The 2018 Kia Sorento is a stylish adventure-ready SUV that offers a seating capacity of up to 7 passengers and delivers a breathtaking performance for unstoppable fun on family adventure trips. Although the all-new Sorento is an affordable vehicle, the exterior and interior quality tells a more luxurious story.
With rear view camera as a standard feature, the 2018 Kia Sorento is bringing plenty of advanced technologies to the cabin. The designers at Kia have updated the interior with a more user-friendly infotainment system along with high-quality materials to enhance the ride experience and comfort of the occupants.
The midsize SUV comes with two engine options in the UAE along with an automatic transmission that takes the performance of the vehicle to the next level. Available with all-wheel drive, this vehicle has the potential to become a family vehicle as well as an adventure vehicle for any weekend getaway trip.
Here is a review of the 2018 Kia Sorento as we take a closer look at its performance, design, safety features and a lot more.
Design of the 2018 Kia Sorento
The 2018 Kia Sorento has a sophisticated edge in its design that makes this vehicle standout even when it is standing still. The exterior is stylish and athletic while the interior is designed to be more spacious and versatile to accommodate every need of the occupants.
Exterior
Kia is calling the all-new Sorento a “modern utility vehicle” because of its stylish new look and spaciousness. The longer wheelbase and the wider stance of the 2018 Sorento give it an adventure-ready appeal while still maintaining its modern-day vehicle look.
Kia is calling it their “most refined” vehicle yet and for good reason, because the vehicle looks striking from every angle. The front of the vehicle has a larger tiger-nose-grille that is now a signature design feature of every Kia vehicle in the market.
The hood of the vehicle has smooth lines that go up to blend in with the muscular shoulders to create a bolder look. The redesigned front fascia has a wider and larger opening on the lower bumper for effective engine cooling function. All of these design elements combine together to form a more aggressive appearance that catches the attention of the onlookers.
The Projector Beam Headlights now feature a larger swept-back design that further adds to the modern look of the vehicle without disrupting the overall design. The sides of the 2018 Kia Sorento look strong, thanks to the addition of muscular fenders that are wide and high enough to accommodate bigger wheels.
A character line has been added that flows seamlessly from the headlights to taillights to bring an edgy look to this affordable vehicle. The roofline has been lowered for a sportier and more striking profile. For a wider stance, the designers at Kia have added 17-inch alloy wheels, however, there are also options for 18-inch alloy wheels, 19-inch alloy wheels, and exclusive 19-inch 10-spoke chrome-finish alloy wheels.
Moving towards the rear of the vehicle, the first thing that catches the eye is the sportier new rear spoiler that has been added for enhanced aerodynamics and a performance-oriented look. Apart from this, the rear of the 2018 Sorento has retained its original sleek design and sporty appeal.
As for optional features, the 2018 Kia Sorento is available with a Smart Power Liftgate, silver or chrome finish roof rails and Panoramic Sunroof with Power Sunshade.
“Kia’s new Sorento SUV is an off-road monster.” – @USATODAY https://t.co/tqsx7cMDxG pic.twitter.com/9GyWUCpm7m
— Kia Motors America (@Kia) December 6, 2017
Also read: 2018 Kia Stinger – First-ever Sports Sedan by Kia Revealed at Dubai International Motor Show 2017
Interior
The cabin of the all-new Kia Sorento has been designed to bring a more luxurious and upscale feel to the interior. The spacious cabin is available with a third-row of seats so that the seating capacity of the vehicle can be increased from 5 passengers to 7 passengers.
The seats are upholstered with “YES Essentials Fabric” in the base model while the higher trim levels will have Premium Nappa Leather upholstery. The YES Essentials Fabric is a stain resistant, quick drying, odor repelling material that makes it a perfect fit for any family vehicle.
A 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat with 4-way power lumbar support ensures that the driver is comfortable while diving the vehicle. The second-row seats come with 40/20/40 split folding feature while the third-row seats will come with 50/50 split folding feature to increase the cargo capacity of the vehicle.
A leather-wrapped steering wheel with driver controls offers every important function within easy reach of the driver while the 7-inch LCD presents essential information to the driver in real-time. As for the infotainment system, Kia has added another 4.3-inch touchscreen display with SiriusXM Audio System featuring 6-speakers.
A standard Air Conditioning System has been fitted in the cabin, however, the owner can also select a Dual-zone Automatic Temperature Control System as per preference. With the second and third rows folded down, the 2018 Kia Sorento offers a maximum cargo capacity of 73 cubic feet.
Also read: Top 5 Safest SUVs of 2017 Available in the UAE
Performance of the 2018 Kia Sorento
The 2018 Kia Sorento is a front-wheel drive SUV that has been “bred for adventure” and for this purpose, the engineers at Kia have improved the handling of the vehicle and given it more power. This dynamic SUV comes with two efficient and powerful engine options in the UAE market.
The first engine option is a 2.4-litre Inline 4-Cylinder engine that comes with Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing System and Gasoline Direct Injection System. This fuel-efficient engine is capable of producing 185 horsepower and a torque of 178 lb-ft. It offers a fuel efficiency of 21mpg in the city, 28mpg on the highway and 24mpg combined.
The second engine option is a 3.3-litre V6 engine that comes with Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing System and Gasoline Direct Injection System. This powerful engine is capable of producing 290 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque. It offers a fuel efficiency of 18mpg in the city, 25mpg on the highway and 21mpg combined.
Both available engine options are paired with an Electronically Controlled 6-speed Automatic Transmission that comes with the Drive Mode Select. The Drive Mode Select includes a Normal mode for a ride with perfectly balanced performance dynamics, an ECO mode that maximizes the fuel economy and a Sport mode that enhances the engine and transmission settings for a stellar performance.
The 2018 Kia Sorento can be purchased with available Dynamax All-Wheel Drive System that continuously monitors the driving conditions to deliver ideal performance to the driver. The Dynamax All-Wheel Drive System comes with Torque Vectoring Cornering Control System that helps the driver while cutting corners on a road more precisely and have improved control under all driving conditions. Another feature included in the Dynamax All-Wheel Drive System is the Locking Center Differential System that provides added low-speed traction under poor road conditions.
The 2018 Kia Sorento has the maximum towing capacity of 5,000 lbs.
Safety Features
The 2018 Kia Sorento is fitted with latest active and passive safety features that work together to make this SUV perfect for families. Some of the highlighting safety features of this SUV include:
- 53% Advanced High-strength Steel Structure
- Antilock Braking System
- Brake Assist System
- Electronic Brake-Force Distribution
- Electronic Stability Control
- Front and Rear Crumple Zones
- Hill Start Assist Control
- Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
- Multiple Air Bags
- Rearview Camera
- Rollover Sensor
- Side Impact Door Beams
- Tire-Pressure Monitoring System
- Traction Control System
- Vehicle Stability Management
The optional safety features in the 2018 Sorento include:
- Blind-Spot Detection System
- Rear Parking Assist System
- Surround View Monitor
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Advanced Smart Cruise Control
- Autonomous Emergency Braking
- Forward Collision Warning System
- Lane Departure Warning System
- Electronic Parking Brake with Auto-Hold
The 2018 #KiaSorento was awarded the calendar year 2017’s Top Safety Rating from @IIHS_autosafety! https://t.co/yoNSknE9Zv pic.twitter.com/lZqWHgjNB6
— Kia Motors America (@Kia) September 6, 2017
Price of the 2018 Kia Sorento in the UAE
The 2018 Kia Sorento is already available in the UAE at a very affordable price. It has a starting price of AED 86,900 that can go as high as AED 129,900 with additional packages and optional features.
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