As spring is finally showing its telltale and very sensory signs here at Jim Butler Kia of St. Louis, many families are adamantly on the hunt for their ideal three-row SUV. One of their first questions is if they need a large full-sized model that might not have the greatest fuel economy, which is not always the case. There are several well-built midsize SUVs that are equipped with the third row, unable to quickly get extra players to practice and offer a brand of flexibility that A2 row simply can’t.
The 2023 Kia Sorento offers an excellent family value
as it boasts good fuel economy numbers, a lower starting price than many
rivals, and safety scores nestled way above average. It is smaller than most three-row
SUVs, and easier to handle in tight situations. It can seat six or seven
depending on configuration, and its third row does give second-row passengers
more legroom than the larger competition in the form of the Toyota Highlander.
People are rightfully concerned with price right now, and
the Sorento’s base price is more than $6,000 under that of the Highlander. The Sorento’s
base model includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, charging ports in all three
rows, heated mirrors, rear a/c vents, and more. Kia’s 10-year / 100,000-mile
powertrain warranty gives you a decade worry-free of any repair bill instances,
which Toyota simply can’t match. We recognize that the Toyota Highlander has a
class-leading resale value, a fair array of features, and seating for seven or eight.
Both SUVs derive power from four-cylinder engines, and Kia’s
engine beats out the Toyota’s horsepower level in the SX, SX Prestige AWD, and
X-Line SX Prestige AWD models. The Sorento also received a four-star rating in
crash testing. The Toyota provides a top-notch audio system for the two most
expensive trim levels, but the KBB.com auto editing staff
preferred the Bose system that takes up residence in the higher-trim Sorento
models.
Each of these two models has three rows of seating and are either
front or all-wheel drive. Each is also available with a hybrid powertrain, with
the Sorento absolutely providing a bit more along the lines of tangible value.
The Toyota has a high resale value, fair-base engine, and crash-test scores,
but the Sorento can nail all the boxes to check on a priority list with the
highest quality. The Motor Trend review team loved the Sorento
for its interior build quality, affordable three-row clout, and a great number
of standard features.
New for 2023, there is now standard blind-spot and rear
cross-traffic monitoring, and an exit warning system for Sorento LX. There is a
standard wireless smartphone charger for the Sorento S, along with standard
12.3-inch gauge cluster display, power-folding side mirrors, and rain-sensing
windshield wipers for the Sorento SX. Extreme lovers of the best in-tech
features will be thrilled with a standard 12.3-inch gauge cluster display,
power-folding side mirrors, and rain-sensing windshield wipers for the Sorento
SX.
There are also the daily-driving benefits of standard AWD,
115-volt power inverter, Homelink, gloss black exterior accents, retractable
rear door shades, and revised bumpers for Sorento SX Prestige. The Drive
Wise active safety feature suite includes a lane-keeping system, automatic
high beams, and blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring. Higher trim
levels offer up the premiere protective goods such as automatic emergency
braking, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and a 360-degree view camera
system.
