An extended road trip is a great way to get to know a new vehicle better and Kia South Africa gave the motoring media a chance to sample both its new Sorento executive SUV and Carnival people-mover over a weekend. First up was the all-new 4th-generation Kia Sorento.

Kia South Africa is in a great space with its SUV range. There is a huge demand for thecompact Kia Sonet, sales of the Kia Seltosareticking over nicely and the Kia Sportage is meeting its run-out targetahead of the arrival of an all-new model in a few months’ time, but the subject of this write-up is the 4th-generation of a model thathas notched up more than 3 million sales since itsdebutin 2002.

Although itofferedpracticality, performance,economyand refinement in a segment dominated by bakkie-based SUVs, the outgoing Sorento wasn’t a looker. However, irrespective ofwhichangle you view it from and the colour in which it is finished, the newSorento is abold, strikingly styled family SUV. It even incorporates elements of the award-winning Telluride – Kia’simposing, unique-to-the-‘States flagship SUV.

What’s New?

Thesharp,fresh looks are just the start. The new 7-seater Sorento rides on a new platform, which means it has a longer wheelbase and, therefore, offers more interiorspace. Like its predecessor, the Kia is a unibody SUV, which means it has a shell instead of a body mounted on a ladder-frame chassis (as the Toyota Fortuner does), which benefits its driving manners, occupant comfort, ride and handling.

Under the bonnet is a new-generation engine. Dubbed “Smartstream”, thenew turbodiesel motor is said to offer superior performance to its predecessor, but not to the detriment of fuel economy.

Inside, the cabin has receiveda substantial makeover – the Korean newcomerfeatures a modern-looking interior that brimswith connectivity, driver-assistance systemsand infotainment technology.

What’s on offer?

Kia South Africa offersits new Sorento in 4 derivatives. Each of themis powered by a2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel Smartstream engine, which produces 148 kW/440 Nm and is mated with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. There is a choice of 3trim levels and all but the entry-level derivative features all-wheel drive. At the top of the pile is the SXL,which was the version that we drove.

Kia offers10exterior paint finishesfor the new Sorentoand even though the SXL flagship is luxuriously appointed, the EX+ and SX versions also offer impressive levels of standard features.

For detailed specs and prices, please click here.

What’sthe new Kia Sorento like to drive?

We had an opportunityto drive the new Sorento twice– on the first leg of the evaluation route from Gqeberha to Plettenberg Bay and on the third and final leg from Mossel Bayto Cape Town.With head-turning looks and an interior that offers build quality and refinement that’s effortlessly on par with those of some premium brands’ executive SUVs, Kia’s contender makes agoodimpression straightaway.

The Sorento’s cabin has a spacious, comfortable layout, but it’s also trimmed and finished in a way that createsa premium ambience.There are some really cool features too, such as the digital instrument cluster that displays different coloured dials depending on which drive mode you’ve selected.Another highlight is that when youindicate your intention to change from one lane to another, for example, one of the dials in the display instantly relays a camera feed that shows a view to the left or right behind the vehicle. It’s a great way to check your blind spot, either on freeways or whenparking.

Due to the 40°C-plus heatwave that gripped the Western Cape recently, the ventilated seats in the SXL put in a hard day’s work (in conjunction with the climate-control system, of course) to keep the Sorento’s occupants cool and comfortable.While the driver and front passenger are availed three USB ports and a wireless phone charger, the rear passengers have access to a USB portin each of the front seatbacks. Other notable features include a generously sized infotainment touchscreen, a heads-up display, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, plus a large panoramic sunroof, to name but a few.

The new Sorento can comeequipped with Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, which incorporates forward-collision avoidance tech, blindspot-view monitor, smart cruise control, lane-following assist and so on. There are parking sensors and cameras galore, plus6 airbags. Not all these features are the preserve of the flagship version either;even the entry-level EX+covers the basics well.

That new turbodiesel engine is impressive. Not only is it reasonably quiet, itcomes on song quickly and punches hard with in-gear torque, which is handy when you need to execute quick overtaking manoeuvres. There are various drivemodes, but we preferred to utilise Smart mode,which keeps settings mostly in Eco and Comfort until you need to summon maximum acceleration, at which point the sportiest presetwill temporarily be engaged. The dual-clutch ‘box is quick to respond, both in terms of changing up and kicking down. There are steering-wheel shift paddles too, which have a pleasant feel.

The main benefit of opting for Smart is that you get the best of both worlds – therereally is no need to hunt for the appropriatesetting. Given thatthe mode tends to favoureconomy, it came as no surprise that the Sorento managed to consume just 7.5 L/100 km of diesel without the need for us to always feather the accelerator pedal, coast excessively or brake gently… Not bad for a sizeable7-seater SUV!

The ride quality of SXL (which has 19-inch alloys and tyres) was mostly absorbentand the cabin seemed well insulated fromroad noise. The suspension setup is pliant, but we did drive on well-maintained asphalt for most of the route. While we’re satisfied with the Sorento’s ride comfort so far, we’re keen to test it on the kinds of uneven roads that representthose one wouldfind in mostparts of thecountry.

There’s not much in the way of feedback from the steering ‘wheel, but, given that this modelis hardly likely to be hustled around tight corners, that’s nota deal-breaker. We appreciated that the Sorento feltevery bit like a luxurious family SUV to drive; it’sfurther evidence that Kia is trying to change its imagefrom a cool, value-oriented brand, to a credible and established producer ofpremium models.

We also had the chance to drive on a section of poor-quality gravel– let’s just say that particular dirt road was in dire need of a grader!Our SXL featured all-wheel drive, but with a front-wheel bias. In effect, the Sorento is primarily driven by its front wheels(which saves fuel) until its electronic stability control system senses a loss of traction… at that point, engine torque will be directed to the rear wheels too.

There are selectableoffroad-specific modes, through whichthe car’s transmission-, power delivery-and traction control settings can be adapted for driving in sand, mud and snow. Impressively, we didn’t touch the terrain modes and despite some driving geared to provoking a loss of traction– the Sorento stayed firmly planted and no forward momentum was lost, despite the loose gravel and steep inclines.

How much does the Kia Sorento cost in South Africa?

The Kia Sorento is sold with a 5-year/unlimited km warranty (including roadside assistance) and a 6-year/90 000 km maintenance plan.

Summary

The new, 4th-generation Kia Sorento represents a huge step up – both for the model and the Korean brand. We have favourable first impressions of this well-finished executive SUV and are keen to take a deeper dive into its skillset, such as testing the 3rd row of seats to see whetherthe newcomer is truly a practical 7-seat luxury family car.

In its product presentation, Kia SA pitched the Sorento as a viable alternative to German executive SUVsthat cost a bit more money, but offer far less in the way of standard equipment and interior space.

With the buy-down trend in full swing in our market (executive SUVs– let alone premium SUVs– nowcost in excess of R1 million), consumers are desperate to findgood value. The new Kia Sorento comes in under a bar and while it may not have a premium German badge on its nose, you cannot ignorethe newcomer’s value proposition, both in terms of its luxury packaging and extensive after-sales support.