We recently set off on a road trip from Cape Town to Clanwilliam with a quick stop in the village of Wupperthal.
We did so in Kia’s latest handsome, range-topping Sorento, a luxurious, well-equipped and spacious diesel-sipping SUV.
Built on Hyundai-Kia’s new N3 platform, the US-designed Sorento is 35 mm longer in the wheelbase (2 815 mm) and 10 mm longer (4 810 mm) than the previous, more demure-looking model. It features three rows of seats with a sliding second-row and a third row that folds almost flat to reveal a cavernous luggage area.
Kia’s 2,2-litre Smartstream turbodiesel four-cylinder engine produces 148 kW/440 N.m and is mated to a smooth 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Paddles behind the steering wheel enable manual driving if preferred. The average fuel consumption after driving on tarmac and gravel roads came to a very respectable 7,8 L/100 km. The AWD Sorento SXL has a front-wheel drive bias and runs on 19-inch alloys and tyres. Ride quality was comfortable without being too wafty and little road and engine noise penetrated the well-insulated cabin.
The premium-looking and feeling interior is intuitively designed and offers good levels of comfort, technology and driver-assistance systems. This includes a clever safety feature where when you indicate to turn one of the dials in the display instantly relays a camera feed that shows a view to the left or right behind the vehicle. Other safety spec includes six airbags, several sensors and cameras. Kia’s Driver Assistance Systems that include forward-collision avoidance technology, a blindspot-view monitor, smart cruise control, lane following assist, etc. can also be included.
The Sorento’s infotainment system sports a 10,25-inch touch screen and includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Our SXL model also had a large panoramic sunroof and a 12-speaker Bose audio system.
Being pretty and capable ain’t cheap with the Sorento priced at R994 995. The difference however is, unlike its German competitors, a long list of options come as standard. For this very reason, the Sorento offers a compelling package within its segment.
Words: Thys de Beer
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