Second place: Kia Sorento EX
The Kia Sorento came in under the radar in 2003. It was larger and more powerful than its four-cylinder-only Sportage sibling, thus putting it in a different competitive class. Further, the Sorento set a new quality and styling standard for the South Korean company.
We were pleased with how well it performed in last year's Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year contest, saying, "The Sorento exceeded our expectations." Had one of the Big Three or a Japanese manufacturer introduced and mass-marketed such a vehicle, far more people would've taken notice. Yet Kia has found a modicum of success with the often-overlooked Sorento, and we thought it deserved to be evaluated against some of its new peers.
Kia opts for a rear hatch; lift up for access to the midsize cargo area.
For 2004, Kia has augmented the lineup with the availability of a five-speed manual transmission and a Sport package.
For the purposes of this story, we chose a top-of-the line four-speed automatic EX 4x4 ($25,490) dressed with the Luxury package, optional ABS, and a rear spoiler for a total of $28,285. Our first impression of the Sorento EX is that its packaging and presentation are superior to what one might expect from a manufacturer with such limited exposure or experience in this competitive midsize segment. In fact, some people mistake it for a Toyota or Lexus.
Inside is a tasteful mix of textures and colors, but they're still not quite up to Toyota standards. The handsome two-tone paint and moonroof are included with the EX trim level, as are the roof rack, foglamps, alloy wheels, and overhead console consisting of a thermometer, compass, altimeter, and barometer--nifty, unexpected details. Adding the Luxury package nets auto climate control, heated front seats, leather package, auto headlamps, and a premium sound system with steering-wheel controls. Glancing at the base price will have you thinking the Kia is less-expensive than the Suzuki, but the as-tested prices favor the XL-7 by about $500.