It's no secret that SUVs absolutely represent big business. Selling in incredibly impressive numbers, the Kia Sorento and Jeep Grand Cherokee are most definitely two of the heaviest hitters you'll find on board. Autoguide.com recognized that both of these SUV's are as versatile as any out there, filling the needs of their owners in very focused manners. They ran a well-versed piece this past week showcasing just how these two stack up to each other, and highlighting some of the differences between them. The Kia Sorento has been heavily revised this year, and clearly holds weight on the fact that versatility alongside other elements like performance and style are supplied well.
The fact that the Sorento has the ability to offer multiple seating arrangements definitely gives it a dose of positive pull in the faceoff with the Cherokee, as it has the ability to fold with a 50/50 split, while the second row features a 40/20/40 split. There are over 11 cubic feet of space to store goods in with all seats in place, or 73 cubic feet with everything folded down.
While the Cherokee does boast a very useful all-wheel drive system and outstanding off-road capability, the folks at Autoguide ranked its interior as a bit less versatile, at least in comparison our beloved Kia Sorento. There is no third row of seating in the Cherokee, and the total space available is just 68 cubic feet. The seats in the tester for the Sorento were the ones that are wrapped in Nappa Leather, which emulates the vibe and insides of the Kia Stinger. This comparison piece was appreciative of the fact that Kia had updated many of the touch points in the cabin for the new Sorento, and the steering wheel and shift knob also get a new look and feel. The gauge cluster is newly updated, sporting a bright malfunction display screen, giving the car an intuitive and modern feel.
As far as the Grand Cherokee went for the interior, the upholstery looked very nice at first glance, but the trim accents didn't feel satisfactory. Some of the harder materials in the cabin felt low-grade, regardless of the great features such as Uconnect infotainment system, and a digital gauge cluster with a better appearance than the last one. During road testing, the team also had one issue with the Uconnect Infotainment system: it went unexpectedly blank, until a call was made using a phone that was connected to the unresponsive system via Bluetooth. The Smart Shift and Drive mode that measures driving behavior is a great tool for deciding which mode to use if just cruising down the highway, and even if driving on the aggressive side is suddenly in the cards.
As the reviewers for this mash-up said, there's a mix of feelings once you get the Grand Cherokee out on the road. For better or for worse, it may feel more like a truck than the Sorento does. This can make it pretty substantial and tough, but does not bode well in terms of body roll and sway. Behind the wheel, it feels properly big but does not do well at feeling like a car, even in sports mode. The Autoguide experts were overly impressed with how accommodating the Sorento was on the road, and how smooth and natural it drives. Gear changes were snappy, there was minimal hesitation, and the steering is high on the responsive end.
We don't deny that the Jeep Cherokee is a trusty and amazing vehicle, and have the utmost respect for our competitors here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis. But when you arrive to check out the benefits and value of the Sorento, a standout lineup of features, 630-watt ten-speaker surround system from Harmon/Kardon, and other luxurious appointments are sure to steer you on the fast track to a fitting lease or ownership!