The 2006 model year marked the final year for the debut generation of Kia’s midsize SUV, the Sorento. In the following year, Kia slightly changed the inside and outside of the SUV and gave it a boost in power. The 2006 Sorento came standard with an eight-speaker audio system with a CD player, and had a 10-speaker option available, as well. Replacing the Sorento’s stereo is a fairly straightforward task; the hardest part is knowing what panels you need to remove.
Pry around the perimeter of the center side panels -- the two panels on either side of the radio -- with a flat-head screwdriver to disengage their retaining clips. Remove the center side panels.
Remove the eight screws securing the radio bezel -- the plastic trim surrounding the radio -- with a Phillips screwdriver.
Unfasten the four screws securing the radio with a Phillips screwdriver and pull the radio from the dashboard until you can reach the wiring on its rear. Press and hold the unlock button on each of the wiring harnesses and unplug each harness from the radio. Pull the antenna wire from the radio.
Plug the wiring harnesses into their respective receptacles on the rear of the Sorento’s radio -- each harness has a different size, so you can only install them one way. Slide the radio into its chassis in the dashboard. Tighten the radio’s retaining screws with a Phillips screwdriver.
Set the radio bezel in place around the radio and tighten its eight retaining screws with a Phillips screwdriver.
Line up the retaining clips on the rear of one of the center side panels with the slots in the dashboard. Press the center side panel onto the dashboard until the clips snap into place. Repeat this step on the other center side panel.
