Vehicle tested: KIA Sorento 2.2 Diesel 4x4 Automatic Seven Seater
Forgive me, for I have been biased. I have never been a huge KIA fan. I always thought that they were one step behind the competition. I will, however confess when I am wrong, and after having driven the new Sorento, I have to swallow my pride. It is a very good vehicle.
When you first lay eyes on the Sorento, the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, because with its signature grill and wrap around xenon headlights, it is a little intimidating. I might even go as far as calling it sexy.
So, the Sorento looks good, but it doesn’t stop there. As you open the door, you are greeted by a pleasant mixture of plastics and leather. Climb into the vehicle, and you’ll be taken aback by just how much room there is. The seven seater has a third row of seats, which can be accessed by folding the 40:60 split second row, and fall flat into the boot when not required. Standard equipment found in the seven seater version of the Sorento are things like duel climate control, with a built in air filter, MP3 compatible CD player with USB and IPod connectivity, and a couple of other bells and whistles. Push the ‘engine start’ button, the new Sorento is keyless, and the vehicle comes alive. The deep set, three dial instrument cluster is illuminated in red and white, giving it a racy feel, without being over the top. Pop the gear selector into reverse and you will notice an image appear in your rear view mirror. The Sorento is fitted with a reverse camera, and the image is displayed in the left hand side of the rear view mirror, clever.
Only once you put the Sorento into drive, does it really start to get good. The men in white coats at Kia have produced a 2.2 liter Diesel engine that delivers 147 kW, and when mated to the automatic gearbox, 436 Nm of Torque. (The 6 speed manual version produces 421 Nm.). Power is sent the all four wheels, but is split between the front and rear via the electronic 4WD system as it is needed. Driving the Sorento is a pleasant experience. It feels nimble on the open road regardless of it's size thanks to it’s new monocoque chassis and lower center of gravity, and is easy enough to maneuver around town. The ride quality is best described as solid, and with all things considered, you can expect a fuel combined fuel consumption in the 6.5 liters per 100km region. On the safety front, the Sorento has 6 airbags, ABS, EBD and ESC (Electronic Stability Control), which is their version of traction control. Both Downhill Brake Control (DBC) and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) are standard on the 4WD models.
The KIA Sorento 2.2 Diesel is available in 2WD or 4WD, in both five and seven seater variants, with manual or automatic gearbox options. There is also a 3.5 liter 4WD version, but is only available in seven seater form with the automatic gearbox.
The Sorento comes with a 5 year/ 100 000km warranty as well as a 5 year/ 100 000km service plan.
In closing, not only has the new KIA Sorento earned my respect, but caused me to hand it over on a silver platter.
Forgive me, for I have been biased. I have never been a huge KIA fan. I always thought that they were one step behind the competition. I will, however confess when I am wrong, and after having driven the new Sorento, I have to swallow my pride. It is a very good vehicle.
When you first lay eyes on the Sorento, the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, because with its signature grill and wrap around xenon headlights, it is a little intimidating. I might even go as far as calling it sexy.
So, the Sorento looks good, but it doesn’t stop there. As you open the door, you are greeted by a pleasant mixture of plastics and leather. Climb into the vehicle, and you’ll be taken aback by just how much room there is. The seven seater has a third row of seats, which can be accessed by folding the 40:60 split second row, and fall flat into the boot when not required. Standard equipment found in the seven seater version of the Sorento are things like duel climate control, with a built in air filter, MP3 compatible CD player with USB and IPod connectivity, and a couple of other bells and whistles. Push the ‘engine start’ button, the new Sorento is keyless, and the vehicle comes alive. The deep set, three dial instrument cluster is illuminated in red and white, giving it a racy feel, without being over the top. Pop the gear selector into reverse and you will notice an image appear in your rear view mirror. The Sorento is fitted with a reverse camera, and the image is displayed in the left hand side of the rear view mirror, clever.
Only once you put the Sorento into drive, does it really start to get good. The men in white coats at Kia have produced a 2.2 liter Diesel engine that delivers 147 kW, and when mated to the automatic gearbox, 436 Nm of Torque. (The 6 speed manual version produces 421 Nm.). Power is sent the all four wheels, but is split between the front and rear via the electronic 4WD system as it is needed. Driving the Sorento is a pleasant experience. It feels nimble on the open road regardless of it's size thanks to it’s new monocoque chassis and lower center of gravity, and is easy enough to maneuver around town. The ride quality is best described as solid, and with all things considered, you can expect a fuel combined fuel consumption in the 6.5 liters per 100km region. On the safety front, the Sorento has 6 airbags, ABS, EBD and ESC (Electronic Stability Control), which is their version of traction control. Both Downhill Brake Control (DBC) and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) are standard on the 4WD models.
The KIA Sorento 2.2 Diesel is available in 2WD or 4WD, in both five and seven seater variants, with manual or automatic gearbox options. There is also a 3.5 liter 4WD version, but is only available in seven seater form with the automatic gearbox.
The Sorento comes with a 5 year/ 100 000km warranty as well as a 5 year/ 100 000km service plan.
In closing, not only has the new KIA Sorento earned my respect, but caused me to hand it over on a silver platter.
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