Driving Sports

“Thank you Jesus for KIA” reads the hand-lettered sign on a tidy front lawn in West Point, Georgia. That sentiment is shared wholeheartedly by residents throughout this small rural town on the Georgia/Alabama border.

Before Kia entered a partnership with the Georgia state government to build a billion-dollar factory complex here, the town was just another dying  southern community. The West Point/Pepperell textile mill had closed down some years ago, shipping those family wage jobs overseas, and there was little expectation of a new employer to replace it.

The Kia installation is the single largest investment ever made in the history of Georgia, and when it’s running at full capacity, will employ 2,500 Kia workers, 7,500 direct supplier employees, and more than 20,000 additional jobs are likely to be created to support those auto workers. That’s a new lease on life for a region that’s had precious little growth for too long. Thank you Jesus, indeed.

One side note: at the cafeteria inside the factory you can get both collard greens and kim chee for lunch. Join me now in a rousing chorus of "It's a small world after all."

The KMMG (Kia Motors Manufacturing Group) facility will formally open its production line this month with the new 2010 Sorento crossover utility vehicle. Like the factory itself, the all-new Sorento is a breakthrough for the Korean automaker. Long known for budget-minded basic transportation, Kia has launched a entirely new line of cars in the last 12 months designed to reposition the brand for style, luxury, and performance, without sacrificing the company’s reputation for value and affordability.

The new CUV takes over after four years of the previous model to bear the Sorento name, but it’s an all-new vehicle. From the advanced chassis to the engine and drivetrain, the new Sorento sets a fresh standard for Kia.

On the press introduction for the Sorento, we were treated to a tour of the KMMG factory. Starting with the giant rolls of sheet steel being unloaded at one end of the 650-acre manufacturing center, we toured the cutting and stamping operations, watched as robots welded the chassis pieces into a shell, learned about the 5-layer sealing and painting process, and watched as the new Kia employees assembled the Sorento using state of the art “Just in Time” manufacturing processes pioneered by Toyota. Finally, we watched the finished cars go through several quality inspections before they were driven out for on-road testing.

The cars we watched being built in late October will be available for sale at Kia dealers nationwide by the end of the year, but we got to drive some of them through the Georgia countryside so we could tell you exactly why you need to test drive the new Sorento if you’re in the market for a CUV.

You need to test drive the Sorento because it will change your opinion about Kia. Like last year’s Borrego, Kia has brought the Sorento up to premium vehicle standards for luxury and driving experience, but kept the bargain price tag. The new Sorento starts at less than $20,000 (so says Kia - look for about $19,995) for a 4-cylinder, 6-speed manual transmission 2WD version. The basic Sorento will also include air conditioning and a nice stereo, so if you live in the sun belt and you like a manual trans, this could be a good choice for you.

Moving up the price range, you can get an automatic trans, AWD, and a V6 engine. The new Sorento will top out at about $30,000 fully equipped. We drove the fully equipped version with a backup camera, navigation, hill descent and ascent control, Bluetooth phone support and a top-drawer Infinity audio system with iPod support. The top version also has leather heated seats, three rows of seating, sunroof, and everything you ever wanted in a nice SUV. Honestly, the new Sorento compares favorably to the European brands costing tens of thousands of dollars more.

The driving experience in the Sorento will really change your impression of Kia. The cabin is deliciously quiet, allowing you to enjoy the Infinity stereo, the steering wheel is fully adjustable and telescoping, the controls are laid out well and are large enough to use while driving. And when I realized that I needed a little more lumbar support, I reached down and sure enough, there it was.

Going down the highway in a drenching Georgia thunderstorm, the Sorento was solid and sure-footed on the road. The 170 horsepower 4-cylinder version did not feel anemic, but spent a lot of time in the higher end of its range. Kia says that the Sorento will deliver 21/29 MPG with this engine. But Kia’s new 3.5-liter V6 brings 273 horsepower to the Sorento, and Kia says this drivetrain will get you 20/28 MPG, so our recommendation is to spend the extra money and get the V6.

The AWD system is full-time and you’ll only know it’s there when you drive right through weather that would challenge a less capable vehicle. We forded more than a few flooded spots on the highways and byways of western Georgia without a care. If you live in the 80% of the United States that sees winter weather, you’ll want AWD on your Sorento.

Right now, 1,200 people are working one shift a day making the Sorento at the Georgia plant. When the factory is at full capacity, 2,500 people will be making three different Kia models on three separate lines, with room to grow the facility in the future. That’s a positive sign for the auto industry in America, and a whole new chapter for the people of West Point, Georgia. Why not stop in at your local Kia dealer and check out what they’re doing?