What is it?
This is the all-new Kia Sorento. Under the direction of its design guru Peter Schreyer, Kia has completely transformed the four-wheel-drive figurehead of its range, broadening its appeal.
The Kia Sorento’s body-on-frame construction, low-range transfer box and live rear axle have all disappeared, replaced by a modern, monocoque design, with all the usual benefits of weight saving and crash safety.
What’s it like?
The Kia Sorento looks great. The nose is a winning combination of the Volvo XC60 and Nissan Murano, and it really sells the car. The width stays the same, but the track has been widened front and back so that the wheels fill the wheelarches. Add a 10mm lower stance and you’ve got an impressive muscular presence on the road that its predecessor never possessed.
The driving position is good, with well laid-out, easy-to-use controls and the now-familiar three-cylinder instrument binnacle, a Kia hallmark. Interior space is much improved. Although the wheelbase has been shortened, the dashboard has moved forward and the tailgate pushed back, combining with thinner seats to give good amounts of leg and headroom. The third row of seats is suitable for children only on long journeys, but could take a couple of adults on a short trip.
The new Sorento has a comfortable, lightly damped ride that will happily soak up the worst that British roads have to offer. Estate car drivers would take time to adjust to the large amounts of body roll, pitching and fidgeting under hard cornering, but the Sorento maintains its line well in high-speed bends. Dynamically it lacks the precision, adjustability and general sortedness of the Ford Kuga and Audi Q5, but the absorbent ride does a lot to compensate for this.
The Sorento’s star attraction is the new 194bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel. This is undoubtedly the best in the class at the moment, with an easy-spinning character and plenty of low-end torque. Mated to either the new six-speed manual or an automatic gearbox, it provides comfortable overtaking ability and relaxed, economical cruising.
Should I buy one?
The Kia Sorento should be most comfortable competing with traditional seven-seat estate cars and niche vehicles such as the Nissan Qashqai+2. Its desirability against these rivals will largely be determined by price.
Kia hasn’t confirmed UK prices yet, but expect the two-wheel-drive 2.2-litre turbodiesel five-seater to undercut the current Sorento by a few hundred pounds and the top-spec, seven-seat diesel automatic to peak at around £2000 above the current range-topper.
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Indumotora has advanced even
Indumotora has advanced even to the European market and has begun marketing the new Kia Sorento and new cars , a model that boasts both aesthetic changes of equipment. Likewise engines have been improved and is now lighter, in addition to suspension and structural changes.
In Chile mechanical supply is reduced to a single block of 2.4 liter petrol and 173 hp, and the 2.2 CRDi 197 hp capable of overcoming the Euro V antipollution regulations In both cases the customer can choose between the all-wheel drive or 4WD 2WD easier. The gearbox can be automatic or manual, an option also available with two engines, and always with six speeds.
Inside highlight the third-row seat that raises the total to seven passengers capaciad and improvements made in the materials, now looks nicer. The budget may include items such as xenon headlights, daytime lighting with LEDs, LCD instrumentation, parking sensors front and rear, automatic air conditioning, alloy wheels, power sunroof, leather upholstery, power seats and thermal system sound with seven-inch screen and rear view camera.
Recommended prices range from 14.49 million pesos (€ 23,804) of GSL 2.4i 16v 2WD with manual transmission and 19.99 million pesos (€ 32,840) 2.2 CRDI 197 hp GSL 4WD automatic transmission with six speeds.
Re: Kia Sorento 2.2D 4WD
The syling has yet to grow on me but therest of the package seems very well thought out. I think I'm right in saying the engine and gearbox are shared with the latest Hyundai Santa Fe which looks better in the flesh to my eyes and having sat in one today certainly feels well put together.
Owning an Alfa I can vouch for their imporvement in reliability. Never put a foot wrong in three years.
Re: Kia Sorento 2.2D 4WD
Lol Topprat was really beginning to irritate me =D