row.
The Kia Sorento has two full sets of LATCH points.
The Kia Sorento and the Hyundai Santa Fe are the same size, but the Sorento can seat up to seven people with the available third-row seat, whereas the Santa Fe is only available in a two-row configuration that seats five.
More about the 2016 Kia Sorento
Exterior colors:
Blaze Blue
Dark Cherry
Ebony Black
Platinum Graphite
Polished Walnut
Remington Red
Snow White Pearl
Sparkling Silver
Titanium Silver
Interior colors:
Black Premium Leather (SX)
Dark Gray Leather (EX)
Ivory Nappa (SX Limited)
Light Gray (SX)
Merlot Nappa (SX Limited)
Metallic Nappa (SX Limited)
Satin Black
Stone Beige (LX and higher)
Interior details
The 2016 Kia Sorento can seat five people in its standard configuration, with a third-row seat available that increases seating capacity to seven. The base trim comes with stain-resistant fabric upholstery, while the Limited trim gets an upgrade with Nappa leather interior. A leather-wrapped steering wheel is also standard on higher-level trims, along with heated and ventilated seats.
Child seat details
Two sets of LATCH car-seat connectors are in the 2016 Kia Sorento, located on the outboard second-row seats. There is room for one stationary infant seat and a forward- and rear-facing convertible car seat in the second row, as well as a booster seat, which can also fit in a third-row seat configuration.
Performance
The 2016 Kia Sorento gets its power from a 2.0L four-cylinder engine, paired to a six-speed automatic transmission, for a total output of 185 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. It comes standard with front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive is optional. Models with front-wheel drive and 2.0L four-cylinder engine get an EPA-estimated 23 mpg combined and can go from zero to 60 mph in 9.1 seconds (according to the manufacturer, when new).
Emissions
According to EPA estimates, the FWD 2016 Kia Sorento's tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions are 377 grams per mile. This estimate is based on a brand-new model.
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