ON THE ROAD- IAN LYNAS DRIVES THE NEW KIA SORENTO

I have recently been behind the wheel of the new Sorento from Kia, a generous sized SUV with a sharper, high-tech design which gives the newcomer a giant slice of on road presence. The South Korean carmaker is very much at the front of the market with an ever increasing number of EVs such as the EV6, the multi award winning EV9 and the soon to be released the much waited EV3. So it is refreshing for some, a sizeable number in Ireland who still prefer petrol or diesel engines and in the ROI there is a special edition diesel while in NI, a choice for the customer, not only with power units but also with trim levels. With diesel, HEV and PHEV, it is one of the few vehicles which offers such power choice to the buyer.

The Sorento has been a member of the Kia range from 2002 and it rests above the hugely popular Sportage. The updated Sorento takes design inspiration from the brand’s all-new flagship SUV, the EV9. This includes new vertical headlights and ‘star map’ daytime running lights, with redesigned alloy wheels and a new bonnet design to further emphasise the Sorento’s bold, rugged appearance. There is a redesigned gloss black radiator grille, as well as black side sill and wheel arch mouldings, giving it a distinctive stance on the road. Highlights and chrome details around the exterior bring a shine to the new model and contrast the black for a premium and refined appearance.

Inside, the Sorento is newly aligned with Kia’s latest SUV models, fully embracing the ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy and it remains one of the best-equipped models in its segment, benefitting from several new premium features, dual curved 12.3-inch displays, ambient lighting, and fingerprint recognition and a customisable head-up display on some models. The new model benefits from artificial leather and recycled PET cloth throughout the cabin and upholstery, a further demonstration of Kia’s dedication to sustainability. The Sorento has a wide range of passive and active safety systems to ensure occupants remain as well protected as possible on every journey. Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) help to reduce many of the inherent hazards and stresses of driving. Behind the wheel, the handling and ride are good with low noise levels, thus adding extra comfort to all who travel in this SUV which is built on the brand’s N3 platform, engineered to maximise stability and comfort. For everyday driving, the multi-link suspension provides a smooth and comfortable ride, while the self-levelling rear dampers improve both driving performance and stability when the vehicle is carrying heavy loads or a number of passengers and the belt-type rack and pinion motor-driven power steering results in a predictable, stable, responsive steering and the drive experience is further highlighted by a smooth automatic transmission.

Keeping all the occupants safe are a wide range of passive and active safety systems and the company’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) help to reduce many of the inherent hazards and stresses of driving. Summing up the new Sorento delivers in all key areas, a choice of seating depending on the particular variant adds to the practical nature of this vehicle and I see it as having a lot of appeal to the family motorist and I must not forget the excellent warranty package that comes with this newcomer and indeed which is available throughout the Kia line-up.

Ian Lynas