The 2011 Kia Sorento is a crossover SUV that hits all the right notes. The car has excellent features and it's affordable.

Kia chose to change everything about the 2011 Sorento. Well, save for its name. Kia took the Sorento to another level in 2011; it seemed like their aim was to make sure families were incredibly comfortable with the car. It has the same architecture as the Hyundai Santa Fe, which means the car's structure and handling were superior to the previous generations.

Sorento came in LX, EX, and EX V-6 models. The car divides the niche of crossovers in the middle and provides the space and performance of some larger brands with the fuel efficiency of specific smaller competitors. The automobile features an extra third-row seat, a variety of engines, and a class-leading warranty.

The basic model has a six-speed manual gearbox, while the other versions feature a six-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive replaces rear-wheel drive as the default powertrain choice, and the car includes an optional four-wheel-drive system with an electronic locking differential.

The automobile has seven seats, which is new since the previous model's highest headcount was five. In other words, the 2011 Sorento is no longer an affordable but unreliable SUV like earlier models; it is now the type of SUV that a young family is searching for.

Here’s what makes the 2011 Kia Sorento a standout vehicle

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The 2011 Kia Sorento: It Has A Wedgy & Exciting Interior

2011 Kia Sorento cargo space
Via: Kia

Kia's new direction for the Sorento started with the interior. The Sorento's interior is on another level in both design and materials, with a conservative yet classy style. The Dashboard plastics are rough if you touch them, but they look decent. The audio and climate controls are intuitive and have a solid feel, as does the rest of the switchgear.

The front seats are comfy on lengthy journeys and give the commanding perspective of the road that crossover enthusiasts appreciate. The second-row seat seats are really comfortable for two people, but can become a strain for three people.

The automobile includes 50/50-split-folding seatbacks and adequate accommodation for even taller-than-average individuals. The Sorento can carry up to 72.5 cubic feet of cargo with the back seats folding.

The 2011 Kia Sorento's Handling & Performance Are Exceptional For A Crossover Vehicle

Grey 2011 Kia Sorento rear view
Via: Kia

All Sorento model levels come standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 175 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque. The four-cylinder propelled the Sorento from 0 to 60 mph in 9.9 seconds.

The front-wheel-drive mode is standard throughout the board, although LX and EX versions are available for all-wheel drive. The AWD system comes with a locking center differential to increase low-speed traction in slippery or off-road conditions.

There's an optional 3.5-liter V6 rated at 276 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque; it comes solely with the six-speed automatic and powers the Sorento from zero to 60 mph in an astounding 7.4 seconds.

The automatic transmission is a Kia design and shifts without drama, and there's a manual-shift mode on the shift lever. Kia made sure there was plenty of space for paddles behind the steering wheel.

The Sorento's interior stays admirably separated from both road and wind noise at highway speeds. The car handling ability is fantastic, and it reacts instantly to steering inputs. The Sorento is delightful for a compact family crossover, but the vehicle doesn't agree with potholes and similarly cracked pavements.

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The Safety & Infotainment Features Are Reasons Why The 2011 Kia Sorento Is A Fan Favorite

2011 Kia Sorento interior
Via: Kia

Kia added some useful features to the 2011 Sorento and made sure they were family-friendly options. Like the Sorento LX model, it comes with standard tilt/telescoping steering and steering-wheel audio controls. There is also cruise control, air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, and USB connectivity for audio players.

On the other hand, the EX model comes with backup sensors, automatic headlamps, a power driver seat, and dual-zone climate control. Extra options include an Infinity audio system, a navigation system with a rearview camera, and a DVD entertainment system.

Safety is an important focus for Kia. All the cars come with airbags and stability control, and they're constructed with five-star safety in mind. That planning paid off as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Sorento a Top Safety Pick.

The 2011 Sorento comes with standard side and three-row curtain airbags, stability control, and anti-lock brakes. Visibility is decent, and Kia makes a rearview camera available on high-end variants.

The 2011 Kia Sorento Had Tons Of Features, And It Was Still Affordable

Kia realized they had to make sure the 2011 Sorento didn't have that truck-like platform, and that's why the Sorento became one of the most comfortable-riding and fuel-efficient 2011 midsize crossovers. The Sorento offers tons of standard features to boot.

The 2011 Kia Sorento ranks 12th in the 2011 Affordable Midsize SUVs category. The website cars.us news gave the Kia Sorento a score of 8.0 out of 10. The vehicle's price in 2011 was around $21,195 to $34,095, but now the vehicle's is worth $7,493 - $9,983.