2016 Kia Sorento Overview
What’s New for the 2016 Kia Sorento?
The all-new 2016 Kia Sorento (right) sits next to the outgoing 2015 model (left)
For the 2016 model year, Kia’s Sorento will feature a body that’s stronger and a wheelbase that’s longer. The redesigned crossover will also offer a new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine option, more headroom and legroom in all three rows, and becomes the first CUV to feature Clari-Fi digital music reconstruction technology by Harman.
“The all-new Sorento has been passionately designed and obsessively crafted, delivering class-up premium materials and features in a more capable package,” said Orth Hedrick, Kia Motors America’s vice president of product planning.
“Increased use of advanced high-strength steel and additional structural reinforcement have resulted in improved torsional rigidity, which pays dividends behind the wheel in the form of better ride comfort and driving dynamics. Couple that with significant reductions in NVH and it’s clear that the 2016 Sorento sets Kia’s new standard for the blending of refinement and capability.”
2016 Kia Sorento Exterior
The 2016 Kia Sorento SXL
Perched upon four new alloy wheel designs that range from 17 to 19 inches is the rugged new Sorento body, equipped with stronger shoulders and a longer, more aerodynamic hood. Its wheelbase has also grown (by 3.1 inches) to 109.4 inches, while its width has increased (0.2 inches) to 74.4 inches.
Narrower headlights and distinctive LED positioning lights make for a more aggressive front fascia. Below the headlights sit sportier, more prominent lower intake and fog lamp pockets. LED rear dimensional tail lamps and LED fog lamps will be available on premium trims.
2016 Kia Sorento Performance
The all-new 2.0-liter inline-4 GDI turbocharged powerplant
Sorento drivers get a choice of three engines: the 2.4-liter inline-4 GDI, the 3.3-liter V6 GDI, and a brand new 2.0-liter inline-4 GDI turbocharged powerplant. The 2.4-liter inline-4 is equipped with a new Electronic Intake Continuously Variable Valve Timing (E-CVVT) and produces 185 horsepower. The V6, meanwhile, yields 290 hp and is now powerful enough to tow up to 5,000 lbs when equipped with AWD. In between those two ends of the spectrum, the 2.0-liter I-4 option provides 240 horsepower. All three motors are mated to an electronically controlled six-speed automatic gearbox that features Sportmatic® shifting.
2016 Kia Sorento Efficiency
The 2016 Kia Sorento in Lake Tahoe
Kia has yet to reveal official mileage ratings for any of the Sorento’s three powertrain options, although they’ve promised that the new 2.0-liter I-4 turbocharged engine will deliver “commendable” fuel efficiency. The 2015 Kia Sorento manages up to 20 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway, and we wouldn’t expect the 2016 edition to be a huge departure from those figures, but we will keep you updated as official EPA estimates become available.
2016 Kia Sorento Interior
The roomier, enhanced interior of the 2016 Sorento
The Sorento’s cabin holds anywhere from five to seven passengers, depending on whether drivers opt for the second-row folding four-cylinder models or the third-row folding V6 models. Both second and third-row occupants will get 0.5 more inches of passenger space, while those sitting in the third row will have 1.5 more inches of boarding space. Overall cargo space increases by 1.5 feet to 74 total cubic feet, while space behind the third row grows from 9.1 to 11 cu ft.
With premium textures and high-materials throughout, the 2016 Kia Sorento interior has a classier feel, which is highlighted by the newly available premium sound system. The 12-speaker Infiniti stereo system is upgraded with Clari-Fi technology, which rebuilds the audio details lost in digitally compressed music to create a crisper sound that will please more discerning audiophiles.
2016 Kia Sorento Safety
There are several new or newly standard safety features in the 2016 Sorento
A number of safety features are standard in the 2016 Kia Sorento, including six airbags, seatbelt anchor pretensioners, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control System, Brake Assists System, Hill-start Assist Control, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, and Antilock Braking System. Technologies such as Roll-Over Mitigation and Cornering Brake Control were also made standard for the 2016 model for improved dynamic control and safety.
Vehicle Stability Management, Forward Collision Warning System, Smart Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Surround View Monitor are newly available options for 2016 Kia Sorento drivers.
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