Kia Sorento 2009 review

Kia’s affordable and durable Sorento 4WD has shed its old clothes to become a stylish suburban wagon. But the change takes the Sorento down a new, more urban road.

In Korea today, Kia unveiled the new Sorento with seven seats, a monocoque body, the option of an economy-minded four-cylinder petrol engine, the availability of a 2WD system and yet without its trademark low-range 4WD transmission.

The new wagon is now clearly aimed at the urban market and in doing so, has increased its comfort-biased features and eased off on the adventure-trail image of old.

Drivetrains and pricing

Kia Australia spokesman Jonathan Fletcher says the new Sorento will be on sale in January — priced about the same as the current model — though under debate is the engine selection and the trim levels.

“We have the choice of a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, a 3.5-litre V6 petrol and a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel,” he says.

“The turbo-diesel is a definite. But were not so sure about which petrol, and even if we need a petrol. The 3.5 is less fuel efficient than our current 3.3. The 2.4 may be too underpowered, though may suit the 2WD system in Mum’s taxi roles.

“We have to look at the manual or automatic transmissions — do we bring in both or just the auto?

“So then we have to decide if Australia wants a five seater or a seven seater or make the extra two seats an option.

“Then we have the trim levels. We will get electronic stability control. The base-model LX in Korea doesn’t get it but we will. So we’ll upgrade the LX with safety features ESC and six airbags, and bring in the upmarket EX and even look at making a limited edition model above the EX with airbag list of standard features.”

The 2WD version will give Kia a lower-cost medium-sized SUV in the Australian market that will compete with the Ford Territory, Hyundai Santa Fe, Holden Captiva and Toyota Kluger.

It is possible that a high-spec 2WD could be priced s low as around $32,000 though Fletcher says it is too early to call prices.

This entry-level model with a diesel engine would only compete with the Hyundai — ironically one of Kias associate companies — and the similarly Korean-made Captiva.

Design and body

The Sorento gets a chiselled look and wide-mouthed grille that follows the creation of a family face by Kia’s leading designer, Peter Schreyer.

It is substantially more aerodynamic, slashing its drag figure to 0.38 from 0.425, which aims to improve the fuel economy.

Compared with the current mode, it sits on a slightly smaller wheelbase yet at 4685mm is longer by 95mm and is 15mm lower.

Its move away from the dirt is reflected in its ground clearance, now 184mm from the previous models generous 203mm.

Cabin room is up, hence the ability to seat seven and luggage space is up 10 per cent to a spacious 1047 litres.

The automatic transmission is a new six-sped unit that is 12kg lighter and 54mm shorter than the five-speed box it replaces. The move away from a separate full ladder chassis has saved depending on the model up to 215kg. The diesel and V6 are both about 1760kg. The 2WD version saves another 45kg.

Safety

Kia claims the Sorento will get the maximum 5-star Euro NCAP and US crash ratings and the best 3-star pedestrian rating, but has not yet received official test results.

Sales

The lack of a low-range gearbox will affect specific market sales though Kia is looking above this sector at the more substantial family and soft leisure markets. This is defined by Kia’s plan to start manufacturing the Sorento in the US state of Georgia in November. It is Kia’s first plant in the US and in fact the first new vehicle plant to be built in the US this year.

Australia will get its Sorento range from Korea as the US plant will be left-hand drive only.

Driving

Look at the new Sorento, expected in Australia in January, as an update of the current model and you would be barking up the wrong tree.

In almost every respect, what the next Sorento does and how it does it is far, far away from the original model that was seen as a durable, rugged and off-road capable five seater. Now, its gone soft. Very soft.

On a long and winding road through South Korea this week, the Sorento felt supple and very compliant and it was only when a sharp pothole or bad road joint came in contact with one of the wheels did it all become a bit pear-shaped.

The ride, while sumptuous, doesn’t have the suspension — particularly the dampers — to muffle the transition through to the occupants derrieres.

It is, thinking back, very close to the impressions of the first Sorento.

Treat the new wagon carefully and it will come close to matching the ride comfort and quietness of its main rivals, the Ford Territory and Toyota Kluger.

I drove a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel model with its six-speed, inhouse-built automatic transmission driving a part-time, on-demand all-wheel drive system. There is no low-range gearbox on offer. The test vehicle was also a seven seater and, according to Kias statistics, weighed about 1800kg.

The engine is new for Kia, with an aluminium block and head, variable-geometry turbocharger and a high pressure common-rail injection system. Kia codes this engine as the R series and it will be expanded to other models.

It’s a strong unit with 145kW and a meaty 436Nm of torque at 1800-2500rpm which gave a surprisingly good account of hauling the Sorentos weight and its three adult occupants.

There was an occasion or two when the engine wasn’t awake and the lag would temporarily produce a dead accelerator. The gearbox has a sequential manual mode and it’s this feature that overcomes any tendency for the engine to suffocate.

General handling is good though, again, there may be benefit in fitting firmer dampers to get a more positive feel to steering and body stance.

For towing, the turbo-diesel is rated at 2000kg which should really be at least 2500kg. There may be adjustments to tis when the final specification shake-down happens for the Australian model range.

The Sorento is a big vehicle and will seat seven, though the third row of seats which fold flat into the luggage floor are awkward to get to and a bit limited for adult haulage. Im 177cm and just fitted in, with tight legroom and my head on the ceiling. Best for the kiddies, really.

Interior finish is very good though there is a lot of hard (and black) plastic in there. Heated front and rear seats were on the test car though probably unlikely — and generally unnecessary — in Australia.