It can be tough to rally the Sorento together with the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Volkswagen Touareg in the large SUV category - because let’s be honest, it is hardly renowned for its finesse, style or driving dynamics. 

That, however, could change very soon. The second-generation Sorento was a big leap forward, but the third-generation irons out its ‘immature’ niggles. And now that it is 95mm longer and 5mm wider, some added practicality has been thrown in for good measure, not to mention that seven-seats are now standard.

Performance

Like many other large SUVs, the Sorento offers just one engine – a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel producing 197bhp, an increase of 3bhp over the last model. This engine is available with either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.

The diesel does a great job of shifting the large Sorento and certainly feels true to its 197bhp figure, unlike some SUVs that can feel underpowered. The 2.2-litre delivers plenty of low down pull as well, with max pulling power coming in at under 2,000rpm, which is handy when it comes to traversing small hills.

On paper its 0-62mph sprint time stands at nine seconds, but once you put your foot down on a straight bit of road, it feels quicker than that. The manual gearbox is smooth enough as well. Go for the automatic and its 0-62 time is increased to 9.6 seconds.

Ride and Handling

If it does come to venturing off-road in the Sorento it will handle pretty much anything you are likely to throw it – be it mud trails and small hills.

Kias are hardly renowned for their agility on the road, but the Sorento is very different. The steering on most Kia’s have a somewhat underdeveloped, elastic-like feel, but the Sorento feels much more grown-up as it is sharper and easier to tell where the front wheels are pointing. The balanced weighting is also reassuring when it comes to twisty B roads. On the refinement front, cabin insulation is excellent and keeps most wind, road and engine noise out. In fact, Kia says it has improved noise insulation over the last model by 250 per cent – and it shows. The supple suspension does a great job of tackling unpredictably bumpy country roads as well, but it does not jeopardize composure when cornering. With that said, if you floor it into bend you will get some body roll, which is normal for a car of its size. If it does come to venturing off-road in the Sorento it will handle pretty much anything you are likely to throw it – be it mud trails or small hills. For particularly adverse conditions – like thick mud – Lock mode is available. This diverts power evenly, giving you added traction.

Interior and Equipment

The Kia Sorento was promoted in the USA during the 2014 Super Bowl in an advert called “Space Babies”.

As it looks to challenge other large, typically luxurious 4x4s, cabin quality is rather important. The Sorento delivers in this department though. Kia has splashed soft touch materials all around and revamped the dashboard layout with a new touchscreen layout as well as a dashboard topper, the latter offering a premium saloon feel. On a whole, the cabin feels much more upmarket and, more than anything else, up to date. Kit is impressive across the range, with entry-level models getting Bluetooth, air-con, reversing sensors and all-round electric windows. Realistically, the mid-range KX-2 trim will be where most people end up. KX-2 models offer a reversing camera, heated seats, dual air-coin and a seven-inch touchscreen system with sat-nav. Cool safety technology worth noting on the flagship KX-4 model includes Adaptive Cruise Control and Around View Monitoring, the latter giving you a ‘bird’s eye view’ of the car, making manoeuvres easier. Practicality and rear passenger space impresses just like the last model, but as the Sorento is now slightly longer and wider, it offers an extra 90 litres of storage space. This means 140 litres of boot space with all seats in place, 605 litres with the furthest seats folded down and 1,662 litres with all seats down. Being a rear passenger is incredibly comfortable, in the first row anyway, thanks to tons of leg and head room. The ability to recline the first row of passenger seats means you can have a pleasant laze in the back as well. Although space in the farthest two seats is limited, average sized adults should be comfortable enough. The fact that you can slide the first row of passenger seats forward means that you can adjust leg room slightly in the farthest row – so all passengers should be happy enough.

Cost

Aside to its fuel economy, the Sorento’s price tag alone is impressive. Starting at just under £30,000.

Running costs and CO2 ratings will fluctuate depending on what trim and gearbox you choose. Predictably, the lowest emitting model is the KX-1 six-speed manual with 149g/km of CO2 (£145 a year in tax). The most polluting is the KX-3/KX-4 auto, emitting 177g/km of CO2. The 149g/km variant will return an average of around 40/45mpg in real world driving – although the claimed average is 49.6mpg – but that is not too far off. Aside to its fuel economy, the Sorento’s price tag alone is impressive. Starting at just under £30,000, the Sorento undercuts the Land Rover Discovery by a few thousand pounds and the Volkswagen Touareg by almost £15,000.

Our Verdict

It is always refreshing to see a model improve so significantly with a new-generation and the Sorento is a fine example of this. Not only does it offer hugely improved driving dynamics, but it has stepped up its luxurious appeal, which will help it stay afloat in the popularity charts against tough competition. It may not be the most ‘complete’ 4x4 in terms of driving dynamics and off-road prowess, but it should push Kia up the desirability hierarchy.