Overview

As a large SUV the new Kia Sorento is a better bet than the previous model and it’s safe to say that Kia has dramatically moved the game along with this latest offering. The new model is better looking, it’s got an improved interior, has more kit, is more fuel efficient and it’s superior on the road.

It’s lower and longer too. With prices for the diesel version starting at £22.5k you’ll be happy to hand over your money without too much soul searching. There’s enough competition out there though: good-value seven-seat 4x4s are not hard to come by and if space isn’t your priority you could easily go for a Nissan Qashqai+2 and not feel you’re selling yourself short.

The Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe or even SsangYong Rexton could well be on your list but this new Sorento, complete with a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty and new technology, could well be a headache for these rivals.

In 2012 the Sorento was given a major facelift. You get just one 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine now, with a choice of automatic or manual gearboxes and permanent four-wheel-drive on all models. The exterior has been given a major makeover, with both front and rear ends getting cosmetic surgery.

The trim levels have been altered too, with the choices now KX-1, KX-2, KX-2 Sat-Nav and KX-3. There’s a load more technology available on the Sorento now, including automatic windscreen wipers and special cornering headlights, which help you to see better around bends you’re about to tackle.

The highest spec KX-3 is crammed with equipment including a decent seven-inch touchscreen with sat nav and heated, ventilated and electrically adjustable front seats. You also get Kia’s Flex Steer system, which adjusts the weighting of the steering between ‘Comfort’ (lighter), ‘Normal’ and ‘Sports’ (heavier) modes. Each model gets seven seats as standard, while a lower ride height and updated suspension promise better manners on the road.

So can this large seven-seater do what it takes to cut the mustard against competition from Hyundai’s Santa Fe? Is it a decent proposition when compared to the more expensive rivals from Europe like the BMW X3? Read on for our full and comprehensive Kia Sorento review to find out.