Description: Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle
Base MSRP Range: $18,995 - $26,100
Invoice Price Range: $18,010 - $24,280
Where built: South Korea

Kia's mid-size SUV presents distinctive styling for the package, a comfortable cabin with seats for five and elegant trim elements, plus smooth-riding suspension components with two-wheel-drive (2WD) or four-wheel-drive (4WD) traction and a V6 powertrain. Sorento's cabin holds a front row of twin bucket seats followed by a bench split 60/40 with seats that flip forward and seatbacks that fold down to expand the cargo bay.

Power flows from a 3.5-liter V6 which musters 195 hp and connects to a five-speed manual shifter or five-speed electronically controlled automatic.

Both 2WD and 4WD versions are available in trims labeled LX and deluxe EX. New alloy wheel mount on all LX models for 2006, and the EX lists an optional sport package with step bars fixed below side doors, a roof rack, blacked-out headlamps and deluxe audio gear.

Kia out of South Korea constructs value-priced vehicles in a diverse line extending from economical small cars like Rio to premium luxury sedans such as Amanti, plus multiple wagons including Sedona the minivan and sport-utility vehicles with Sorento and Sportage. Look for a new generation of designs for Rio and Sedona coming to Kia's 2006 collection.