The raves lavished on the all-new Kia Sorento were astonishing. People really like the look – inside and out – of this midsize SUV. From a styling standpoint, the Sorento is quite impressive, but on a 450-mile plus test drive that included expressway driving, gravel roads, and curvy highways, the vehicle revealed a few not-so-great attributes. The most notable was the steering – it’s just not very responsive. It has too much ‘dead space,’ but for those who want a vehicle that can tow, a bit of steering dead space is acceptable – and probably desirable. (Sorento can tow up to 3,500 pounds, and it’s pre-wired for trailer lights.) Another gripe: the braking requires a deep dig to achieve an immediate response. Sorento is packed with a number of pluses: eight cup holders, standard 16-inch wheels, underbody-mounted full-size spare tire, attractive audio display, 3-point seatbelts for all occupants, rear cargo cover, tie-down hooks, 8-way adjustment for the driver’s seat, and storage under the passenger seat. Option list on the Sorento 4x4 LX model includes antilock brakes ($520) and roof rack ($190). Sorento is available in two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive. Power is via a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 192 horsepower. Mile per gallon estimates for the 4x4 version with four-speed automatic transmission are 15 city/18 highway. MSRP is $21,300.