Are you searching for your next car and thinking about a mid-size crossover? The Jeep Wrangler® Unlimited and Kia Sorento are two of the most popular SUVs on the market today.
Are you considering either a Kia Sorento or a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited? Keep reading to see what to expect and which vehicle best fits your needs.
The Sorento is one of Kia's more popular SUV models and is known for its large seat size, including its rear third row, which makes it ideal for urban life and suburban driving. The Sorento was redesigned in 2020, which revealed a totally different exterior, including a redone rear.
The Kia Sorento has three main engine and powertrain options to choose from. The standard engine is an inline, 4-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive and 191 net horsepower at 6,100 rpm and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Higher trim levels of the Kia Sorento come with an eight-speed, dual-shift transmission.
However, you can upgrade to the Kia Sorento to either a turbo 4-cylinder engine with all-wheel drive at 281 horsepower at 5,800 rpm for some extra speed and performance, or choose from an electric-assisted or plug-in hybrid engine, at 227 and 261 horsepower, respectively.
The Kia Sorento models with 4-cylinder engines that makes exclusive use of gasoline fuel to enjoy an average of 24 to 26 mpg for city and highway driving. The hybrid 4-cylinder engine models boast a 34 mpg combined average rating for the all-wheel drive models and 37 mpg for the front-wheel drive variant.
The Kia Sorento comes standard with many helpful driver-assistance features to keep you safe on the road. This includes forward-collision and lane departure warning systems, a lane-keeping driver-assist feature, and automatic emergency braking when the vehicle senses a collision.
The interior of the Kia Sorento is ?designed to make it easy to move lots of people around in ?comfort and style. ?A standard 8-inch touchscreen can be upgraded to a 10.3-inch ?infotainment system. The Kia Sorento also offers rear privacy glass, heated side view mirrors, and heated steering.
Wireless charging pads and an upgraded 12-speaker premium Bose® sound system ?can add to the party for long road trips. The second row of seats in the Kia Sorento can be optionally changed to captain's chairs to give your passengers in the rear a bit more hip room.
One of the main selling points of the Kia Sorento is the fact that it has a ton of third-row legroom. Each seat has an ample amount of headroom as well, which means that whether you're transporting people or cargo in the third row, you won't be short on space or leg room in the rear.
Several storage cubbies are both easy to access in the Sorento but stored on the floor or under each seat to reduce their overall profile and maximize the amount of cabin space. The third row can also be folded down to expand the total amount of legroom and storage space.
The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the four-door version of the Wrangler and comes with a great history behind it. As the primary successor of the original Jeeps built for the Army during the Second World War, the Jeep Wrangler carries a legacy long after the war was won.
With up to 470 pounds-feet of net torque to handle towing up to 3,500 pounds, there's no workload that the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited can't handle.
The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is known for its customization potential. While the Wrangler comes standard with a six-cylinder engine, there are a variety of engine options available at each trim level that can get you the RPM you need to tow, transport, and travel.
These include hybrid-assisted four and six-cylinder engines, diesel-powered six-cylinder and V8 engines, and the plug-in hybrid 4xe model that makes use of an inline four combined with a fully electric powertrain. For those that drive a manual, the V6 engine can be equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission.
The gasoline fuel-powered engines range in their fuel efficiency ratings between an average of 14 mpg city and highway combined for the V8 four-wheel drive Wranglers up to 23 mpg for the 4-cylinder engine for both the Unlimited and Sport Jeep Wrangler. The diesel engines boast similar average ratings of 23 and 25 mpg combined for the V6 engine.
The real winner here is the new version of the Wrangler 4xe, which has a combined gas and electric 49 mpg-e. The electric battery can keep the car going for an extra 22 miles on an empty tank, which can be a lifesaver if you're off-roading or otherwise far from home. It makes use of a 32 amps charger and can be charged at most electric vehicle charging stations.
All models of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited can be upgraded with optional safety features that can help reduce the risk of a collision. This includes rear blindspot monitoring, forward collision monitoring, and automatic braking, automatic high-beam headlights, more.
A driver head airbag is standard, as is a head airbag for the passenger. Seat-mounted, side-impact airbags also protect your passengers in case of a collision.
One of the best features of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is that you can choose to remove the doors and roof for more air and shoulder room or headroom or leave it covered with a soft top instead.
Cloth seats are standard, but luxury add-ons, like leather seats, keyless entry, and a large 8.4-inch touchscreen NAV system, are all available for a little extra money on top of the MSRP. Heated steering and heated seats are also available to help you handle the winter months.
One of the main selling points of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the ability to upgrade your vehicle with offroading packages, including 35-inch tires and a higher wheelbase, that allows you to handle all sorts of rough ground. Beyond tackling the trails, this will also make it easier for your Wrangler to handle snowy and rainy weather in the city.
The optional 35-inch tire package also upgrades the suspension system for the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. The upgraded suspension helps handle the rough ground, and the package comes with MOPAR® parts, including the tailgate reinforcement system and oversized spare tire modification kit, which is well worth the addition to the MSRP.
Interested in taking your next car out on a test drive? Contact our team at Landmark Dodge® Chrysler® Jeep Ram at 816-836-0100 or visit our website today to schedule a test drive and learn more about our available financing options to help you find a vehicle payment you're happy with.
