SEOUL, Feb 24 — Kia Motors Corporation’s Sorento has been named the best sport utility vehicle (SUV) model in the mid-size segment by a major United States (US) consumer review magazine, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported, citing the company’s website today. 

Consumer Reports announced the best vehicles in 10 segments by evaluating their product quality, performance, safety and other features related to customer satisfaction.

The Sorento was the only South Korean car model included on the list.

“The Sorento offers class-above elegance at mainstream prices. It’s a shade smaller than its midsized competitors, but that allows the Sorento to be city-friendly while still offering the space and features of a larger vehicle,” the review said.

“The interior design is flat-out gorgeous. Well-above-average predicted reliability combines with good crash-test results. There’s a new king of the category,” it added.

The Sorento was recognised as the best car by the US magazine for the second time after it was ranked first in 2011.

Kia Motors launched the latest version of the Sorento in the US in January 2015. It sold about 116,000 units last year thanks to strong demand boosted in part by low oil prices, industry data showed. — Bernama