LAKE LOUISE, ALTA.– Just a four-hour drive northeast from here, near Red Deer's Badlands territory, one can discover Dinosaur Provincial Park. With more than 500 samples from over 39-plus species, the park has one of the largest fossil collections in the world. But among the fossils of fish-eating Champsosaurus or amphibious Albanerpetontids, you won't find what some car buyers consider a dinosaur in its own right: the traditional, body-on-frame sport utility vehicle. Among the automotive paleontologist community, most will cite the rise in popularity of the more car-like, unibody, crossover utility vehicle – offering better fuel economy, better space efficiency and more refined ride and handling – as the main reason for the traditional SUV's near demise. However, in the same time that CUVs have taken over the automotive jungle, Kia has managed to stave off the extinction of its own traditional SUV. On sale since 2003, the five-passenger, mid-size Sorento's fully boxed chassis and live-axle rear suspension is a Kia-only platform, sharing only its engines with parent Hyundai. For '08, Kia Canada is refreshing its Sorento (there were no '07 Sorentos). There are no sheet metal changes, but you'll find two new V6 engines with more power, an updated cabin, fresh front and rear fascias plus the addition of 20 cm in length for more rear legroom. The base model $32,495 Sorento LX has a new 242 hp 3.3 L unit, producing 228 lb.-ft. of torque. It comes nicely equipped with air conditioning, full power accessories, keyless entry, cruise control, a 10-speaker CD/MP3 audio system, four 12-volt power outlets, 16-inch alloys, dual curtain and knee air bags, ABS, plus electronic stability and traction control. For $6,500 more, the Sorento LX Luxury adds a 262 hp 3.8 L mill with 260 lb.-ft. of torque, one-inch larger rims, leather and heated front seats, dual climate control and sunroof, among other niceties. Both Sorento trim levels share a five-speed manu-matic transmission. Compared to other V6 mid-size SUVs – like the $40,899 Ford Explorer XLT or $39,970 Toyota 4Runner SR5 – the Kia's full-featured pricing is its main appeal. Five years of warranty coverage (versus Ford and Toyota's three) and excellent crash ratings only solidify the'08 Sorento's positioning as the value champ of mid-size, traditional SUVs. First impressions behind the wheel of both Sorentos reveal the LX is more nimble than the upscale LX Luxury. But both Sorentos suffer from not having enough steering feel with very little feedback from the road. The LX's smaller V6 is smoother than the 3.8, but the smaller mill needs plenty of revs and labours up steep inclines. If you do plan to tow, or fill all five seats, go for the much torquier 3.8. It doesn't matter which Sorento you choose: the ride is luxury-car comfortable. As long as the tarmac is smooth. Road undulations reveal the Sorento LX Luxury suspension's limitations in controlling its hefty 2,024 kg curb weight. Yet it's reasonably quiet inside the Kia, with minimal intrusion from wind or road noise. Bar the need for the Sorento's 2,270 kg towing capacity, it's hard to make a case for the Kia SUV over a lighter, better-driving, more fuel-efficient CUV. But Kia Canada's vice-president of sales and marketing, Dean Tesser, emphasized at the launch event that the Sorento's unique selling point is its "true SUV DNA." According to Kia, off-roaders will appreciate that both the LX's part-time, and the LX Luxury's full-time, 4WD systems include low-range gearing. The Sorento also has more ground clearance than a Jeep Grand Cherokee, standard skid plates front and back and low approach and departures angles. I would love to tell you that the Sorento could boldly go where no wimpy, CUV would dare. Or that all of the Kia's SUV DNA saved my hide from being sucked into a gurgling mud hole, or allowed me to scamper the Sorento up the side of a snowcapped peak, like one of the local mountain goats. But alas, Kia officials limited our two days of driving in the new '08 models strictly on the paved highways between Calgary, Lake Louise and Jasper. Nice scenery, but not really a test of Kia's reason for buying their dino, er, traditional SUV. Maybe Kia is subconsciously admitting that most Sorentos – heck most SUVs in general – will spend 99.99 per cent of their time on good old pavement? I guess you'll have to verify the Sorento's SUV DNA at your own off-road lab. |