Now in its third generation, the Kia Sorento has evolved into a respectable mid-size crossover, offering a softer ride compared to the body-on-frame SUV it originally resembled fifteen years ago. To showcase the 2019 Sorento’s off-road capabilities, Kia took it on the renowned Hell’s Revenge off-road trail in Moab, Utah. Was this a risky strategy or a brilliant one?
The automaker made minimal modifications to prepare the unibody crossover for this challenging adventure: just a skid plate and some robust all-terrain tires distinguish this Sorento from its showroom counterparts. Driver Richard Mick also chose to disconnect the sway bars to enhance articulation and traction.
While Hell’s Revenge may not be the most formidable trail in the Moab area, its 6.5 miles of steep inclines present enough of a challenge for most standard SUVs. It’s not unusual to see a vehicle ill-suited for the terrain—for instance, there’s a viral video of a Ford Crown Victoria navigating the slickrock path—but the trail also includes several optional obstacles for the adventurous, like a daunting climb known as Hell’s Gate.
The Kia Sorento utilizes Dynamax Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, a sophisticated torque-based system similar to those used by many other automakers. This technology directs power to the wheels with the best traction, and an onboard computer predicts and adjusts power distribution based on road conditions and vehicle performance. While effective for maintaining grip on slick surfaces, adapting to a rugged rock-crawling environment presents a much greater challenge.
Remarkably, despite sustaining some minor bumper damage, the Sorento successfully navigates Hell’s Gate. While the presence of a skilled off-road driver certainly helps, it’s truly impressive that a unibody crossover can achieve such feats. Now, it’s time to see if the speculated full-size SUV from Kia can rise to the challenge as well.
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