Kia's Sorento has long been a consistent seller in the SUV marketplace, but its body-on-frame chassis and RWD/4WD driveline was a bit of a throwback in a segment where FWD-derived platforms dominate the sales charts. For the 2011 model year, the Sorento switches to a unibody chassis and a FWD/AWD driveline allowing the Kia to market the Sorento as a crossover. The Sorento, which is almost identical in size to the Hyundai Santa Fe, splits the difference in size between the Toyota RAV4 and the Toyota Highlander. With the optional third row, the Sorento can now haul up to seven passengers. The Sorento now equips a more fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine on most models, but a more powerful 3.5L V6 is available on higher trim levels.

The Sorento switches to a unibody chassis and a FWD/AWD driveline. The new model grows by an inch in width and almost 4 inches in length. The longer body allows for an optional third row of seats. The Sorento now equips a more fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine on most models, but a new 3.5L V6 is available on higher trim levels.