The new
2015 Kia Sorento range has a
lot to live up to. In a time of unprecedented global growth for the brand, the
outgoing model set new standards for the Korean brand. Loved by buyers who
appreciated its reliability, running costs, flexibility and comfort, the
Sorento delivered plenty of value at a very reasonable price point – just as
we’ve come to expect from the South Korean manufacturer.
As you
will have seen if you’ve read our entry level petrol review, the range as a
whole impressed Alborz at launch. You can read that launch review here.
You can
also read our full 2015 Kia Sorento
pricing and specification guide here.
As
you’d expect, the Platinum model is fitted with the full gamut of standard
equipment and you can see that full model breakdown in the pricing and
specification story. Rest assured, there’s nothing you need that doesn’t
feature as standard in the Sorento Platinum. Our recent review on the
entry-level Sorento petrol model illustrated value for money at that end of the
model range too.
Australians
have a peculiar penchant for the range-topping model of any given variant; even
more expensive luxury marques show the same sales trend. It’s a strange
predilection that isn’t necessarily mirrored around the world, but it means
there will be scrutiny in the specific direction of this top-specification Platinum
model against the models lower down the tree, and the Platinum model it
replaces. In other words, it needs to deliver.
Finished
in snow white pearl, pricing starts from $55,990 plus the usual raft of on road
costs, and like the Si petrol model we tested, this high specification model
features only one option: premium paint for $595. That brings pricing to a
starting point of $56,585 before the extra costs.
The
2.2-litre diesel engine features an electronic variable geometry turbocharger
and generates 147kW at 3800rpm 441Nm, between 1750rpm and 2750rpm. The
six-speed automatic gearbox seems perfectly matched to the diesel engine, such
is the ratio spread across the power band. With peak torque available so low in
the rev range, and holding on until 2750rpm, you’ll find the Sorento is
flexible around town, getting up to city speeds without ever feeling like
you’re working it too hard. The transmission itself is getting on now, and most
manufacturers in the SUV segments are going with more than six ratios, but the Kia’s six-speed does the
job admirably.
The ADR
fuel claim on the combined cycle is 7.8 litres/100km. That in itself is
impressive when you consider you’re talking about a full-sized, seven-seat SUV,
but even more impressive is the indicated real world figure. I saw an indicated
8.3L/100km after my five days behind the wheel. With the majority of that
driving around town, that real-world return is nothing to sneeze at.
Stepping
out of the petrol Sorento
model straight into the turbodiesel is an interesting exercise. The petrol
engine, which isn’t a puny under performer, suddenly feels a fair bit less
effortless after you’ve driven the diesel even a short distance. There’s a
low-stress sense to the way the diesel attacks any given task that makes it
very hard to argue against. Likewise the AWD system when compared to the FWD
system of the base model: while there’s nothing inherently wrong with the FWD
model, the AWD version just adds an extra sense of surety that makes the
Sorento Platinum that much more enjoyable to drive.
Step
into the driver’s seat and a few things become immediately apparent. There’s
quality leather trim, less harsh plastic than the old model and an insulated
feeling when you thud the door shut. The leather front seats might be cold
initially in winter, but they are heated, which is a welcome addition, and
you’ll wonder what you ever did without a heated steering wheel in winter as
soon as you’ve accessed the Sorento’s
just once.
Fellow
road tester Matt Campbell suggested after a weekend behind the wheel that the
new Sorento’s infotainment system isn’t quite as intuitive as he’d like, and
he’s right. It’s still miles ahead of many, but we’ve come to expect the South
Korean manufacturers will release systems that are completely idiot-proof. The
Sorento’s system isn’t quite that, despite being easy enough to work out.
Matt
also used the full seven seats (as well as the luggage space) over his weekend
with the big SUV and reported back that comfort levels were high and the
Sorento didn’t register as being fully-laden from the driver’s seat. Some SUVs
can start to feel sluggish when you load them right up, but the Sorento didn’t feel
that way at all thanks to the torquey diesel engine.
The Sorento is a clever SUV in that
it feels much roomier inside than it both looks and feels outside. Especially
when you’re the driver, the Sorento never feels ungainly or too large for the
city, which means it will make for the perfect family hauler. It’s big, but it
doesn’t actually ever feel clumsy when you’re crawling around town. The subtle
changes to interior design and packaging in the cabin, have stepped the Sorento
forward from where the outgoing model already was. In driving terms, I enjoyed
piloting the Sorento
around the CBD, even down tighter laneways. It’s quite nimble and the steering
system, which is light at low speeds, makes tight manoeuvring and reverse
parking a breeze.
The Sorento’s ride around town
deserves mention, especially given the comfort it delivers despite riding on
19-inch wheels and tyres. The tune is bang-on for around town and highway
running, which should be right where the Sorento plies its trade most often.
The 19-inch rims are shod with chunky 235/55/R19 tyres, that have a solid
enough sidewall to assist in this ride comfort factor.
The Sorento impresses
with its seven-year warranty and the highest ANCAP rating for an SUV. Continue
to have your Sorento serviced at an authorised Kia dealer and you also get
seven years of free roadside assistance to go with that seven year warranty.
New Sorento also comes with seven years (105,000km) of capped price servicing.
Total price for the scheduled services over that seven year period is $3487.00.
While I
had the two Sorento
models back to back, I had lengthy conversations with four current owners – one
of which is my father, so he doesn’t really count. Two neighbours have top spec
current models, while the other owner has an entry level petrol model. The
owners I spoke to are eagerly looking forward to trading up to the new model
sometime within the next six months.
The
feedback I had from all three was that Kia has delivered handsomely in terms of
reliability and ownership, as well as providing a versatile family SUV – we’re
talking families of two and three children specifically. All three won’t even
bother looking at other brands, such has been their experience with the
outgoing model.
While Kia no doubt wants new buyers to
consider the Sorento, existing owners are often even harder to impress. Having
had a good close look at the new Sorento, they were all impressed with the
styling externally, but more specifically the cabin changes and feeling of
quality inside. While there’s no doubt that the new Sorento has a lot to live
up to, I’m convinced it is primed for the task.
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