Last year we all were able to revel in the excitement here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis when the Telluride was named “World Car of the Year” and the Soul EV “World Urban Car”. This year we are honored to again be considered for World Car of the Year as the Kia Sorento and K5 have both been selected to the Top 10 for the WCOTY Awards. Now enjoying their 17th year, the World Car Awards were inaugurated to reflect the trends and reality of the global marketplace and to recognize products that display timely innovation.
The final winners of the World Car Awards will be announced April 20 and are judged by an independent international jury of 93 acclaimed automotive journalists from 28 different countries around the world. The 2021 Sorento is where minivan personality graduates proudly to a sophisticated appearance, with this completely re-imagined version of the mid-size crossover. Sporting exterior details that are much more attention-grabbing and current, it has made many families nationwide look forward to every single errand and school-shuttle duty on the road!
The Sorento's cabin design sees a major improvement as well, with slick digital interfaces and upgraded styling as well as comfort. The hybrid model can nail down 39 mpg in the city, and earned an Editors' Choice award from the esteemed writing crew on duty at Car and Driver. A 191-hp 2.5-liter inline-four cylinder engine is standard, and both this and a 281-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder are available. The Eco-Conscious Sorento Hybrid uses the combination of a turbo 1.6-liter 4-cylinder gas engine and a 44 kW electric motor, with a towing rating of up to 3500 pounds just in time for the days of summer.
The 2021 Kia K5 has attracted much positive attention due to it's very comfortable ride, practical controls, GT-Line's sporty details, and high interior quality. One very happy reviewer on Cars.com was thrilled with how the K5 “Exceeded her expectations of any Kia vehicle”. Hailing from Queens, NY, she also loved the elements that were sportier than the Optima, along with the better gas mileage and peppier engine. The all-turbo power lineup, available all-wheel drive, and great looks easy to spot right away are going to immediately situate any sedan-lover in heaven during a test drive.
The 2.5-liter engine was the favorite among many of the most experienced car writers, and it's no surprise that the GT model offered up great handling in numerous figure-8 tests. The top-of-the-line K5 EX comes with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 10.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and panoramic sunroof to aid in enjoying every minute of the ride. With a driver-oriented console providing all the essentials just within reach, this clean layout and conservatively-daring appearance make this a stunning and compelling sedan choice for 2021!
