Kia Sorento: First drive review | Better than the Santa Fe?
If you want a stand-out seven seater that blends the best new bits of Kia into a proven practical formula, the Sorento is worth a look.
The Kia Sorento has always been a practical, large SUV. But with the latest version borrowing styling cues and tech from more expensive models in the Kia range, does it retain the qualities that have always made it a popular choice?
Aimed squarely at the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace and Hyundai Santa Fe, we took the hybrid variant for a drive to see what’s what.
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Kia Sorento styling
Externally, the Sorento has taken on a more premium air than previous iterations. That’s mainly because it takes a few of the bold styling cues from the Kia EV9 and wraps it up in a more attainably priced package.
A good looking car from most angles and, at more than 4.8 metres in length, quite an imposing one too.
Most notable are those headlights up front, along with Kia’s hallmark “tiger nose” grille design. It’s a good looking car from most angles and, at more than 4.8 metres in length, quite an imposing one too. In fact it’s larger than rivals like the Skoda Kodiaq and even the Peugeot 5008.
Kia Sorento interior and tech
Inside, the tech on offer matches that of the smaller Sportage and larger EV9. The result? All but the most basic models feature a pair of monitors that sit behind a singular glass panel. These two 12.3in monitors make up both the digital driver display and touchscreen infotainment system.
With the rear-most row folded flat, you get a huge 813 litres of space.
The system itself is really user-friendly and easy to use, and it is of course compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. It’s nice to see the climate control functions aren’t hidden within menus like some rivals: there are still touch-sensitive physical controls beneath the air vents. The vents themselves are integrated neatly under the screen, while the centre console houses the gear selector and various other drivetrain controls.
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As you’d expect from a car this size, the main talking point is the amount of space on offer. All models feature three rows, with the Sorento remaining a true seven seater. The rear-most seats are best reserved for smaller adults or children, but it’s certainly a roomier proposition than the Kodiaq.
With the rear-most row folded flat, you get a huge 813 litres of space in the petrol and diesel models, reduced slightly to 809 litres in the plug-in hybrid model. This really puts the Sorento at the top of its class, outdoing both the Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008.
Kia Sorento engine options
You’ve got three options to choose between: a regular self-charging hybrid (the model we tested) as well as a plug-in model and 2.2-litre diesel engine. Both hybrid models make use of a 1.6-litre petrol engine.
The Plug-in manages around 35 miles on electric power alone courtesy of the 13.8kWh battery pack.
The regular hybrid gets a small 1.49kWh battery pack that allows the Sorento to achieve combined economy above 40mpg – impressive stuff for a car of its size.
The plug-in hybrid makes a great choice for company car drivers, benefiting from the respectively lower BiK compared to the regular hybrid and diesel options. It can manage around 35 miles on electric power alone courtesy of the 13.8kWh battery pack.
Producing 250hp, it’s also the most potent of the trio, getting from 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds. That said, the regular hybrid we sampled provided more than adequate acceleration and performance. The six-speed automatic gearbox and standard all-wheel drive system helps give it a relaxed and sure-footed feel too.
The diesel is the one to go for if you’re looking to use the Sorento as a tow car. It still makes sense from an economy perspective too. The older 2.2-litre unit might not be as refined as the hybrids, but it’ll still muster almost 45mpg and offers comparatively impressive towing capabilities compared to the other options.
Kia Sorento: Should you lease one?
Kia has been on a real roll recently. Its expanding range of EVs doesn’t take away from its other models though; in fact the way the latest Sorento has integrated key elements from the EV9 really help it stand out next to other seven seaters.
It sits above the Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008 from a price perspective.
That extra dose of style and tech has increased prices somewhat, in line with Kia’s move into the more premium end of the market. That means it sits above the Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008 from a price perspective.
But if you want a stand-out seven seater that blends the best new bits of Kia into a proven practical formula, the Sorento is worth a look. Hit the button below to compare prices right now.