Go-anywhere Kia Sorento 4x4 is a big-hitter

Having braved the worst icy conditions of early December in a front-wheel-drive people carrier, Kia’s Sorento arrived at Advertiser towers at a time when the piles of snow at the sides of Rotherham’s roads were well and truly browned by the mire of a soggy thaw.

How I wished it had been here a few weeks earlier, though.

A year after its launch the seven-seater from Korea feels as impressive as ever and, with all that interior space, I’m sure I could have profited from its all-terrain abilities by operating a freelance roadside rescue service.

Getting back behind the wheel this winter served to remind exactly what the big Korean has to offer.

Priced from £22,990 for a front-wheel-drive Sorento 1, it comes equipped with hill descent control, hill hold assist, an iPod connection, air conditioning and de-icing front wipers as standard while colour-coded door handles and wing mirrors, tinted windows, 17 inch alloys, roof rails and fog lights help ensure that even entry-level version looks the part.

All but the entry-level Sorento 1 have seven seats as standard in a range offering four trim levels (Sorento 1, KX-1, KX-2, and KX-3), two diesel engines, and a choice of two or four-wheel-drive and manual or automatic gearboxes.

My road test put me behind the wheel of a Sorento KX-3 2.2-litre CRDi auto 4x4.Sitting just below the range topping KX-3 Sat Nav (£32,635) it came in at £31,640—around £2,000 less than an base-spec Toyota Land Cruiser.

What does the extra outlay get you? Keyless push button starting system; cream leather upholstery with heated front seats; parking sensors; a six-CD changer; a panoramic sunroof; chromed door handles; 18 inch alloys; xenon lights with headlamp washers and LED rear light clusters.

Impressive load-lugging and people carrying abilities are also standard.

At more than 4.7 metres long the Sorento offers a 531-litre boot with five seats in place and more than 1,500 litres with all but the front seats folded flat.

The only disappointment in terms of the Sorento’s seven-seat flexibility comes when it’s time to clamber into its rearmost seats.

Headroom and legroom could be tolerated for short journeys, even by a six-footer, but the limited access gained by leaning the second row of seats forward is a bind.

For the other passengers there’s ample space and a premium feel to the interior. Although some way off the likes of Audi and BMW when it comes to the ultimate tactility of the materials and switchgear, the Sorento’s leather is neatly stitched, lay-out stylish and straightforward, and refinement impressive.

It’s a fittingly premium interior for Kia’s range-topping vehicle with a lack of squeaks and creaks speaking volumes for build quality and the new chassis’ structural integrity.

The old four-wheel-drive Sorento gained renown for its towing capabilities but the current model takes a more road-biased approach.

A 3,500kg maximum towing weight has fallen to 2,500kg but a lighter chassis has helped improve fuel efficiency and cut emissions.

The 2.2 CRDi auto tested here is the least green of the range, but still claims 38.2mpg fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 194g/km—5.4mpg and 34g/km better than the 2.4-litre CRDi of old.

With 311lb.ft. of torque the 2.2 diesel hustles what remains a near-1,900kg off-roader to 62mph in ten seconds and on to a 118mph top speed.

Itwas the big SUV’s handling that sprang the biggest surprise of my test.

An initial firmness to the suspension removed some ability to iron out the borough’s post-thaw pot holes but brought a roll-free poise making for an incisive, flowing chassis.

The rear suspension, especially, feels firm but this has the effect of creating a more responsive front end.

Despite a few misgivings about severe potholes which were met with a slightly clunky response from the suspension, though, the Sorento’s structure never felt compromised, its interior never rattled and grip remained impressive.

Kia’s efforts to make their big SUV more of a road car have largely paid off.

Handsome and well-priced the Sorento is still my favourite ‘affordable’ SUV.

Feeling and looking like a better resolved proposition than Hyundai’s impressive Santa Fe, it boasts a vast array of everyday talents for the go-anywhere family or business.

Only that third row access and a lack of some ultimate ride finesse proving weak links.

As Kia continues to build its automotive empire, that seven-year warranty and the big-hitting Sorento continue to be sturdy foundations to work from.