In 2003, Kia introduced the midsize Sorento SUV, which for a while replaced the Sportage, which had been the brand’s only sport utility since the South Korean automaker arrived in the United States in the mid-’90s.

The Sportage two years later was reintroduced as a compact crossover, and remains in the Kia lineup.

But the Sorento has racked up much-better sales, and that continues this year. Kia had sold 26,011 of the Sorento through March, compared with 9,888 of the smaller Sportage.

There was no 2010 model for the U.S. market, but a completely redesigned Sorento went on sale in early 2010 as a 2011 model, based on the architecture of the Hyundai Santa Fe.

It was the first product to come out of the new Kia factory in West Point, Ga., which now also builds the Santa Fe on the same assembly line.

With the remake, the Sorento switched from a truck-style body-on-frame configuration to a crossover unibody design that offers more interior space, with room for up to seven passengers or 72.5 cubic feet of cargo (with the second and third row seats folded). It also has a more comfortable ride.

The exterior was all new, with Kia design cues such as wraparound headlights lined up to the sporty grille (in a nice, friendly grin).

For 2012, prices range from $21,250 (plus $800 freight) for the base front-wheel-drive model with a 2.4-liter, 175-horsepower engine and six-speed manual transmission, to $34,850 for the fully loaded, V6 powered SX all-wheel-drive model, which I tested.

But the LX is the first trim level to get an automatic transmission. The LX with the four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic begins at $23,150 with front-wheel drive, and $25,350 with all-wheel drive. With a V6 engine, the LX is either $24,950 (front drive) or $26,650 (all-wheel drive).

EX models, the midlevel trim, begin at $25,950 with a four-cylinder engine, automatic and front drive, and $27,650 with all-wheel drive. With a V6, the EX starts at $27,950. The SX starts at $33,150 with front drive.

Multiple options and options packages are available for each model.

The Sorento SX comes in five elegant colors: Bright Silver (light gray), Titanium Silver (dark gray), Ebony Black, Snow White Pearl and Dark Cherry (nearly black). Leather seats are standard on the SX, in either black or Black Dove.

My SX AWD came with chrome roof racks, grille trim and tailgate accent; 18-inch, 10-spoke mirror-finish alloy wheels; dual chrome-tipped exhaust outlets; chrome door handles and lower window trim; stainless-steel trim on the rear bumper step pad and lower rear bumper, the lower front bumper and the illuminated sill plates; body-color power/folding outside mirrors with jewel-like turn-signal indicators on the rear of the housing; and a rear spoiler.

Raptor-like fog lights were set in a honeycomb housing, echoing the grille and large wraparound taillights with faceted LEDs, which added a nice look to the rear.

My Kia was fun and easy to drive, with lots of power (Kia calls it “The Power to Surprise”). Handling was responsive and secure, thanks to features like antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control, and downhill brake/hill-start assist control.

The 3.5-liter V6 engine delivered 276 horsepower and 248 foot-pounds of torque. The six-speed automatic transmission (with manual-shift feature) shifted smoothly.

Inside, the SX was very comfortable, with just-right thigh support; power heated/cooled driver’s seat with lumbar support; tilt/telescopic, leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel with controls for the audio system, Bluetooth wireless devices, and cruise control; and dual-zone climate control with an ionized air filter. The driver’s seat and outside mirror also had memory settings.

The cruise control was easy to use, and the included navigation system (with Sirius Traffic and rearview-camera display) was exceptional — easy to program and to follow with precise directions and easy-to-read map.

The excellent Infinity Surround Sound audio system shared the touch screen with the navigation system and was easy to program using either “old school” buttons and knobs or the touch screen. A USB port, an auxiliary input jack and an iPod connection were located under the center of the dash, along with two 12-volt outlets.

The trip computer features a trip meter, odometer, and information regarding fuel remaining (18.5 gallon tank), range (miles until empty) and current average mileage (22 mpg in my case, with multiple short stop-and-go trips near home).

An ECO indicator alerts the driver when achieving optimum fuel economy, to help adjust driving habits to stretch the time between fill-ups. EPA ratings for the V6 with all-wheel drive are 18 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway. The 2.4 liter with manual transmission is rated at 20/27 and seats five; the 2.4-liter with six-speed automatic is 22/32.

Five passengers can sit comfortably in the front and middle seats, and two additional can fit in the third seat, if necessary, but that seat is quite small and is probably good only for children or very short trips. The second row seatbacks fold and recline in a 60/40 configuration using a lever on the top of the seatback. I found the folding process a little awkward as the seatbacks (and the passenger seat) were heavy, and there was no power-assist. The front seats need to be pulled forward some to allow enough room for the second row to fold flat.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2012 Sorento a “Good” overall rating for safety — the highest — making the vehicle a Top Safety Pick.

Total price of the tester was $37,200, including freight and options.

2012 Kia Sorento

Base price: $21,250

As tested: $37,200

Type: Front-wheel and all-wheel drive crossover SUV

Engine: Options range from a four-cylinder 2.4 liter, 175-horsepower engine to a fully loaded V6

Mileage: 18-22 mpg city, 24-32 mpg highway