Consumer Reports ranks the Kia Sorento third among small, midsize SUVs

The 2011 Kia Sorento EX V6 now ranks third in the Consumer Reports ratings for small and midsize SUVs.

Having earned an “excellent” overall score of 82 in recent tests, the Sorento trails only the Subaru Forester 2.5XT and the Toyota RAV4 V6. The magazine notes that the Sorento has a very firm ride and that the six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly.

Consumer Reports also tested four other SUVs in the same category. The Hyundai Santa Fe Limited V6 earned an 80, the Hyundai Sante Fe four-cylinder GLS scored 73, the Honda CR-V scored 76 and the Hyundai Tucson got a 70.

The Sorento and the Tucson are not recommended by the magazine as they are too new to have reliability data.

By Izzi Bendall