New car review: Kia Sorento SLi V6

This road test has a little bit of deja vu about it. Just like the Hyundai Santa Fe Active we sampled a while back, this is a new version of a big Korean seven-seater SUV intended to give Ford's Territory, Mazda's CX-9, Toyota's Kluger et al some stern competition on the showroom floor.

What's more, under the skin it's closely related to the Santa Fe and in topline diesel form we gave it the same four-star rating. Here we're also investigating a cheaper petrol model and asking much the same question – is it good enough to make spending extra on diesel models unnecessary?

• New Kias for sale

• New Kia Sorentos for sale

What do you get?

The base Si V6 kicks off from a sharp $37,490 plus on-road costs, which is a little more than a Santa Fe Active, but it gets a 3.5-litre V6 rather than a 2.4-litre four-potter and standard automatic transmission as well.

You won't easily pick holes in its specification. All the safety essentials (six airbags, stability control, parking sensors, five-star ANCAP rating) are included and with dual-zone climate control, cruise control, CD/MP3 stereo, Bluetooth phone/audio streaming and 17-inch alloys it's well equipped.

The Si, however, does miss out on a reversing camera and its curtain airbags don't cover the final row. You also get a five-year warranty and capped-priced servicing.

Step up to the $40,490 SLi V6 tested here, though, and that reversing camera is part of the deal, as is a power driver's seat, leather trim, auto wipers, Kia's FlexSteer multi-mode steering, 4.3-inch touch-screen stereo, colour TFT instrument cluster and 18-inch alloys. Spend $1500 more and you get the SLi Navigation version, which gets a bigger 7-inch touch-screen unit featuring – you guessed it – sat-nav.

What's inside?

Functionally the Sorento plays a similar card to many other big seven-seater SUVs, offering spacious accommodation for the front two rows but rather less real estate for those in the final row.

Still, it's sufficiently roomy back there for smaller children, who get decent access and air-con controls to make up for the lousy view.

Much like most rivals boot space is also very tight with all seats occupied (a paltry 258 litres) but with five on board you get a hefty 1047 litres and it can be expanded to a massive 2052 litres by dropping the middle-row seats. A full-sized spare is also included.

But the Kia is also a mixed bag in some respects. There are some really nice upmarket touches (like the colour TFT instruments, which are similar to what you get on Benz's S-Class and Jaguars) but the general design is bat-poo boring, the plastics unyieldingly hard and the obviously fake metal-look dash cappings are a bit low-rent.

We'd like more supportive seats than the SLi's somewhat flat leather pews, too, as well as middle-row seats that could slide front and back like some rivals, not just recline.

Under the bonnet

Petrol Sorentos miss out on the AWD system fitted exclusively to diesels, saving 60kg, but are still a good chunk thirstier, rating 9.8L/100km on the official scale (diesel autos manage 7.3L/100km).

We couldn't manage that, averaging 12.2L/100km in combined urban/highway driving, and around town it drank substantially more.

Still, that's no worse than many petrol rivals manage and the 204kW 3.5-litre V6 has plenty of desirable qualities. Strong low-rev response ensures it gets around perfectly adequately (and very quietly) without the slightest need to be extended. And when you kick it in the ribs it sprints with free-revving, silver-tongued gusto.

If the six-speed auto isn't the smartest around, tending to be just a bit indecisive on hilly roads, its shortcomings can be avoided by using the manual mode, and in most driving it's unobtrusively effective.

On the road

As with most Kias these days the Sorento was given the once-over by a local engineering team to ensure it wasn't bamboozled by Australian roads.

The time and money were well spent. The Sorento is no Territory when it comes to handling finesse and the three-mode steering system is a gimmick (we put it in normal and left it alone) but it's respectably agile, doesn't lurch around like some SUVs and isn't unduly upset by pockmarked tarmac.

The ride also settles in a comfortable zone well above mediocrity. Big, sharp bumps can occasionally catch the suspension out but most impacts are cushioned adequately. Road noise is also well hushed.

Buyers who don't plan to go off-road aren't likely to miss AWD. Plant the throttle with plenty of steering lock and you'll get some wheel tug but on tarmac the difference is mostly negligible.

Verdict

The Sorento isn't the kind of SUV that's going to engender passionate ownership. The cabin is OK but needs better detail work to really set standards. You're never going to lie awake at night in anticipation of driving it.

But every seven-seater we can think of also has compromises and the Kia has way too many positives to be pushed to the kerb, whether it's the sharp price, generous fitout and strong safety or long warranty, functional seven-seat cabin and competitive driving qualities.

Ultimately, we have reservations about the thirsty V6 being the pick of the engines (personally, we'd get the thriftier diesel) but if a petrol seven-seat family lugger is what you're after it's got to be in with a serious chance.