KIA SORENTO 4X4 REVIEW

Performance

4 out of 5 stars

The Sorento is available with a 172bhp 2.4-litre petrol engine, but most buyers will choose the 194bhp 2.2-litre diesel instead. This generates oodles of torque, so it can haul you and your family along swiftly, although the optional auto gearbox has a rather tall top gear that forces it to kickdown for overtaking on the motorway. A diesel hybrid model might be offered later.
Ride & Handling

3 out of 5 stars

The Sorento is a big car and it feels it. If you don’t push hard it’s undemanding, but you can feel the car’s bulk shifting around on twisty country roads. The steering isn’t especially responsive, but while it’s not as agile as some rivals, the Sorento handles well enough. Grip is fine on the move, but it’s easy to spin the front wheels when pulling out briskly from a junction. The ride is rather firm side, especially on high-spec versions with larger alloy wheels.
Refinement

3 out of 5 stars

The Sorento’s bluff shape generates some wind noise on the motorway, and the suspension can be heard drumming over bumps, but it's reasonably civilised on the whole. The diesel engine is particularly quiet and you rarely need to work it hard. The gearshift on manual versions is fine and the automatic gearbox works well.

Buying & Owning

3 out of 5 stars

The petrol model is cheaper to buy, but not as economical as the diesel and unlikely to hold its value as well in the long run. The five-seat diesel averages a healthy 43.5mpg in two-wheel drive form and 42.8mpg with four-wheel drive. A seven-year/100,000-mile warranty provides peace of mind, but the Sorento isn’t particularly cheap to buy and dealer discounts aren’t likely to be huge.
Quality & Reliability

3 out of 5 stars

The dashboard is quite smartly styled, but where many of its rivals’ cabins are filled with plush, soft-touch plastics, the Sorento’s are unappealingly hard. Everything feels sturdy and well put together, however. It’s too early to comment on long-term reliability, but there’s the back-up of a seven-year warranty should things go wrong.
Safety & Security

4 out of 5 stars

Front-seat occupants are protected by front and side airbags, while window airbags run the full length of the cabin. Stability control is also standard across the range, and the Sorento scored a maximum five-star rating in Euro NACP crash tests. Deadlocks, an alarm and an immobiliser make life difficult for thieves.

Behind The Wheel

3 out of 5 stars

Most of the dashboard controls are sensibly laid out and the high-set driving position gives a commanding view of the road. The steering wheel adjusts for reach and rake to help the driver get comfortable. However, the system for adjusting the angle of the seat back is fiddly and imprecise.
Space & Practicality

5 out of 5 stars

You can order the Sorento as a spacious five-seater with a cavernous loadbay, or as a seven-seater with two extra chairs that fold up from the boot floor. These are fine for kids and shorter adults, but six-footers will find headroom a bit tight. In both versions, the central bench folds almost flat to give you the capacity to transport extra-long loads.
Equipment

4 out of 5 stars

The entry-level Sorento is a front-wheel drive five-seater that comes with alloy wheels, front and rear electric windows, a socket for your MP3-player and air-conditioning. Meanwhile, pricier versions have four-wheel drive, seven seats, dual-zone climate control and leather upholstery.