From: Petersen's 4 Wheel & Off-Road

Kia Sorento LX 2003 4x4 of the year



There were times in our competition that we thought this SUV from South Korea might topple all the giants in the test with its "do nothing wrong" performance. It was the clear standout in one place, the controlled hillclimb where it drove further up the hill than anything else. Everything it did, it did well, but some judges weren't taking it seriously until it began consistently ranking high in our books. At $22,955 the Kia Sorento was the least expensive 4x4 in the test but nothing about it felt flimsy or of poor quality. On the contrary. Our judges found that the Sorento used a mix of cost-effective components to produce a budget 4x4 that is more than just the sum of its parts. If you removed the Kia badging we're convinced that people would mistake its styling for a Mercedes or Acura SUV. The look is not economy class by any means and we think Kia did a better job styling the Sorento than Toyota did with its new 4Runner.

Getting the look right is a big part of developing a new vehicle, but Kia didn't stop there. It designed this SUV with a full frame and some real truck cues. The suspension is a well-balanced package that complements the rack-and-pinion steering for a great linear feel on- and off-road. We believe the suspension was tuned for handling and not just targeted at a smooth ride. Though there was limited front wheel travel, the rear limited slip produced enough traction for most judges to go anywhere they wanted. And there's no question that the durability is there because this SUV held up to everything we could throw at it. On the street the Kia gained a "corner carver" status that let us exercise the 3.5L Mitsubishi V-6 engine that Kia specified for this SUV. We'd say that the Kia exceeded all of our expectations for performance but in this field of technology-laden vehicles it was the Sorento's lack of features that kept it out of the top spot.

General

Manufacturer: Kia
Model: Sorento LX
Base Price: $21,300
Price as Tested: $22,955
Options as Tested: Antilock brakes, alloy wheels, roof rack
Engine

Type: DOHC 24-valve 60-degree V-6
Displacement (liters/cubic inches): 3.5/213
Bore & Stroke (inches): 3.66x3.38
Compression Ratio: 10:1
Induction Type: Multiport fuel injection
Fuel Required (octane)/Capacity (gallons): 87/21.1
SAE Peak Horsepower: 192 * 5,500 rpm
SAE Peak Torque (lb-ft): 217 * 3,000 rpm


Transmission

Type: 4-speed automatic overdrive
Model: Aisin Warner
Ratios: First: 2.80:1; Second: 1.53:1; Third: 1.00:1; Fourth: 0.70:1; Reverse: 2.39:1


Transfer Case

Type: 2-speed full-time
Model: Borg-Warner electronic shift
Low-Range Ratio: 2.48:1


Axles

Front Type: IFS
Rear Type: Solid, with Eaton carbon-fiber limited slip
Hubs: N/A
Ratio: 4.66:1


Suspension

Front: Upper and lower A-arms/coil springs
Rear: Live axle, 4-link with coil springs


Steering

Type: Power assist rack-and-pinion
Turns Lock-to-Lock/Ratio: 3.66/N/A
Turning Radius (feet): 36.4


Wheels

Size (inches): 16x7
Material: Cast-aluminum


Tires

Size: P245/70R16
Brand: Hankook R407


Brake System

Front: 11.8-inch discs with ABS
Rear: 12.4-inch discs with ABS


Weight (pounds)

Curb Weight: 4,255
Advertised GVWR: 5,644


Mileage

EPA Estimate (city/hwy. mpg): 15/18
As Tested (mpg): 10.68


Acceleration

Standing ¼-mile (seconds * mph): 19.18 * 74.34


Braking

60-0 mph (feet): 137.74


Dimensions (inches)

Wheelbase: 106.875
Overall Length: 179.75
Overall Width: 82.5
Overall Height: 69
Front/Rear Track: 62.375/62.25
Front/Rear Overhang: 33.5/40.125
Minimum Front Ground Clearance: 7.25


Likes

*Price
*HVAC controls
*No frills package


Dislikes

*4x4 switch position
*Lack of gauges
*Limited suspension travel


Bottom Line

Sometimes nothing is a real cool hand
This is what a Sorento LX looks like in the U.S. Maybe this is how local LX's will look like too.