04 Jan: Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi

… Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-4 …

OIf you need 7 seats, four wheel drive and have to tow a 2.5 tonne trailer or boat, and you prize cost and creature comfort above driveway snobbery, then the Kia Sorento is hard to beat. This a remarkably well equipped, comfortable and handsome big barge that is more than a match for the higher priced marques from Germany or Sweden.

The 2.2 litre turbo diesel pumps out 197 bhp which is good enough for a 124 mph top speed and sub 10 second 0 to 60 time. So it’s no speedster, but it is quick enough for a country which has a maximum speed limit of 70 mph and public roads which are the envy of the proving ground staff at the MIRA automotive testing facility in Warwickshire.

With one proviso. The test car was fitted with the optional 19 inch alloys shod with Kumho’s latest Crugen HP91 (235/55 x 19) SUV tyres. They might be ideal for cruising north on the A9 at 50 mph but over Glasgow’s pot holes and Edinburgh’s cobbles they can be a pain in the butt. Over such surfaces the suspension can be a bit firm and jiggly, but with the taller wheels and lower profile tyres the problem is exacerbated. And it’s not just Kia that is so afflicted, anyone who makes big 4x4s and sticks stupid sized alloys on them deserve all they get.

OApart from that I liked the beast. There’s bags of room inside for 7 averaged sized folk although the well-raked A-Pillar proved an awkward duck-in for those over 6 feet tall. That was the only drawback because there was plenty of head, shoulder and leg room once inside and the seats are supremely comfy. Thank goodness, because they cushioned much of the road surface feedback from the wheels!

Don’t get the idea it’s all bad, I only have those two reservations. What makes the car so easy to live with are all the extras that are packed into the spec for the price. In fact the only thing I could find (or didn’t if you see what I mean) that was missing was a 12v socket in the boot. There are two up front and two in the rear for the kids consoles, but none in the boot. Am I the only one with a 12v wander light on a curly lead? Ideal for marshalling duty on navigational rallies!

OOn that basis I won’t bother to list the 2 pages of ‘extras’ but these include electrically adjustable heated front seats with lumbar adjustment in the driver’s seat. It’s also got a full set of ‘cameras’ providing a 360 degree ‘Around View Monitor’ which makes parking the beast an absolute doddle. Add to that an electric tailgate so you don’t need to get out to open the boot in the rain when the wife is approaching with the weekly shop. And they say gentlemanly courtesy and chauvinism is dead.

And who needs a convertible when you have a panoramic sunroof with one-touch blinds? There’s an 8 inch touchscreen SatNav system and 7 inch TFT instrument display with an onboard computer that gives provide a comprehensive set of information functions which seems to include everything except a calorie counter and a blood pressure monitor. Really, no normal motorist needs anything more.

As for the engine, Kia has done a good job with its latest 2.2 litre CRDi unit. It’s a wee bit noisier than all but the most exclusive 4x4s and its mated up to a four wheel drivetrain that’s every bit as competent as its rivals.

The Dynamax all wheel drive system is electronically managed, continuously monitoring and anticipating road and driving conditions. In normal conditions it’s a front wheel drive vehicle until the going gets slippery or rough when it starts to send power where it’s needed. There is a Manual mode which can lock in a 50/50 drive split if you are heading into the hills to count your Hielan’ coos.

OWith a 2.7 metre wheelbase and a near-2 tonne kerb weight it’s a stable big character and yet the self levelling suspension with MacPherson front struts and double wishbones at the rear makes it more than capable of a spirited bit of cross country driving when desired. Perhaps surprisingly, this gives it the ability see off those annoying hot-hatch gits on your tailgate with their zenon vajzzle headlights!

Apparently sensible drivers can achieve in excess of 40mpg, but during the 770 miles which I had it, the average was 30.5! Mind you that was during the worst of the rainy weather in the run up to Christmas and the occasional bit of snow.

The range starts from around £29,000 for the entry-level KX-1, which is pretty good value for what it does and what you get, but the top-spec KX-4 auto pushes the price beyond £40,000. That sounds expensive till you compare it to its Solihull rivals.

Despite my two reservations I would be quite happy to live with a Sorento, but I’d go for the 17 inch wheels or 18s at a push, certainly not the 19s. I care more for comfort than for looks, or is that an age thing? Still undecided? It comes with Kia’s 7 year Warranty.

  • Review Date: January 4, 2016
  • Price
  • Engine
  • Performance
  • Economy
  • CO2 emissions
  • Insurance Group

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