Kia Sorento SLi new car review
There's no shortage of options if you're in the market for a large seven-seat SUV.
Finding one that ticks off every last box, however, hasn't been easy. Some with the functionality and safety to impress have failed to offer the diesel option that is increasingly sought-after for this kind of vehicle. Others have offered the desired diesel path but no curtain airbags for third-row occupants, or fallen over in some other fundamental way.
The story, then, has been one of compromise, even for the contenders that have been widely judged as the things to have in the class.
Kia's new Sorento, contrastingly, looks to have ticked off all of the crucial boxes on the seven-seat SUV want list, something its predecessor – as well-rounded and well-respected as it was – didn't quite manage. Let's find out if the Korean brand really has managed to get all its ducks lined up in a row.
What do you get?
We're testing the second-tier Sorento SLi petrol 2WD, which kicks off from $45,990 plus on-road costs and flaunts jewellery like 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry/start, power driver's seat, leather, premium sound and Kia's 'Supervision' instruments (i.e. ones that look analogue but are actually fully digitised).
But if you can handle losing a bit of tinsel you might find the base Si petrol 2WD – which hangs onto all the stuff that really matters (dual-zone climate control, third-row fan controls, cruise control, auto headlights, 17-inch alloys, seven-inch touch-screen infotainment system, Bluetooth, sat-nav, full-length curtain airbags, stability control, parking sensors, reversing camera) but costs a full $5000 less – offers stronger value returns.
Both the Si and SLi runs the same petrol V6/2WD drivetrain that can be substituted by a diesel/4WD equivalent for a $4500 premium.
The topline Sorento, the $55,990 Platinum, is a diesel/4WD-only deal that goes to town with both trinkets (heated/ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, second-row sun blinds, panoramic roof, 19-inch alloys) and safety aids (adaptive cruise control, blindspot/lane-change warnings, lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert).
That technology splurge, however, doesn't extend to the now-common autonomous emergency braking or a fuel-saving auto start/stop feature.
But you are covered by Kia's industry-leading seven-year/unlimited km factory warranty, with the cost of the yearly/15,000km services capped for seven years or 105,000km. For petrol models like the SLi we're testing, the average annual outlay is a pretty reasonable $450.
What's inside?
Those aft of the front row enjoy tangible benefits from the new Sorento's extra size.
The second-row seating, previously a bit restrictive for the long-legged even in its rearmost position, is now genuinely spacious.
The final-row seating has also taken strides with its additional real estate (it's still not a genuine long-haul option for beanpoles but it's bearable) and vastly superior vision (no more upswept windows), though access past the folded kerbside second-row seat remains tight. Both rows have air vents and final-row occupants get fan-speed controls as well.
Buyers with littlies to strap in securely with will like the second-row's good width and convenient anchorage (three top-tether, two Isofix). Kia throws in multiple cup/bottle holders, coat hooks and 12-volt outlets, plus plenty of handy lidded bins and other storage spots.
Boot space is typically restricted in seven-up mode (just 142 litres) but the Sorento's five-up and two-up capacities (605 and 1662 litres respectively) mean it's capable of satisfying buyers with serious hauling priorities.
There are advances for front-seat occupants as well. The design is simple, tasteful and the materials are thoughtfully chosen and quite lush – if you think Kia stands for 'cheap' this one's classy, upmarket cabin ambience could make you think again.
The front-seat environment also scores well for its space, adjustability, storage and the user-friendliness of the switchgear and controls. Over-the-shoulder vision is a beneficiary of the bigger rear-side windows, too. Only the SLi's leather seats – which are comfortable but also somewhat shapeless and slippery – strike an obvious bum note.
Under the bonnet
If you needed a seven-seat SUV just to run one or two-up, a petrol Sorento might just be the one to buy.
The 3.3-litre V6 is smoother, quieter and lends a significantly more refined feel to proceedings than the clattery diesel four-potter.
It needs more of a kick up the pants when you encounter a big hill or need to plug a gap, but the auto's smooth, generally adept shifts and engine's willingness means its responses aren't slovenly and it's far from unpleasant in how it goes about its business. And most of the time the V6's low-rev go and flexibility are sufficient to fend off the urban/highway jungle with admirably little fuss or fanfare.
We drove both petrol and diesel Sorentos on the same combined urban/highway loop and the former returned fuel-economy figures surprisingly close to its theoretically much thriftier sibling – 9.8L/100km (yep, a frag less than the 9.9L/100km official rating) versus 8.7L/100km.
Of course, if you actually intend to tap into the Sorento's seven-seat capacity or load it up then the petrol is going to work harder than the diesel – it not only produces less torque (318Nm versus 441Nm) but much later in the rev range (5300rpm versus 1750rpm) – and the fuel-economy gap will blow out. So maybe don't count out the costlier, more gruff drivetrain on the basis of a gentle urban test drive.
On the road
The Sorento's size is a handicap in parking and other tight manoeuvres but it's generally an easy car to drive. In gentle B-road driving it tackles corners in a thoroughly easygoing, predictable and safe way.
But don't go looking for athleticism or engagement. The steering – with multiple modes in the fashion of recent Kias – is sadly bereft of the responsiveness, linearity and feel you get in, say, Ford's now-ancient Territory. Drive it briskly through a series of tight, bumpy corners and its dozy turn-in, tendency to push its nose wide and flusters over big mid-corner bumps are a stark counterpoint to the well-established agility, poise and finesse of the benchmark Ford.
The ride is much closer to the mark, soaking up the typical urban lumps and bumps without fuss and remaining unflustered – and impressively hushed – on lumpy rural tarmac.
Verdict
Like a lot of Kias of late, the new Sorento is a case of many small advancements adding up to a tangibly more tempting whole. In this case the Koreans have fashioned a seven-seat SUV with such robust value, safety, functional, drivetrain, ownership and presentation credentials it has to be a serious threat for benchmark status in the class.
There are disappointments, none more so than its laziness through the bends, but its imperfections don't stop it from delivering on its intended purpose. This is a seven-seat SUV that really has to be on your shortlist, even if a touch of compromise remains.
Kia Sorento SLi petrol 2WD price and specifiations
How much? From $45,990
Engine: 3.3-litre V6 petrol
Power: 199kW/318Nm
ANCAP rating: 5 stars
Fuel use: 9.9L/100km
Our score: 6.8/10
The competition
Ford Territory TS
Hyundai Santa Fe Active
Mazda CX-9 Classic
Toyota Kluger GX