The sincerest form flattery is imitation.
As you drive through Moab’s off-road trails, you will likely see a bunch of Jeeps that can tackle steep inclines with ease. You won’t usually see a 2019 Kia Sorento tackling one of the most difficult off-road treks – Hell’s Gate. With its family-friendly exterior and poor approach to departure angles, it looks a little out of place. The YouTube channel autoedit didn’t stop it from trying to conquer Hell’s Gate with a Kia.
Modifications were made but not extensive. Stock wheels received BFGoodrich KO2 all terrain tires. This is a significant upgrade. The trail’s hardest section was not upgraded with a skid plate to protect the oil pan. The sway bars became disconnected during the climb up Hell’s Gate. You can make off-road success a lot easier by having some experienced off-road drivers spot and take control of the vehicle.
The Kia is gangly creeping up Hell’s Gate, looking like a newborn giraffe, slowly finding its feet. The first time it stumbles, the rear bumper is pushed off to the side, causing the car to lose its balance. Slowly, the Sorento climbs, with tires spinning and smoking to try to gain traction. It eventually reaches Hell’s Gate looking professional.
This is the ultimate test for a crossover such as this. The Sorento would rather wait in line outside schools to pick up the children than be waiting. The Sorento will not be stopped by the apocalypse if it decides to block its path to the youth soccer match. You’ll be fine if you add the skid plate and keep an extra set of off-road tires in your garage. Also, disconnect the sway bars.