People sure love their power, especially SUV buyers. They like a healthy engine to boost around all that extra curb weight. Kia, in the past, had heard this cry several times: Such and such car is too slow, so and so is sluggish off the line…

Not anymore. With the 2006 Kia Sorento’s new 3.8-liter V6 engine that produces 262 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with shift mode. The new powertrain setup has a tow rating of 5,000-pounds. Underneath, the Sorento comes with standard 16-inch wheels (17-inch wheels available), supporting a body-on-frame construction and a double wishbone front suspension and a five-link solid rear axle. A long wheelbase (106.7 inches) and wide track (62.2 inches) should likely provide a comfortable ride and excellent stability in all driving situations. The 2007 Sorento is available in both two-wheel- and four-wheel-drive configurations. In the two-wheel-drive version, power is directed to the rear wheels, while the 4WD offering includes a part-time or a Torque-on-Demand automatic full-time four-wheel-drive system, depending upon the option package. The part-time four-wheel-drive system engages with the turn of a knob for convenient shift-on-the-fly operation and has a transfer case equipped with a low range for the most challenging off-road situations. The full-time automatic Torque-On-Demand four-wheel-drive system, also with a low range, is available on the EX trim level as part of the Luxury Package.