LIFESTYLE
James Stinson
Classy Kia
The new Kia Sorento is a genuine seven-seater SUV, writes James Stinson. There was a time not that long ago when we bought Kias because they were cheap and reliable even if they weren’t terribly desirable… With this new Kia Sorento, the brand has truly come of age. It’s not so cheap anymore but it’s very high tech, quite luxurious and really easy on the eye. It’s a big, practical, comfortable sevenseater SUV to rival the likes of the Peugeot 5008, Volvo’s XC90 and the Land Rover Discovery. And here’s another sign that things are changing… where once diesel was king in the land of the SUVs, that’s no longer the case. There’s still an oil burner in the line-up but
the big news is the additions of a new hybrid petrol and a plug-in hybrid versions. With a towing capacity of 2500kg, the diesel makes most sense if you plan to pull a boat, caravan or horsebox. The petrol hybrid isn’t as strong but is a good all-rounder, offering more refinement and better green credentials. The plug-in hybrid is a little more expensive but is a good company car bet thanks to the low benefit-in-kind tax perks. Whichever one you choose, you are sure to be impressed with this, the biggest Kia yet. The fourth generation Sorento is longer than its predecessor with the extra inches helping to make this one of the most spacious cars in its class. The cabin is wide and tall with plenty of head and shoulder room front and back. And it’s a proper seven-seater, with the rearmost seats able to accommodate reasonably tall adults in some comfort. The new Sorento is also a lot more stylish than previous versions, with a purposeful grille backed up with sharper lines and a much meaner stance. The interior is neat, well equipped and filled with an air of quality. For the time being, the petrol hybrid looks like being the best seller. On its own, the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine would struggle to haul around such a big car, but mated to a 44.2 kW electric motor it pumps out a respectable 226bhp. 0-60mph is doable in 8.7 secs while fuel economy is around 40mpg. What’s more, Kia has managed to stow the batteries needed to power the electric
86
motor beneath the passenger compartment, meaning there’s no space lost elsewhere. There’s a very sizeable boot and some usable space even when all seven seats are in use. All versions come with four-wheel drive so it feels assured on and off road while there’s little body roll you often associate with high riding SUVs. There are three trim levels to choose from – ‘2’, ‘3’, and ‘4’. The entry-level ‘2’ version in standard petrol electric hybrid form looks pricey compared to rivals but it comes stacked with kit. Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloys, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel, parking sensors, rear-view camera as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. All versions also have a 12.3-inch digital display behind the steering wheel, featuring sharp graphics. This complements an easyto-use 8.0-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash which is your window into the car’s other settings. And, in a sign of the times, every seat gets a USB charging port. Kia does well in reliability studies but there’s always an industry-leading sevenyear / 100,000-mile warranty to fall back on. The entry-level petrol hybrid costs from £38,845 in standard ‘2’ trim, rising to £46,945 for the range-topping ‘4’. The diesel, which comes in ‘3’ trim only, costs from £41,425 while the plug-in hybrid is the priciest of the lot, starting from £44,995.
