As the Kia brand has been changing direction for a more European ethos, one car stands apart. The Sorento SUV has a distinctly more American flavor, and we’ve been driving it around Cheshire to sample it.
Chunky. What is it?
This is essentially Kia’s flagship model and the most expensive car it sells, the seven-seat Sorento SUV in top specification KX-4 trim.
So what’s new?
Aside from the obvious, huge improvement in the looks department, the new Sorento is all about the space.
It’s nearly four inches longer than the old car, but more than three-quarters of that is between the wheels. This gives it a huge boost in cabin room, which is useful as the Sorento is a seven-seater. Extra luggage room is helpful too, as cars like this can often suffer with trunk space when the back row is up.
Kia’s also paid attention to the tech, to make the Sorento a genuinely competitive prospect.
It looks a bit… ‘comfy’?
It’s certainly true that the Sorento isn’t the last word in dynamism. You’re certainly not going to hustle it down a back road – there’s quite a lot of give in the car’s damping which, in combination with the weight and height means a decent chunk of body roll.
Not that you’ll want to, of course. In the UK we’re only able to get the Sorento with a 197 hp, 2.2-liter diesel, which is adequate but not a performance motor. Hopefully Kia will introduce something with a bit more poke, like the 3-liter V6 diesel used elsewhere, but that’d probably see figures drop from 42.8mpg (imperial) combined.
The size of the Kia isn’t conducive to spirited driving either, as it’s not only longer than the old car but wider too. On a British country road you’ll be breathing in when a box van heads the opposite way. That probably hurts some of its family-friendly credentials too, as the school run can be quite a crowded affair – the Sorento may simply not fit, at least here in Europe.
The Sorento’s strength is indeed the calm ride and the overall sense of relaxation. A big pothole will cause a fuss, more so on this grade with the 19-inch wheels, but otherwise the big Kia is as relaxed over most surfaces as anything that doesn’t have a premium badge on the nose. For that matter it’s no worse than most of the premium brand efforts either.
It’s probably most comfortable on the motorway. There’s plenty of torque for overtaking, and it’ll lope along at highway speeds without much of a murmur from the diesel engine. You may find there’s some chatter from the wing mirrors at higher speeds, but largely the noise is controlled well.
But what about the toys?
Well, this is the top grade KX-4, so Kia has thrown everything it can at the Sorento.
It starts even before you get in. It has keyless entry, which even extends to the power tailgate. This is paired to a keyless start system. You’ll also find privacy glass and electronic folding door mirrors. Although the headlights aren’t LED units, they do have an adaptive main beam system.
Every Sorento from the KX-2 grade and up has standard black leather interior upholstery. This car gets heated and cooled front seats, with an electronic 10-way adjustable driver seat and eight-way on the passenger side. The rear outer seats are heated too, which is a nice touch.
There’s an eight-inch color touchscreen for the navigation system, with Bluetooth compatibility and DAB digital radio. The screen will also display the parking camera image, which is a 360º, around-view image knitted together from cameras around the car. There’s parking sensors too, just in case the cameras aren’t enough to avoid objects. Or you can rely on the smart park assist system to do it for you.
With adaptive cruise control and dual-zone automatic climate control too, there’s nothing you’d really that’s need missing from the spec sheet.
Who’s going to buy this?
The Sorento is a big, relatively inexpensive, seven-seat family car. The target buyer is always going to be someone with a family beyond the usual couple of children, or someone used to ferrying not only their kids but someone else’s too.
It has some considerable appeal as a five-seater too. The boot is big for a seven, but huge in five-seat configuration, so those with a more reasonable number of offspring but in need of a whole load of space might want to put this on the shopping list too.
What else might they buy instead?
The most obvious alternative is the Sorento’s sibling, the Hyundai Santa Fe. It’s an older design, with less space and fewer amenities though, so it’s a fight the Sorento should win.
Beyond that, the biggest rival will be Skoda’s new Kodiaq, which is a budget Audi Q5 — and the Q5 itself would be a fair rival too. Elsewhere there’s the Volvo XC90 D5, the Nissan X-Trail and the Land Rover Discovery Sport.
What’s the result?
Ultimately, the Sorento is big, soft, comfortable seven-seat SUV, with plenty to recommend it. It’s not going to set any pulses racing with point-to-point action, but it is endearing and good looking.
When it comes to dedicated seven-seaters, there are better cars. For outright refinement, equipment and luxury, you’ll find others to beat it. It wouldn’t be hard to find a car that handles better, or one with a more potent drivetrain either. Whatever alternative you pick though, you’re almost always going to have to spend a lot more money just to make sure you’ve equalled the Sorento in every department.
The lack of pace might be a deal-breaker for some, but that aside it’s a very compelling car.
Verdict:
Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDI KX-4
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