Kia Sorento Road Test

Kia Sorento

Comfort and Refinement

The standard spec of the Kia Sorento is reasonably good with all round electric windows, electrically-adjusted and heated door mirrors, variable intermittent front wipers, a flip-up tailgate window, courtesy interior lights with fade-out, a load area light and projection headlamps. For comfort and convenience, remote central locking, speed-sensing power steering, a tilting steering column, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearlever knob, sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, a driver's footrest, a front 12-volt power socket, front and rear double cupholders and an overhead console with sunglasses holder are fitted across the range

Although there are electric windows all round only the driver's window is one-shot down (not up) and you have to keep your finger on the switch to fully lower or raise the windows.

The Kia Sorento XT model features auto on headlights, but the wipers are manually controlled for speed. There is cruise control which was excellent on the motorway. Plus we had dual-zone climate control which is in place of the standard air conditioning system fitted to XE versions.

In Car Entertainment and Satellite Navigation

A JVC branded MP3-compatible stereo radio/CD player with eight speakers is fitted as standard in the Kia Sorento, but watch out for the electric aerial you will need to switch the system off when off-road or you could knock the aerial off.

Rivals

• Hyundai Santa Fe
• Jeep Cherokee
• Land Rover Discovery 3
• Mitsubishi Shogun

What We Liked

• An honest 4x4 with good off-road capability at a low entry price
• What We Disliked
• Best suited to an automatic transmission but of course you may want a manual

What we'd like To See

• A new model - which is on the horizon

Build Quality

Nothing seems as though it was going to fall off but the quality of materials and overall build quality (i.e. exposed screw heads) is not as good as its European competitors.

Value for Money

The Kia Sorento offers good value for money if you are on a budget but you are getting very near to the entry level Land Rover Discovery 3 or a second-hand one.

Summary

It is utilitarian in its approach and is a competent workhorse that has touches of a premium 4x4. It is a real 4 wheel drive vehicle capable of truly going off-road with a low/high ratio gearbox with a soft-roader price tag.

The Kia Sorento is beginning to show its age and a new model is due shortly, but if you are looking for a no-nonsense competitively priced SUV, then it is well worth looking at.

Kia Sorento