The Sorento model from Kia is a mid-sized crossover SUV that was released in 1999. The car has a sleek and modern design, which sets it apart from other SUVs on the market. It comes with an impressive list of features such as heated front seats, panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, navigation system, infotainment system and many more.
But Can It Overland?
The description above makes the Kia Sorento seem like the soccer mom dream, but there is more to it than that. Features that make the Sorento more than capable as an off road and overland vehicle.
All Wheel Drive
No, it does not have a low range gear box, but the Sorento does have all wheel drive and it is more than capable of handling what the average overlander will throw at it. If you are looking for something to do some hard core off roading like you see on TV, no it is not up to the task.
That being said, most beginner overlanders think that they will be spending most of their time on the trail, but this is no the case. Most of your time will be on the highway, meaning the Kia AWD system is just fine for most people.
Storage
With seating for 7, the Sorento has plenty of room for all of your crew and gear. Fold the third row seats down and you will likely have all the room you need. If that is not enough, the roof rack, included on most models, will take up the slack.
Towing
For a small size SUV, the Sorento does well with towing. Get the V6 and you can tow up to 3500 pounds.
Warranty
As an original owner, you will get a warranty that is up to 100,000 miles. For second owners and beyond the warranty goes down to 60,000 miles, still very attractive. On top of that, the Kia has an extensive dealer network, meaning that repairs n the road should not be a problem.
Price
A used Kia Sorento AWD can easily be found for under 20,000 dollars with low mileage. If you are willing to accept higher miles, you can expect to pay closer to 10,000. A higher mileage vehicle might be the best bet for overlanders on the budget and the good news is that most of these vehicles will have been driven lightly. Although the Sorento can go off road, they have rarely seen off road abuse.
Building Your Off Road Capable Kia
If you take the plunge, on a Sorento, you can build it a lot of different ways, but most builds should probably start with storage and recovery.
Storage
While there is plenty of interior storage space, some gear is best left kept outside and that means a roof rack. There are plenty of off the shelf racks that will work and they will set you back roughly 200 dollars.
Recovery
No, you are not going to find bumpers for your overland Sorento, but that does not mean that you should not install a recovery point. The best way to do that is with a trailer hitch. There are plenty of trailer hitches available for the Sorento that simply bolt on. Choose a 2 inch receiver and purchase a tow hook or shackle mount to go with it.
Lights
Lighting is always important in overlanding, especially in setting up a camp late at night. Invest in some high quality lights and get creative with the mounting. The easiest option is to mount your lights to your roof rack so that you can easily adjust the angle to the front or to the side.
Other Gear
Beyond that, there is not much more that you can do with the Sorento to make it overland ready. No skid plates, bumpers, gears or lift kits, unless you go full on custom. That being said, there is no point for most overlanders. Address the storage, lighting and recovery and you should have a very capable little Kia to tour the country in.
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