2015 Kia Sorento

Most of Kia's lineup has found its place in the market after being revamped in transformation ways—the brand's Optima and Forte sedans, for example—but the trajectory has been quite different for the Kia Sorento mid-size crossover. It's instead been on more of a constant-improvement plan, with almost every year bringing a new set of incremental changes that now make this one of the best-updated models in its class.

The 2015 Kia Sorento does get some minor changes, although admittedly it's not quite the extensive makeover inside and under the hood that the Sorento received last year, when this model got a much-upgraded interior, improved refinement, and new engines, with about 80 percent of the parts redesigned or new.

Inside, the classy cabin look and feel took a big step in an elegant new direction--one that's now been reiterated in the new Cadenza and K900 sedans. Although its sheetmetal looks essentially the same as it has for the past several years, the Sorento's interior feels fresh and contemporary. It's been relieved of most of the inexpensive-looking plastics that worked well enough for the past few years, and covered in finer, soft-touch materials, polished off with thin, spare metallic trim.

There are some exceptions on the outside. For 2015, the Sorento gets a somewhat different grille design, with either an anodized silver-metal or black mesh look; the lower valance also has been opened up and gets a cross-hatched look, while LED front lamps and projector headlamps have a new look and the available fog lamps have been pushed farther out to the corners.

Most 2015 Sorento models are powered by an all-aluminum 3.3-liter GDI V-6, making 290 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque. A 191-hp, 2.4-liter GDI four-cylinder engine is standard, but likely to be rare--and rightly so, since the V-6 almost matches it on gas mileage, and far outpoints it in pure power. The Sorento delivers its power to the road with the help of a well-sorted six-speed automatic transmission; it's either configured with front-wheel drive or with an enhanced torque-vectoring version of the all-wheel-drive system. The Sorento gets speed-sensitive electric power steering that on some trims is driver-adjustable through a range of three modes (Comfort, Normal, and Sport), to nominal effect. With a more rigid body structure, a front strut-tower brace, and a new independent front suspension with an H-shaped sub-frame cradle--plus new bushings for the multi-link rear suspension--Kia made some major advances in ride quality and responsiveness with last year's revamp.

The 2015 Kia Sorento comes in four versions: LX, EX, SX, and SX-L. LX models are offered in four-cylinder or