KIA Sorento 2.2 diesel AWD launched in South Africa
What is it?
The biggest and most expensive KIA one can buy. Also, until the KIA Sedona arrives later this year, the Sorento is the brand’s answer to moving extended families and their belongings. Due to its premium position, buyers are naturally going to closely examine the KIA Sorento against established premium nameplates and at the upper echelons of pricing, the KIA badge could be vulnerable.
The KIA Sorento is essentially the brand’s tech and refinement leader, catering to a myriad needs without being intimidating to drive. Should you find you’ve outgrown your Sportage – and we struggle to imagine such a scenario – the KIA Sorento will organise your chaotic life within its SUV pillars.
What’s it like?
Massive and KIA’s alpha male, spearheading a new KIA look that has a number of small changes and one really big one…the grille. Sorry but we refuse to call it the Tiger Nose – our game drive brought several Big Five references to mind. Up close the grille is rather flimsy but it forms a visual anchor from which to connect the sharper headlights and from there carve out a higher aero efficiency. Wheels and colour coding depends on the specification but there’s not much room for personalisation and our verdict on the entire design is that it’s rather conservative compared to Peter Schreyer’s earlier captivating artistry.
Ride and handling befits a car that left its robust chassis design in favour of a more cohesive platform. As with most KIAs, any component that could (in any unlikely circumstance) emit an undesired sound, has been carpeted, rubberised and padded. Silent, smooth and responsive the KIA Sorento handles with almost the same finesse as a Sportage, rarely ever making an excuse for its extra size.
The seats don’t rely on adjustment in order to be comfortable but driving position lacks involvement. A lot of that has to do with the flat dashboard design which never surrounds its occupants or sweeps up in creative vertical tiers. The shape is geometrically bland and there’s a button for every function – not that it’s cluttered but there’s no interaction beyond the very straightforward and very brief. No personalisation. For roughly R10 000 KIA will upgrade the golf-ball sized screen with a smarter 10-inch one and it’s a wise thing to do because currently the standard screen can’t be read from the second row of seating.
Going for the higher AWD model has an equipment upgrade that you’ll notice at first glance. Heated or ventilated seats, electronic handbrake, dual climate control, smart key and power tailgate. The last item is especially clever; instead of hopping around on one foot trying to get the sensor to notice you, the boot in the KIA Sorento can detect the presence of the key and providing you stay in close proximity for a few seconds, will respond by opening the boot. Both feet on the ground!
Unfortunately the KIA Sorento isn’t always this innovative. Features like active cruise control, autonomous parking, lane departure assist and active city stop aren’t fitted to the Sorento while elsewhere competitors slowly introduce them as standard offerings.
The KIA Sorento comes into its own category once that tailgate reveals a cavernous load space which can be arranged in several configurations between second-row comfort or maximised loading volume. Rear seats slide fore and aft and can be folded, while ingress to the final row of seats has been optimised.
Another drawback is the rigid drivetrain couplings. Flatfooted by either a petrol manual or a diesel all-wheel drive, customers are missing out on perhaps the most logical combinations. Research will prove that a petrol automatic or diesel front-wheel drive would succinctly fill those product and price gaps. Pity because both engines are strong for their size and frugal given the weight they need to move.
Should I buy one?
How the KIA Sorento competes in the market will be determined by how much value you place on the third row of seating. Without that there’s stiff competition from the Swedes and British, both offering more sophistication and higher brand cachet. Also if you’ve kept an eye on what KIA is rolling out in European markets, you’ll rightfully be disheartened by the massive void between the available features and the ones we get.
If you’re going to buy, the entry level offers exceptional metal versus money, costing only slightly more than a Sportage.
Pricing
KIA Sorento 2.4 LS R 379 995
KIA Sorento 2.2 CRDi LX R 499 995
KIA Sorento 2.2 CRDi EX AWD R 599 995
KIA Sorento 2.2 CRDi SX AWD R 634 995
*all models come with a 5-year/150 000km warranty and 4-year/90 000km service plan.
