Monday, June 8, 2015

2015 Kia Sorento First Drive Review

The Sorento has always been a big deal for Kia.

The South Korean manufacturer's flagship SUV has more gear than anything else in its range, forming the ultimate expression of Kia's transformation from cut-price alternative to genuine value contender.

This new model is bigger than before, having grown longer and wider in hope of becoming more attractive to buyers, though it looks more like the Carnival people mover than anything else on the road.

Kia's efforts to gentrify the Sorento are immediately apparent on the inside, where the brand has no doubt turned to luxury marques for inspiration. The Sorento features a sweeping line from the doors that meets in a hoop at the bottom of the windscreen that will feel immediately familiar to anyone with time in Audi's A6.

Similarly, a new three-spoke steering wheel with a compact circular airbag could have been plucked from the Porsche Cayenne, and an impressive digital gauge cluster in premium models feels very Lexus.

It's the most polished interior Kia has offered in Australia, one home to soft-touch plastics and nifty metal-look brightwork.

There's plenty of space up front along with an impressive range of adjustment for the driver's seat and steering wheel, and the back seat has plenty of room for adult occupants. We didn't climb through to a third row intended for smaller passengers, though the standard fitment of seats for seven people will no doubt be a boon for many buyers.

Sorento customers receive a downsized 199kW and 318Nm 3.3-litre V6 as standard, taking the place of a more powerful 3.5 litre unit from the previous model.

A 2.2-litre diesel version costs an additional $3500, but brings improvements in fuel efficiency as well as the benefit of all-wheel-drive as the petrol variant only drives the front wheels.

Both models are available exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The engines are upgraded variants of drivelines used in the previous model, so the similar characteristics are no surprise. The V6 sounds purposeful and has plenty of go, but it's a little thirsty and can easily overwhelm front tyres that scrabble for traction.

The petrol motor enjoys a rev and responds well to throttle inputs, though Kia expects 80 per cent of customers to spend a little more and take home the diesel version.

They would be well advised to do so, as the diesel's additional all-wheel-drive traction offers a significant advantage at low speed and on low grip surfaces.

It's also significantly more efficient – the diesel returned less than 8L/100km on our test route, while the thirstier petrol used more than 12L/100km.

Kia engineers worked to make the 2.2-litre unit easier to live with by using additional sound deadening, under-bonnet shielding and underbody cladding to successfully minimise cabin noise in the top-end Platinum model.

Diesel variants receive special attention from Kia's local engineering team, which introduced firmer suspension to counter the oil-burner's extra weight over the nose.

Australian Sorento models benefit from a specific suspension tune that includes firmer springs at the front and rear along with thicker anti-roll bars at both ends, revised shock absorbers and a new steering tune.

The changes are intended to make the Sorento a capable towing rig, as well as meeting the demands of motorists who prefer a more engaging drive than American or South Korean counterparts.

It's hard to evaluate their work without driving foreign and local models back to back, though it is immediately clear that the Sorento is no dynamic star. A slow steering rack results in languid responses to driver inputs, and a new power steering system offers little feel to help drivers understand what is happening under their tyres. The big SUV does not display excessive body roll, though its pliant suspension takes a moment to settle on its outside tyres, further clouding the link between car and driver.

Having championed a variable-weight FlexSteer system that altered steering motor assistance without any real effect on the car's dynamics, Kia has built on that unit with new Drive Mode Select settings that offer Normal, Eco and Sport maps that affect steering weight, transmission behaviour and throttle response. Once again, the system has a minor affect on how the car behaves, adding artificial steering weight and more energetic driveline behaviour that may please enthusiastic drivers.

But it's no problem that the Sorento is built for comfort rather than speed. It rides well, has plenty of room and a practical streak that will serve it well as a mum's taxi or weekend escape wagon.

With extra gear, more space, five-star safety and a suave new look, it's easy to see the new Sorento is a bigger deal than ever before.

2015 Kia Sorento pricing and specifications

Price: From $40,990 to $55,990 plus on-road costs

On sale: June 7, 2015

Engine: 3.3-litre petrol V6 or 2.2-litre 4cyl turbo diesel

Power: 199kW at 6400rpm (V6) or 147kW at 3800rpm (diesel)

Torque: 318Nm at 5300rpm (V6) or 441Nm at 1750-2750rpm (diesel)

Transmission: Six-speed auto, front wheel drive (V6) or all wheel drive (diesel).

Fuel use: 9.9L/100km (V6), 7.8L/100km (diesel)

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