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Kia Sorento Si auto 2012 review

EXPERT RATING
7

In the city dusk, seven friends gathered beside three vehicles. They admired the stylish SUV, but shoulders dropped as they compared it with their cramped cars. About to depart for their favorite Italian noshery, one posed the crucial question, ‘Should we take two cars ... or the Sorento?’

The leviathan Kia seven-seater SUV may seem overkill on city streets, but if you have kids -- or friends that dodge being the designated driver -- the confident Sorento will zip you around in comfort and little concern about its girth.

Get it out of town onto the weekend warrior trails, and it finds plenty of fans out there too. On a ferry river-crossing, we gloated at the jealous glances of the minivan-caged family beside us.

Hearing another family grumbling about the rough dirt road they'd just bumped over, we headed back on that route.  After tackling kilometres of dirt, gravel, and plenty of potholes in the smooth Sorento, we couldn't see what they were complaining about.

Price and equipment

The Kia Sorento Si is priced from $36,990, which gets you Bluetooth, dual airconditioning, central locking, power windows and mirrors, 17-in alloy wheels, fog lamps, cruise control, traction and stability control, eight airbags, hill start and downhill assist.

Technology

The 3.5-litre petrol, six-speed automatic transmission Si runs confidently on its 204kW of power and 335Nm of torque. However the vehicle’s size comes at a price, the official fuel figure is 10L/100km, but our treks through the city and out on to hilly back roads and some dirt roads found us at 10.4L/100km.

On rougher tracks you may wish you had the diesel version’s Active AWD, but the 3.5L petrol, front 2WD Si still has the McPherson strut front suspension, giving it a steadier ride over dirt and gravel, and the 17 inch alloy wheels give you a firm grip on the road.

Design

Clean lines give it a surprisingly slick look. Advertised as a rugged SUV, the stylised design reminds us a bit of someone putting on makeup to work out at the gym.

Internally, with three child restraint anchorage points it’s well suited to transport a family,  and in much better style than your average people mover. That said, this isn’t just a kid-friendly SUV.

You can fit five adults in the comfortable, spacious seats, then flip up the third row and shove two more (preferably short) adults in back. The two additional seats are handy in terms of capacity, if not comfort.  The lack of leg room and the difficult access make the third row impractical for long trips with adults, though two small children may like its secluded feel from the rest of the vehicle.

While the dashboard’s looks are more mass-market than upmarket, the layout is convenient. Wheel mounted Bluetooth, cruise, and volume controls make driving the Sorento a breeze, and if you’re traveling with a hot or cold-blooded sidekick, dual-zone climate control will stop the battle for control.

Safety

You got it. With ANCAP’s highest rating of five stars, the passenger, front side, and curtain SRS airbags, not to mention the anti-lock braking system, electronic stability control, and downhill break control will make you feel safe as houses in this SUV that seems big enough to be one.

Driving

There’s enough power going up hills, and if you’re stuck in traffic on steep inclines, the Si comes with hill-start assist control, giving you a steady start when traffic clears. A bit of body roll keeps you slower on sharp turns, and there’s a slight grab on the brakes, but for the size of the SUV, it seems inevitable.

You’d think you’d prefer to rein in the Si with manual control, but the automatic responds well and gear changes are fairly smooth. Steering is light and responsive.

Comfort is key in the Si. Spacious legroom (as long as you’re not in the third row) and plenty of clever storage options, makes for a pleasurable ride. An aluminum casing on the engine helps cut down cabin noise, and as long as you don’t have the fan on full blast (prepare for takeoff), the Si is surprisingly quiet in traffic and at full speed.

While the height of the vehicle gives you a good view above traffic, the bevel of the hood makes the front feel longer than it actually is (think of a 1980’s sedan). Not too much of a problem, but oddly, it’s the sides that are hardest to judge while parking. Unfortunately, once you get a sense of the vehicle boundaries, parking’s still a pain. The width of the cabin makes you feel like you’re never fully off the road, and backing into a tight spot makes you wish a reversing camera came standard. 

Verdict

If you want to feel safe and stylish with plenty of bulk to clear a path in the city or on the trail then this is the SUV for you. 

Pricing guides

$14,990
Based on 38 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months
Lowest Price
$9,999
Highest Price
$19,880

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
Si (4x4) 2.2L, Diesel, 6 SP AUTO $12,980 – 17,380 2012 Kia Sorento 2012 Si (4x4) Pricing and Specs
Si (4x2) 3.5L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO $11,110 – 15,290 2012 Kia Sorento 2012 Si (4x2) Pricing and Specs
SLi (4x4) 2.2L, Diesel, 6 SP AUTO $14,520 – 19,140 2012 Kia Sorento 2012 SLi (4x4) Pricing and Specs
Platinum (4x4) 2.2L, Diesel, 6 SP AUTO $14,300 – 18,810 2012 Kia Sorento 2012 Platinum (4x4) Pricing and Specs
EXPERT RATING
7
Pricing Guide

$9,999

Lowest price, based on 31 car listings in the last 6 months

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Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication.  Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.