2011 Kia Sorento Receives IIHS Top Safety Pick

The 2011 Sorento compact utility vehicle has been recognized as a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Kia announced today. The CUV will be joining the 2010 Forte compact sedan and 2010 Soul urban passenger vehicle as top safety picks. The Sorento earned “Good” ratings, which is the highest achievable, in frontal, side, rear and rollover impact crash safety tests.

The 2011 Sorento is fitted with numerous standard safety equipment, including driver and passenger advanced front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags and front active headrests, four-wheel Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), as well as with Hill Start Assist Control.

“In addition to offering consumers outstanding quality, appealing new design, comfort and value, the Kia brand is first and foremost committed to providing the highest levels of passenger safety,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of Kia Motors America (KMA). “The 2011 Sorento is an example of Kia’s ongoing and rapid vehicle expansion, demonstrating that buyers can have an affordable, well-equipped and attractive CUV without sacrificing impressive levels of crash protection.”

The CUV, which went on-sale in early-January, was the first vehicle to roll off the line at Kia’s new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia.

Available in LX en EX trims, and soon in the SX, the 2011 Sorento is offered with a choice of two engine configurations, namely a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine outputting 172 horsepower and a 3.5-liter V6 engine that develops 273 horsepower, both mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.