Kia Sorento works for those on the go, on the snow

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- Over the years, I've test driven a lot of Kia Sorento sport-utility vehicles -- all of them enjoyable.

So when I was handed the keys to the 2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro SX-Prestige 2.5T AWD, I figured the lengthy name alone would keep me busy with the owner's manual. The folks at Kia insisted that the Sorento was not only easy on the eyes, but easy to master. (They were right.)

They did have one other suggestion, however: Take it to the snow.

Good call.  Besides its rugged outdoor looks, the tester was equipped to tackle the wintry roadways with effortless ease.  Enjoyable?  Absolutely.

What makes it go in the snow?  Let me count the ways: ice-breaking all-terrain tires, all-wheel drive of course, a 4,500-pound towing capacity, big-boy bumpers, snow mode drive and a suite of off-road hardware inside and out -- all to be enjoyed from heated seats and a Bose premium audio system.

Kia rightfully touts the civilized off-pavement characteristics of this Sorento, but its everyday charms are evident on the paved surfaces.

Power is provided by a 2.5-liter turbo-4 engine rated at 281 horsepower and 311 foot-pounds of torque.  It's a more-than-willing engine, off-road and on. Handling on the tester was one-hand easy, and I found the turning radius tight in favor of the driver.

The sticker on the tested model was $49,400, and that included a long list of customer-pleasing features, including dual automatic climate control, an easy-to-see/use panoramic display screen, collision-avoidance assist, a smart power liftgate, smart cruise control, forward collision-avoidance and lane-keeping assist.

Fuel mileage is pretty fair at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

Overall: Whether you're on snow or bone-dry pavement, this Sorento competes well in the midsize crossover SUV segment.