As of December 2020, the Sorento SUV was still Kia's best-selling vehicle in Canada. The company believes it will be eclipsed by the Seltos, but that's no reason to put the cart before the horse, because the new generation Sorento, which made its debut last December, has all the tools to stay on top.
In fact, it has all the tools to crush all the competition; the model is that impressive.
To get to the heart of the matter, let's take the time to compare it to another star of the segment, the Mazda CX-9. You'll quickly see that the Sorento has nothing to envy it.
The versions
There are six different models in the catalog, which means that buyers have a lot to choose from. However, with Mazda, similarity is the order of the day, while the differences between the variants are minimal and are mostly in the equipment offered.
At Kia, it's the opposite, with models that are more distinctive. This is the case with the new X-Line variant, which gets unique styling, bridge-like roof rails and higher ground clearance for tackling more inhospitable trails.
Engine choices
With the Mazda CX-9, you get a single engine, a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that offers either 227 or 250 horsepower, depending on the type of gas you choose to offer (regular or premium). At Kia, we give you two choices. The first is a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. The other is a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that is rated at 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque.
And the beauty of it is that you can load it up with regular gasoline without sacrificing an ounce of power.
And that's not to mention that we're expecting hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Sorento; the CX-9 is dreaming about it!
Interior
The CX-9's on-board presentation is very good and the materials used are of high quality. In the case of the Sorento, it's brand new and decidedly more modern. You have to understand that the CX-9 was renewed for 2017, the Sorento for 2021. The gap in presentation, amenities and technology is large and to Kia's advantage.
Driving
Finally, we've always heard that the driving experience of Mazda vehicles is superior to that of competitors' products. This is generally true, but when you compare the experience behind the wheel of the CX-9 with the new Sorento, you don't see that. In fact, because it benefits from a lighter, stiffer chassis, the Sorento feels very solid on the road, as much or more so than the CX-9. On this point, a road test will be enough to convince you.
The Sorento has been completely redesigned and Kia has hit a home run, really.
