The Kia Sorento safety record is fairly impressive for an SUV of this age. Six airbags are standard as well as active front headrests that prevent or minimise whiplash. ISOFIX child-seat-mounting points are also featured. There’s plenty of electronic wizardry designed to keep you out of trouble: stability control, brake-force distribution (a system that allows the driver to steer and brake at the same time in emergencies), hill-start assist and traction control. The Sorento performed well in EuroNCAP achieving a five-star rating in adult crash tests.

The 2012 update added even more safety kit, with features such as hill-start assist and downhill brake control added to make driving even safer than ever.

The Kia Sorento practicality levels are excellent. If you want space as well as a slick-looking 4x4 that won’t offend the neighbours, then you’ll find it hard to beat. Kia has worked hard to make this a family friendly large 4x4 that’ll carry loads of stuff. It comes in five- and six-seat configurations but the volume seller is expected to be the seven-seater.

We tested the seven-seater and leg- and head-room is more than adequate throughout the car. Although the second and third row of seats are slimmer there’s enough space to make everyone feel comfortable. In all versions the second row has a 60:40 folding split and the third row (standard on diesels) is split 50:50.

Both rear rows fold fully flat for extra loading capacity. Total loading space is 15% greater than the previous model and if you use the car as a five-seater with the rear seats down you get 531 litres of space and 1,525 when both rear rows of seats are folded flat – that’s bigger than that offered in a Ssangyong Rexton or a Honda CR-V but not as large as the loading space in a Hyundai Santa Fe.

All versions of the Sorento have double reclining front seats and reclining and folding second-row seats, while the diesels have flat-folding third-row seats. They are easy to fold down – you pull a lever at the side and tip them flat: it all takes a matter of minutes. There’s plenty of space to store loose items thanks to a centre console storage box and armrest with cupholder in the second row of seats. A sunglasses case, net hooks and under-floor luggage box all suggest Kia has majored on practicality that’ll appeal to families that need to carry loads of extra gear on long journeys.

The update in 2012 saw all Sorento models get seven seats, while the boot shrank to 116 litres with the seats up, extending to 1,530 litres with all of the rear seats folded. KX-2 and KX-3 versions also get a luggage net.