Test Car Specifications
Model: 2024 Kia Sorento '3' 2.2 CRDi
Price: Sorento from £41,995, '3' from £46,195
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Power: 193hp
Torque: 440Nm
Emissions: 173g/km
Economy: 42.8mpg
0-62mph: 9.7 seconds
Top speed: 124mph
Boot space: 179-813-1,996 litres
Styling
Kia has tried to imbue the Sorento with some styling features from the EV9, and it has done so with mixed success. The new Kia design language is evident in the sharp headlights and the new bonnet, which is designed to make the car look a bit chunkier. New bumpers are supposed to do the same thing while also making the car feel more modern, and there's a rear spoiler with a bit more volume for a sporty edge.
Not that the Sorento has ever been sporty. This is a massive and quite boxy vehicle, and though its style has always been quite contemporary, you'd never call it sleek. Nevertheless, Kia is trying to make it feel classier with a slim LED brake light in the rear spoiler and a hidden rear wiper that drops down from the spoiler, just as it does in a Range Rover.
Interior
Changes to the Sorento’s cabin are slightly less immediately obvious than those made to the exterior, and among the main differences between the new and old models is the introduction of sustainable materials. More “environmentally conscious” artificial leather is on show, and there’s more recycled plastic.
The slightly more important update, however, is the addition of the new 12.3-inch touchscreen (more on that later) that sits alongside the digital instrument cluster. Helpfully, that lives on a curved display across about half the dashboard, and there’s a useful shelf there against which you can brace your hand to make using the screen easier when you’re on the move.
Otherwise, though, the design is pretty similar to what went before. Chunky air vents mimic the exterior design, while the centre console is festooned with switchgear. Normally, we’re all for proper buttons over touchscreens — and nothing has changed — but the Sorento’s cabin takes a little acclimatisation before you can find things quickly. Once you do, though, it’s much easier to use than the touch-sensitive controls in some rivals.
And as we’ve come to expect from Kia, the Sorento’s cabin is very well made. The materials — recycled or otherwise — feel really upmarket and the fit and finish is excellent, so it all feels as solid and robust as it looks. It isn’t quite premium, but the gap between mainstream models and the posh premium elite is definitely narrowing. The Sorento is a shining example of that.
Practicality
Given the Sorento's size, it's no surprise to find plenty of room inside. There's heaps of space in the front and middle rows, and though tall adults will struggle to get especially comfortable in the third row of seats, it is spacious enough for short trips or slightly shorter people. Unlike so many big SUVs, it's a proper seven-seater.
And even with all seven seats upright, there is some boot space. The luggage bay isn't enormous, but 179 litres is enough for school bags or shopping, and if you fold the sixth and seventh seats down, you end up with a huge 813-litre boot that should be big enough for anyone's needs. And on the odd occasion you do need more space, folding the middle row down will free up almost 2,000 litres of cargo capacity.
Performance
The diesel Sorento is all about long-range economy, off-road capability and towing capacity, whereas the plug-in hybrid is more about urban efficiency and keeping tax rates down. But this being the diesel, it's relatively efficient for something so big, bulky and capable. The 2.2-litre turbocharged engine drives all four wheels and allows the Sorento to haul a 2.5-tonne braked trailer, but it'll also return more than 40mpg. That isn't bad for a big, bulky, seven-seat SUV.
Of course, official figures suggest the plug-in hybrid will be more economical, but with a relatively small battery, that figure won't ring true on longer drives, and that's where the diesel Sorento shines through. It's a capable thing, too, with plenty of ground clearance and a drive mode select function that gives you the ability to tune the car's power delivery for the situation.
That includes a sport mode, although the Sorento is hardly a sporty car. Nevertheless, the diesel engine feels punchy and willing, and it combines well with the smooth, unobtrusive eight-speed automatic gearbox to provide acceptable pace. A 0-62mph time of less than 10 seconds means you'll have no trouble keeping pace with traffic, and the excess grunt means it'll deal with towing quite happily.
Ride & Handling
The Sorento is clearly set up for comfort rather than handling. The suspension isn't especially soft, but it soaks up the undulations very willingly, so it never gets caught out and it always responds in a timely way. As a result, the ride isn't quite marshmallow soft, but it's supple and mature, and it only gets better as the speed builds.
But it isn't a handling sensation, and although the steering has quite a pleasant feel to it and the response it elicits is rapid, the body control leaves a little to be desired. There isn't too much wallowiness, but there is a bit of lean in corners and rapid changes of direction will leave the body playing catch-up with the wheels to a certain extent.
Yet the Sorento never tries to be sporty, and instead it works brilliantly as a long-distance cruiser or a tow car, and the diesel engine is somehow even more refined than the plug-in hybrid, which only adds to its appeal.
Value
The cheapest diesel Sorento also happens to be the cheapest Sorento, and it comes in at just under £42,000, which isn't bad for such a big car. And it's certainly not bad for such a well-equipped car. Basic '2' models still get 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights and seven seats. Part-artificial-leather upholstery, heated front seats and climate control are thrown in, too, along with a heated steering wheel and the 12.3-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera round out a generous specification.
But our test car was the more upmarket '3' model, which is still only the midpoint of a three-tier range that maths fans will be pleased to know culminates with the '4'. With prices from just over £46,000, the 3 has everything you really need, including a Bose sound system, wireless phone charging and a 360-degree manoeuvring camera, as well as black leather upholstery and a power-operated tailgate. The '4' adds a panoramic sunroof and a head-up display, among other things, but it pushes the price north of £50,000.
Nevertheless, when the Santa Fe starts at almost £47,000 and has comparable equipment to the '3' version, the Sorento looks well judged. And it's worth remembering that a Range Rover Sport with vaguely similar equipment would set you back £75,000 and it doesn't have the Kia's seven-year warranty.
Verdict
Describing a car that costs the best part of £50,000 as good value seems a bit odd, but the Sorento manages to style it out. Kia is no longer a budget brand, and the Sorento has not been a budget model for many years, but the latest model manages to offer lots of kit, great quality and ample capability for a sensible price, and that'll endear it to plenty of customers.