Test drive Ford Explorer vs Kia Sorento Prime
Parking a huge crossover in a typical Moscow courtyard with high-rise buildings of the late 1970s is another task.
Parking a Ford Explorer in a typical Moscow courtyard with high-rise buildings from the late 1970s is a challenge. Firstly, you need to find at least six meters of free space, and secondly, deftly tuck these endless sidewalls between parked cars, making sure that you can still get out of the car. Yes, there are rear and even front cameras, and the parking process can also be entrusted to electronics, but you still have to keep track of the corners of the body - it's not even an hour, the car will move a post or a tree.
In a row of any other cars, the Explorer looks like a lump, and after the update - even more massive. No, the dimensions of the SUV have not changed, but the Explorer has got other bumpers and a stylish radiator grill, got large fog lights, which are placed a little higher, new headlights with LED elements - and all this in a single harmonious style. The front of the car now does not split into floors, which makes the stern face seem even more brutal. And in profile, the new car is given out only by other moldings and a pattern of wheel disks.
Explorer perfectly embodies the formula "a lot of cars for relatively little money," and this is a typical American approach. The current fifth-generation car has been produced since 2010, but its modernization has updated it quite well. In any case, it looks cheerful against the background of competitors. The outdated Mitsubishi Pajero, the lighter Nissan Pathfinder, and the new Toyota Highlander, for which they ask for a little more, can be recorded in a number of conditional classmates. Finally, there should be a mighty Kia Mohave on this list, but this car is pretty late on the market and looks rustic at the current level. Another thing is the new Kia Sorento Prime, which, according to the dealers of both manufacturers, is of interest to those who watch Explorer in parallel. That is, again, he is looking for a large and modern car for a reasonable amount. The well-equipped Sorento Prime in Russia is just replacing the outgoing Mohave - the latter offers almost no choice of engines and equipment, but costs exactly the same.
Formally, the Sorento Prime, which is essentially a product of the evolution of the previous Sorento, is a slightly smaller model. Putting two cars side by side, you immediately notice this: the Sorento has a lower roofline, less ground clearance, and the rounded body shapes after the strict Ford corners form a less defiant image. And although in fact the loss in dimensions is not so significant, and in the cabin there are the same normal seven seats, the Prime is psychologically perceived as a more passenger car, which makes it easier to maneuver in it in cramped conditions. In addition, there is a whole set of cameras of the all-round view system, and the picture on the screen is quite realistic.
If the outside of the Kia looks modern and even purebred, then in terms of the quality of the interior it is generally a different level compared to its predecessor. The interior, with its multifaceted convex surfaces, is well drawn and well assembled, and the materials are of good quality. There were some compromises. For example, the pliable plastic on the upper part of the front panel is stitched with thick threads and gives the impression of soft leather. Another hint of premium is the very decent Infinity audio system that comes with the top version. There are no complaints about the fast media system, the control of which is organized simply and clearly.
Everything is in order here with ergonomics, and the landing turns out to be quite easy - having jumped into the salon, inside you do not feel like a bus driver at all. And how juicy the doors open and slam shut - in terms of tactile and acoustic impressions, the Sorento Prime is really quite close to premium cars. In addition, there are very good seats of the correct shape with adjustable cushion length.
Ford offers a classic off-road riding position like a truck - high, almost vertical and fairly loose. The wide and slippery seat is designed for oversized riders, and will hardly hold tight in fast corners. The pedal assembly is adjustable in height, but this will not make the landing more collected. And there is space around: the passenger sits behind a wide armrest, the second-row seats seem to be somewhere far behind.
The updated devices are beautiful, but smallish - all related information is displayed on color side screens of a modest size. Much more can be seen on the big screen of the console, and it's not the leisurely system that Explorer had before. The graphics are good, but the menu hierarchy is sometimes questionable. But the Americans finally abandoned the awkward touch keys and returned the physical buttons to the console. It all looks modern, but no more - the Explorer's interior is massive, rude in places, but it seems pretty solid.
The same sensations and on the spacious second row, where by changing the shape of the backs of the seats, there is even more space. According to the specs, rear legroom has increased by 36mm, even though it has been ample in the past. Here you can safely put your legs crossed, and the question of whether the ceiling is pressing on your head is not even worth it. The rear passengers have a simple air conditioning system, a 220 V socket and two USB ports at once. The matter is spoiled only by a rather large tunnel of the floor, which the smaller Kia does not have at all. The Korean model may not allow passengers to easily cross their legs, but they will accommodate them no less comfortably and will welcome them with coziness. True, without powerful outlets and a separate "climate".
The third row of the Sorento Prime is not conditional at all, but driving here for a long time is not very pleasant. In addition, in the 7-seater configuration, the trunk turns into a compartment for small items, although it still offers a substantial 320 liters. But you will have to forget about long trips with a big company in Kia. Ford, in turn, leaves almost twice as much space for luggage, and this despite the fact that the third row of the Explorer can be called almost complete. There is enough room for knees here, does not press the ceiling. But if you use the usual formula with folded third-row seats, then in terms of the maximum capacity of the luggage compartments, the cars show almost parity - 1 240 against 1 liters in favor of the Explorer. The rear seats of Ford are transformed with the help of electric drives, and the rear door of Ford is able to open "Volkswagen style", after swinging the foot under the rear bumper. Kia has a similar function, only you don't have to wave - you just need to approach the car from behind and stand there for a couple of seconds. Once you have mastered these useful functions with bags in both hands, you will not want to abandon them.
As befits an American SUV, the Ford Explorer is offered only with gasoline engines, but the 340-horsepower turbo engine is more exotic. The power of the atmospheric "six" with a volume of 3,5 liters is limited to 249 hp, and it cannot be said that this is in excess. The tight, long-stroke accelerator pedal lazily responds to driver commands, and the Explorer feels like it accelerates through force. The six-speed "automatic" switches a little thoughtfully, albeit comfortably, but even in kick-down mode the car makes more noise than it drives. Although the "six" sounds nice, and this cannot be taken away.
Initially, the Sorento Prime was offered in our market only with a 200-horsepower diesel engine, but then the Koreans nevertheless brought a petrol modification - this, they say, was asked by customers who wanted even more premium sensations. And the classic V-shaped "six" with a volume of 3,3 liters gives them to the fullest: the gasoline Sorento starts up juicy, hums pleasantly at idle and makes proper noise when accelerating to the floor. Acceleration is correct and expected: Kia has an easy start from a standstill and responds well to the accelerator, without asking too much help from the automatic transmission, the torque converter works smoothly and quickly.
The asphalt chassis settings are here to the point - on the highway, the Sorento goes clearly, accurately and without swinging. It is pleasant and safe to drive a two-ton car, and the steering wheel is filled with the right weight when cornering. At a reasonable speed, you don't even notice the unevenness, but as soon as you move off the asphalt, everything changes. On the primer, you have to significantly slow down, because the shaking starts quite strongly. Ford is the complete opposite. In corners, the SUV rolls heavily and waddles responds to the driver's commands, although the steering remains quite understandable. It is unpleasant to brake sharply on it - the car nods and fidgets along the lane. But outside the asphalt, you can go for all the money and it is quite comfortable - the rough Ford suspension on the asphalt turns out to be very energy-intensive and quite well insulates the driver from road flaws.
It seems that in terms of cross-country ability, Ford puts a competitor on both blades, but 188 mm of ground clearance is not so much with such a long wheelbase. Explorer kneads the dirt quite tensely, and in unsuitable conditions it can get up at all, since it does not have any additional locks. The Kia driver can meddle on real off-road terrain only where a modest 184 mm of ground clearance is enough. The Sorento axle clutch works quickly, but is afraid of diagonal hanging. Finally, neither one nor the other has serious underbody protection, and the sets of plastic protective elements are almost the same.
After the update, the Ford Explorer has risen in price and is now sold for at least $ 40. But it makes sense to start with the $ 122 Limited trim. with normal power accessories and a strong set of service functions. The petrol Kia Sorento Prime even in the top-of-the-range Premium trim is sold for $ 40. and it is also equipped very well, but it looks more premium and modern. Another thing is that Ford is much larger and, accordingly, more comfortable. But you have to pay for it in parking lots in city blocks.
