Kia Sorento review

Natural selection affects SUVs, not just animals, and seven-seaters that drink diesel are starting to look like dinosaurs. So the Kia Sorento – like all successful species – has evolved.

Instead of simply slinging a petrol engine under the Sorento’s bonnet, though, Kia has used its expertise in the field of electrification to offer 'self-charging' hybrid and plug-in hybrid power options. The former combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a small battery pack and electric motor to drive down CO2 emissions and fuel consumption, while the latter's larger battery can be charged by plugging the car in to give a promised pure electric range of around 35 miles.

If you need to haul particularly heavy loads, you'll be pleased to hear that the diesel Kia Sorento hasn't become extinct, but it isn't as popular as it once was. 

Four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox come as standard whichever version you choose, pushing the Sorento's starting price up towards the top-spec versions of some other seven-seat SUVs, such as the Peugeot 5008 and Skoda Kodiaq. Indeed, the Sorento now costs nearly as much as a few of the premium alternatives, including the Mercedes GLB, Land Rover Discovery Sport and, for those who will never need to carry six or seven people, Audi Q5, which is a five-seater.

To find out how well the Kia Sorento stacks up against those rivals, as well as the closely related Hyundai Santa Fe, stay with us over the next few pages. We'll tell you what the Sorento is like on the road, how practical it is, how classy it is inside and whether it's a sound investment.

Whichever car you decide is right for your needs, don’t forget that the What Car? New Car Buying service can help you get a great discount – it's completely free, you won't need to do any haggling and there are some tempting Kia Sorento Deals.