When production of the 2012 Kia Sorento kicked off in May at the automaker’s manufacturing facility in West Point, Ga., it brought with it two impressive upgrades for the new model year: A new 2.4-liter gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine and a dramatic increase in residual value.
According to KIA Sorento Milford 2011, the former comes courtesy of Kia engineers, who incorporated the new technology into a responsive powerplant that now offers both the most horsepower and the best fuel economy in the Sorento’s class. The bottom line for the 2012 Sorento: 191 hp and 32 mpg highway. And actually, that’s just one of the changes coming for Kia’s best-selling model, which also will offer power-folding mirrors, a power-adjustable passenger seat with memory, a ventilated driver’s seat, a heated and wood-trimmed steering wheel, and Kia’s new Microsoft-powered hands-free infotainment and communications system—UVO.
As a direct result of these enhancements, the ’12 Sorento also gained 10 points in residual value according to ALG, one of the industry’s premier providers of auto-related data. The Sorento is now expected to retain 58 percent of its original MSRP after 36 months of ownership, one of the highest ratings in the compact crossover segment.
“With gas prices above $4 per gallon in many parts of the country, fuel economy has become an even more important element in consumers’ decision-making process when considering a new car, and the Kia Sorento’s all-new GDI engine delivers increased horsepower, lower emissions and outstanding fuel efficiency,” said Tom Loveless, vice president of sales, Kia Motors America (KMA). “Kia’s value proposition has never been stronger, and with Sorento’s high residual value rating by ALG, buyers can benefit from higher resale values and excellent leasing options.”
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