Kia Sorento first to be built in U.S. plant

The Sorento will be completely redesigned for the 2011 model year and Kia claims it will offer improved fuel economy, and more passenger and seating room than the outgoing model. Two- and four-wheel-drive versions will be available. The new model will be unveiled at the Frankfurt show in September.

In our tests, we found the current Sorento to be roomy with good fit and finish and quite competent off-road. However, the ride is very stiff and handling is clumsy, even though standard stability control helps keep it secure in emergency maneuvers. In the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) side-crash-tests, results are poor despite the standard curtain air bags. Overall, the Sorento scores too low to be recommended. The new Sorrento, based on the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV will get a third-row seat, but the transition to the car-based platform means the Sorento may lose some off-road prowess.

We hope some of the most important safety issues will be fixed with the new model.  We’ll put the U.S. built Sorento through our tests when it hits the market.

—Liza Barth