The 2017 Kia Sorento stays true to its high-value roots, but it's grown up in refinement and comfort. Kia Sorento received a full redesign, with completely new sheet metal, a new body structure, a newly available turbocharged inline-4 engine, plus modest gains in interior space and major gains in general cabin comfort and ride quality.
Pros Tight, "vault-like" feel Generous feature set Responsive, economical 2.0T Quiet cabin
Cons Short, bench-like second-row seats Can't get a third-row seat and turbo-4 engine together Active-safety features not widely available
The 2017 Kia Sorento ranks 1 out of 18 Midsize SUVs. The 2017 Kia Sorento is a versatile crossover that rates highly in a competitive class thanks to a powerful V6 engine, many user-friendly tech features, and the availability of third-row seats. It also has excellent safety and reliability ratings, and its low starting price makes it a great value.
Pros Easy to use infotainment system Potent V6 engine Stable handling Quality interior
Cons Weak standard engine Limited options for base model
The 2017 Sorento can now be had with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, along with a couple of new safety features (adaptive headlights and automatic emergency braking). Also, the EX 2.0T gets standard shift paddles, but the SX Limited is no longer offered with the 2.0T engine.
Pros Controls are easy to operate Cabin is well-made and attractive Second-row seats are versatile and comfortable Strong value proposition Excellent warranty Top crash-test scores.
Cons Turbo engine isn't as punchy or efficient as expected Most seven-passenger competitors offer more interior space.
The 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport ranks 13 out of 14 Luxury Compact SUVs. The 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport is the most capable off-road vehicle in its class. It also has plenty of cargo space, and it's the only luxury compact SUV to offer a third row of seats. However, the engine feels a little weak, and it gets worse fuel economy than many competitors.
Pros Excellent off-road ability Ample cargo room Only SUV in the class available with a third row
Cons Underpowered engine Low fuel economy Low predicted reliability rating
Although it's not a working implement like the classic Land Rover Discovery, the quirky Discovery Sport has plenty of merits up against rivals in the entry-level luxury class. Anchoring the Land Rover lineup should be a cakewalk of a job, especially given that there is routinely a waiting list to order the brand's Range Rover models. But it hasn't always been that easy, which is why Land Rover started from scratch with its Discovery Sport.
Pros Comfortable, quiet ride Roomy interior for five Decently off-road capable Land Rover style inside and out
Cons Too softly styled for a Land Rover? Third-row seat is a tease Active safety features are optional Gets expensive fast
There are some new, noteworthy options for the 2017 Discovery Sport. A new interface known as InControl Touch Pro boasts a larger screen, better graphics and faster responses. The new Intelligent Dynamics pack includes an adaptive suspension and an active all-wheel-drive system that can power only two wheels for improved fuel economy. The new Dynamic Design package includes a variety of special interior and exterior design elements. A new low-speed, off-road cruise control system is also now standard.
Pros More passenger and cargo space than most competitors offer Above-average capabilities off-road and in bad weather conditions Available third-row seating is unique to the segment.
Cons Mediocre acceleration and fuel economy for the segment Only one engine choice Transmission is slow to downshift Cabin is well-made but less luxurious in appearance than rival
