A seven-seater vehicle offers is an attractive prospect – Kia a powerful punch
So much so that Kia has dropped its five-seater version of the full-size Sorento off-roader in favour of one with seven seats.
Ever felt the need to be able to carry six passengers? It might not happen often, but the flexibility that a seven-seater vehicle offers is an attractive prospect.
Out too has gone the two-wheel-drive model and the 2.0-litre diesel engine, in favour of a punchier 194 horsepower, 2.2-litre diesel, which drives either through a six-speed manual gearbox, or the company’s slick six-speed automatic.
But the Korean carmaker says that the changes that have been made to the engine actually make it more economical, efficient and less polluting than the smaller unit that it replaces.
Other changes are much more obvious when you take to the road. A lower ride height, revised suspension, steering and brakes all combine to give a more refined drive. It is also quieter than before.
The Sorento is a seriously large vehicle, built for people who need either the ability to tow up to two tonnes, or go properly off-road – or both.
With prices starting at £26,500, the Sorento sits on a re-engineered chassis that gives boosts to safety, driving dynamics and refinement, while an upgrade to the interior has lifted both quality and standard equipment.
The clear advance in ride refinement is also reflected in enhancements to the interior, where leather is used to trim the steering wheel and gearshifts of every model and chrome garnish is applied around the cabin.
All versions, apart from the entry-level model, also have ambient lighting in the front centre console and door trims, and every model has practical door sill scuff plates.
And those seven seats come with the reassurance provided by a seven-year, 100,000-mile manufacturer warranty and a year’s Europe-wide roadside rescue. It is a versatile package that packs a powerful punch.
Safety systems are up there with the best, ranging from anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control to hill-start assist control, six airbags and active front headrests that minimise whiplash injuries. Equipment across the range includes LED daytime running lights, cruise control, extendable sun-visors with illuminated vanity mirrors and reversing sensors.
The test model, in the second of the four ascending trim levels, added rain-sensing front wipers, a leather-trimmed instrument panel and a 4.3-inch LCD colour touch-screen with a reversing camera system. The Sorento’s third row of seats fold quickly and easily into the loadspace to give a completely flat floor, so they take up no extra room when the car is in its more usual five-seater set-up.
Ever felt the need to be able to carry six passengers? It might not happen often, but the flexibility that a seven-seater vehicle offers is an attractive prospect.
Out too has gone the two-wheel-drive model and the 2.0-litre diesel engine, in favour of a punchier 194 horsepower, 2.2-litre diesel, which drives either through a six-speed manual gearbox, or the company’s slick six-speed automatic.
But the Korean carmaker says that the changes that have been made to the engine actually make it more economical, efficient and less polluting than the smaller unit that it replaces.
Other changes are much more obvious when you take to the road. A lower ride height, revised suspension, steering and brakes all combine to give a more refined drive. It is also quieter than before.
The Sorento is a seriously large vehicle, built for people who need either the ability to tow up to two tonnes, or go properly off-road – or both.
With prices starting at £26,500, the Sorento sits on a re-engineered chassis that gives boosts to safety, driving dynamics and refinement, while an upgrade to the interior has lifted both quality and standard equipment.
The clear advance in ride refinement is also reflected in enhancements to the interior, where leather is used to trim the steering wheel and gearshifts of every model and chrome garnish is applied around the cabin.
All versions, apart from the entry-level model, also have ambient lighting in the front centre console and door trims, and every model has practical door sill scuff plates.
And those seven seats come with the reassurance provided by a seven-year, 100,000-mile manufacturer warranty and a year’s Europe-wide roadside rescue. It is a versatile package that packs a powerful punch.
Safety systems are up there with the best, ranging from anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control to hill-start assist control, six airbags and active front headrests that minimise whiplash injuries. Equipment across the range includes LED daytime running lights, cruise control, extendable sun-visors with illuminated vanity mirrors and reversing sensors.
The test model, in the second of the four ascending trim levels, added rain-sensing front wipers, a leather-trimmed instrument panel and a 4.3-inch LCD colour touch-screen with a reversing camera system. The Sorento’s third row of seats fold quickly and easily into the loadspace to give a completely flat floor, so they take up no extra room when the car is in its more usual five-seater set-up.
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