Available as a 5 or 7-seater, KIA's flagship, all-wheel drive machine, has grown in length - but more importantly the wheelbase is longer too. This means there's more interior space and legroom for all, plus a revision of how the seats fold. Access to the very rear of the 1.8 tonne machine has improved, but getting there is still best left to the more agile and youthful.
Outside, Sorento is greatly improved. The new styling features a more up-market look with a smart new grill, some nice sculpting along the flanks and a tidy rear end that could be mistaken for a Ford Kuga or similar machine.
Inside the cabin, Sorento offers a greater level of refinement and the ergonomics are pretty good. Sat Nav is now standard for Ireland. Our high-spec test cars demonstrated all the gadgetry you would expect to be available these days like auto parking, surround view monitoring, adaptive cruise control, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats and even a USB point for the second row. The second row now has a flat floor area plus the rear seats now 'fold and dive' flat (there is a handy lever that allows you do this from the boot). There is a new 'smart' electronic tailgate that senses the car keys proximity so when you approach the rear of the car it opens the boot automatically (after an audible warning) - you can disable this function too. Boot capacity for the five-seat version is 660-litres (600-litres in the 7-seat with the two seats down) and this rises to 1732-litres with the middle seats down.
Ireland gets an entry-level five-seat 'EX' (€38,995) that will also be modified to become a commercial version (price TBC). The 'Platinum' model is expected to account for 90% of Irish sales and it comes with seven-seats with a €43,995 price tag. Automatic versions cost more - but are ideally suited to Sorento's comfortable ride.
Sorento features a revised, Euro 6, 2.2-litre diesel engine that has 200hp and an impressive 441nm of torque. Depending on the model you can also select different drive modes and steering modes, but they are pretty pointless. A six-speed manual, with quite a long throw, is standard. If you can afford the extra cash the automatic is a better fit. Sorento is far from (and not meant to be) a dynamic handling machine but it can still be hustled along without much fuss. 0-100 km/h takes 9 seconds (9.6 auto), top speed is over 200km/h. Average fuel consumption is quoted at 6.1L/100km (6.7 auto). The centre weighted steering offers little in the way of feedback but Sorento goes where it's pointed without causing any stress. The ride is soft and while there is some body roll when corning it is much improved over the outgoing model. New Sorento scored 5 Stars in Euro NCAP crash tests.
Since 2002 KIA has sold 2 million Sorentos. KIA is the junior partner in the Hyundai/Kia motor group, which last year sold eight million vehicles making it the number 5 automaker globally. In Ireland Hyundai is distributed by a private company and has been able to develop its sales network and custom marketing to great effect and sales reflect this. KIA Ireland, with very similar product and a 7-year warranty (Hyundai 5-year), is under KIA's control and has less freedom to be as aggressive in the Irish market, which for the foreseeable future will see it remain the junior brand in sales terms. New Sorento offers a lot for relatively little money.
Michael Sheridan
