A correct move
Along with the Seoul-based automaker’s focus of targeting the segment’s premium competitors, the Sorento has made the transition really rather well in that the current third-generation strikes all of the right cords both inside and out. Its talents have seemingly however failed to make an impact on many South Africans, most likely as a result of its pricing compared to Kia’s of old, and the lingering notion of a marque known for being value-focused suddenly wanting to move upmarket.
All on its own
Nonetheless, the Sorento still rates as something of a novelty in that it offers seating for seven and is powered by a turbodiesel engine, but as mentioned, rides on a unibody platform unlike the body-on-frame Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Isuzu MU-X. Facelifted last year, the Sorento’s recent arrival for the customary seven-day stay came as something of a surprise in that the model that showed up was also the most attainable, the front-wheel-drive LX.
Tiger grows up
Aesthetically, the Sorento, as indicated, certainly looks the part with the mid-life revisions bringing a restyled Tiger Nose grille, new headlights with integrated daytime running LEDs, redesigned front and rear bumpers, projector-type fog lamps, a new bootlid, updated taillights and smart looking 18-inch alloy wheels. Aided by chrome detailing around the windows, on the door handles and at the base of the doors, as well as front and rear satin silver skid plates, the Sorento looks both stylish and elegant in spite of the somewhat sombre Black Pearl hue.
A premium inside experience
The most impressive aspect though is the interior, which felt anything but base model bargain-basement. Despite the monotonous black trim, the materials used have a quality feel with soft-touch plastics adorning most surfaces, while faux aluminium inlays around the air vents and infotainment system add a touch of sparkle. Along with the comfortable leather seats, the new three-spoke multifunction steering wheel and silver stitching on the centre glovebox/armrest, the ambience is further lifted by that infotainment system which now measures eight inches and comes with satellite navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and USB.
In addition to being easy to use, the system only builds on what is a feature rich assortment of standard kit, which includes cruise control, a single rear USB port, front and rear parking sensors with a reverse camera, a 3.5-inch TFT instrument cluster display, dual-zone climate control, folding heated mirrors, Hill Start Assist and Electronic Stability Control.
Spacing it out
Where the Sorento further stands out is the amount of space offered. Measuring just shy of five metres, the cabin feels humongous and provides ample head and legroom to those seated in the first two rows. Slide the middle row forward, the third row is suitable, but only just, for small adults, though headroom is lacking. The Sorento’s party piece though is its boot which measures 142-litres with all seven seats up and 605-litres with only five being used. Drop the middle row, however, the boot grows to a capacious 1 662-litres with this being done via the seat handles themselves, or the release switches located on the boot walls.
Power punch
In a case of ‘if it ain’t broken don’t fix it’, the Sorento carts its near 1.9-ton mass along with ease thanks to the reputable 2.2-litre CRDI oil-burner that once again produces 147 kW and 440 N.m of torque. While left unchanged from before, the motor now comes teamed to a brand-new eight-speed automatic gearbox that features 143 newly patented technologies, according to Kia. It is a combination that makes for smooth progress and in a refined manner, with the box only found lacking with vigorous use of the throttle.
During its stay, the Sorento showed its cruising ability on a weekend trip to Witbank by not only sporting a superb ride setup, but a praiseworthy consumption figure of 6.8 L/100 km, not far off of the claimed 6.3 L/100 km. A new addition is Kia’s drive mode selector that comes with four settings; Eco, Comfort, Sport and Smart. Although Comfort was widely displayed inside the instrument binnacle, short spells in Sport made for spritely progress, though chances are that very few buyers would select this option. Oddly, the change from Comfort to Smart didn’t show any inherent differences.
Conclusion
A preference for on-road as opposed to off-road comfort has been the hallmark of the Kia Sorento ever since its platform switch, and one which the latest iteration pulls-off with aplomb. At R579 995, the LX also offers remarkable value, however, if mud-plugging is likely to feature, expect it to be outclassed by its bakkie-based rivals even with the option of all-wheel-drive for an additional R30 000 capital outlay.
