Overview

KIA’S current Sorento no longer has much in common with its sister-ship the Hyundai Santa Fe, most notably surrounding its styling… thank goodness, as the latter could best be described as ‘visually challenging’, especially from the rear.

The MY24 Sorento is an evolution of the previous model with frontal styling head nods to Kia’s EV9 in particular.

Elsewhere is tweaked a touch with an upright rear complemented by the new bluff front and curving lights along with detail changes.

Kia didn’t stop there as the latest Sorento gains a raft of new infotainment, ADAS and safety tech’ as well as Kia Connect and Over-The-Air update facility.

On test was the top of the range, $68,590 plus on-road costs Sorento GT-Line diesel AWD that ticks all of the boxes available across the range.

Sorento GT-Line scores quilted Nappa leather upholstery, suede interior linings, heated and vented front and heated outside mid-row seats, dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, four drive modes: Normal, Eco, Sport and Sport+, and three terrain modes: Snow, Mud and Sand.

Additional equipment includes dual 12.3-inch high-definition displays, one each for the driver’s instrumentation and the second for infotainment systems and a digital rear-view mirror (lifted from the EV9) providing conventional mirror function or a rear-view camera.

The model features a Bose premium sound system with 12 speakers and subwoofer along with a rotary gear selector beneath the centre console.

The OTA system arriving with Kia Connect ushers in the latest maps, interfaces, and software enhancements with Kia Connect services free of charge for the first seven years of ownership.

In safety terms the five-star ANCAP rated Sorento introduces highway driving assist, a semi-autonomous technology that operates only when driving on a freeway or motorway utilising the adaptive cruise control functionality offered in the previous model but now combining lane follow assist to keep the car centred in the lane even when driving through a curve.

Sorento GT-Line ups the ante with additional safety kit including parking distance warning (front, side and rear) with side detection zones.

Power comes from a 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine good for 148kW and 440Nm driving through an eight-speed automatic transmission with “active on demand” AWD including Lock.

It means the test vehicle is predominantly front wheel drive with the rear axle engaged as needed or locked into AWD when selected.

A diesel particle filter (DPF) is fitted which needs to be kept in mind service-wise.

Kia claims combined fuel consumption for this model at 5.2 litres per 100km drinking from a 67-litre fuel tank.

The 1974kg Sorento GT-Line rolls on 20-inch alloys over a strut front and multi-link rear suspension and of note is the full size spare as standard equipment on Sorento… a very welcome addition.

Driving Impressions

During a 1500km three-day extended drive of the Sorento GT-Line it became something of a “fave” as we ventured on tour through the back country roads west of Sydney, down through Oberon to Canberra and then back to the NSW Central Coast the long way around through Bathurst.

We were surprised by the indicated fuel use that came close to Kia’s claim, giving a full-tank range nudging 1100km. The actual figure over our long drive with two adults and some luggage aboard was 5.4 litres per 100km of predominantly open road driving with some urban commuting.

This from a near 2000kg, seven-seat SUV with AWD running gear and the full luxury treatment inside. It translates into roughly $115 (at $1.72 a litre) for a complete diesel fill to drive from say Sydney to Melbourne or from Brisbane to Sydney…. without refuelling.

But the Sorento GT-Line isn’t all about economy. It is a decent thing across the dynamic spectrum for an SUV delivering tidy dynamics, plenty of kick under acceleration, smooth and quiet engine operation, and a supple ride to isolate occupants from the atrocious country roads around the place.

Kia has been localising its vehicles dynamics for years and the experience shows in how broadly competent models like the Sorento have become.

We ventured off road a tad on a dirt track where the Sorento proved capable enough limited by the 176mm ground clearance and what is essentially on-demand AWD though there is always the Lock option if the going gets tough.

Hours of “dodge” driving passed on potholed roads without fatigue accompanied by sweet Spotify tones from the 12 speaker Bose audio (with subwoofer).

With one driver taking a kip the other cracked on for two hours at a time making light work of the long haul.

However, as is the case with all new cars these days, the Sorento has overzealous ADAS technologies that tend to jump at shadows, such that we chose to deactivate the systems every time we drove it (which really defeats the purpose of having the systems in the first place, we know).

Of annoyance is the speed-limit warning that chimes if you exceed the limit by a fraction. It’s distracting; and while we don’t condone speeding, feel some balance is required when, for example, travelling downhill, or in zones where the vehicle has misread the posted limit.

The transmission had an issue with low-speed manoeuvring, slurring engine revs to a higher than expected level before dropping into the right cog that was somewhat disconcerting especially in a parking scenario.

At all other times it worked a treat no doubt contributing to the impressive fuel economy.

As the top-of-the-range mode, the Sorento GT-Line spoils its occupants with supple, quilted leather, heated and ventilated, electrically adjustable front seats, large format screens, plenty of room in the first two rows, easy access through wide opening doors, electric assistance to many functions, and a large panoramic sunroof.

It fulfils the role as an Aussie touring car admirably and is equally adept at the everyday slog around the ‘burbs, commuting, and running errands.

If only it were a fraction cheaper, we’d be absolutely in love.