Take it with a grain of salt, Consumer Reports, about as impartial as anybody rated the Sorento very highly, their top pick for a family SUV if I recall. Edmunds also gave a very good review, as does the majority of the press.

 

consumer reports december 2011 page 67 listed the KIA Sorento under midsized suv's as a recommend buy only (the 4cyl) as they felt the V6 predicted reliability wasn't up to par.

 

This is what amazes me. I saw and posted a link in another thread about the 2011 Kia Sorento review from consumer reports on YouTube and they really liked it. With the exception of the room in the third row. I thought, ya duhh, at least they offer a third row. Not all cuvs in the same class size do. My wife and I even sat in the back and really didn't think it was all that bad. It will definitely do for two adults in a moments notice if you need to take two more people with you in a hurry. I think consumer reports also mentioned stiff suspension and plastic dash. Other than that I have not really heard anything in bulk bad about the Sorento. Sure one guy has an issue here and another guy has a issue there but doesent every car company have those problems? I think the article is biased against Sorento santafe and just want everyone to be aware it's out there.

 

Well it mentions that the V6 model is "below par" without giving any real reasons to back it up. What about the GDI and the CRDI models?

 

Predicted reliability in Consumer Reports comes from subscribers such as myself who take the time to complete the annual survey they put out. They have data for most makes of cars and it is based on their subscriber information. They sometimes will recommend a car based on previous model reliability data like most Hondas and Toyotas. Other cars they typically wait for the data to filter in before making a recommendation. I have been a loyal subscriber for over 25 years and use the information regularly.

To my recollection, overall they liked the Sorento, the negatives I recall are the location of the rear wiper switchgear, third row and reliability of the V^ which I am not sure where they got that data from since it is a new model unless the engine was carry over from the previous generation or it has been used in the Santa Fe for a while.

 

The current Sorento V6 and 6-Spd tranny made it's debut in the Santa Fe starting in 2010 - the 2010 Santa Fe had poor reliability ratings due to tranny issues, some of which seemed to carry over in to the 2011 model year including the 2011 Sorento as some have reported problems with on this forum and as documented by technical service bulletins and service campaigns for the transmission - this may be the source of the low predicted reliability. However, these issues appear to have been addressed and corrected for those early model years and subsequent 2012+ model years appear to have no such issues, so it isn't logical to assume future reliability will be low, and as far as I know the V6 engine is very well built and reliable, not to mention very fuel efficient, smooth and quiet.

 

Quite surprising eh? Most everything I ever found out about the Sorento was the 4 cyl is underpowered in this unit. No passing power, no pulling power etc. now here is consumer reports opting for the 4 over 6? Wow.

Actually I still don't get guys saying negative things about the 4 cylinder. After owning one for more than a year, I have no power complaints for our uses. Not using it for pulling, so don't need the extra torque. As far as passing power, it may not be as quick as the V6 but it is perfectly fine on local roads and highways.

 

When I was reading about the 4 cylinder for the Sorento, I was surprised by the rated horsepower. My previous 2001 Santa Fe had a 2.7 V6 that put out the same HP as the 4 cylinder in the Sorento. The Santa Fe was pretty heavy as well but I thought it had more than enough get up and go. With the Sorento 6 speed tranny, I'm sure the 4 cylinder works very well too!

 

We bought my wife's 2011 Sportage first. At the time I was still driving our 2004 Santa Fe 2.7 V6, which I felt while not fast, it wasn't slow either. I was really surprised just how quick her new Sportage felt, no, not very powerful, but for a 2.4L 4 with 176 HP and only 168 ft lbs of torque, it seemed surprisingly quick. Quicker than the Santa Fe with its 2.7. Better throttle response and gearing I assume.

Well, I was pretty fond of driving her peppy Sportage while I continued to drive my ailing 2004 Hyundai with 100k on it.

Then I finally got my 2012 Sorento SX, and I suppose everything is relative, but her Sportage doesn't feel quite as peppy anymore.

I'm sure the even more powerful GDI 4 in the new Sorento is adequate, but the V6 is truly a very satisfying and powerful engine, smooth, refined, and just plain fast. I rarely get the rpms above 3500 and it still moves the car very briskly, and nearly effortlessly.

And the fact that the 4 really doesn't save a whole lot in fuel economy, well let's say I don't regret one bit, in fact I'm very glad I did get the 3.5 V6. Dont think I'd have been happy in the long run with the 4.

 

I feel the same way. I really like it when shifting through the gears going from 2k to 3k RPMs...very smooth, very quiet and amazingly quick. Even when on the highway I can accelerate/pass without exerting the engine. With the Santa Fe the revs were usually much higher. The bonus is I'm getting much better fuel mileage than the Santa Fe. Only problem is that to get the best mileage I need to travel just under 100km/h which is about 60m/h and that's so hard to do

 

That IS hard to do, since the car is so stable and quiet at 80-90 mph.

60 feels like 40 in my old Santa Fe.

At 80 mph in my Santa Fe, the RPM's were well over 3000, in my SX, I can do 90 and keep the RPM's at 2500! That's where your good gas mileage comes from, that really tall 6th gear.

 

I've driven a lot of SUV's and I can honestly say that out of all of them, I like my SX V6 the most. I don't know what kind of crack they are smoking but the simple truth is this truck is the best in its class. This is also coming from someone who NEVER believed he would own a KIA.

 

I don't think this forum has reported many, if any problems with the V6 AWD. The FWD had some transmission problems, not the AWD V6. I think Consumers is confused about the about the older 3.8 V6 which had some problems, used in both the Santa Fa and older style Sorento. Also an On line Motor Trend reporter said the SX front seat was too high with his 6' frame. I would suggest he use the power seat switch and lower the seat. I'm 5'11" and don't even have the seat anywhere near the top. My wife's 5' and can easily see both fenders. I think every report must be taken with a grain of salt. Same for the rear 3rd row seats. We got it to take the grandkids and if needed, extra friends on short trips. When the seats are easily put down, way more storage room than my RX which didn't have a 3rd row option, and was a lot slower and used more fuel.

 

i just traded in my 09 with 36k on it for the 2011, i get the gas mileage they say, i get great power for passing, none of the trans issues that are stated. I am a retired mechanic. i love american vehicles but they do not provide realiability, or a warranty to back the product. I love the Kia sorento. I have a very good friendship with a service manager where i am, they ahve stated there are issues with most of the GDI engines, They have corrected most of the issues, the V6 2011 Sorento LX, SX units if made in the later months of the year they do not have trans issues or engine issues, I have been monitoring my TSB's heavily at they site for Kietech. I am happy. I think like with anything it is luck of the draw for they time you buy and if the line did there work correctly doing the assembly of the car. and btw i take owner advice better and more over any magazine.