Kia Sorento Si and SLi 2009 review

Kia has dropped its 4WD abilities in favour of making its new Sorento an SUV.  Kia has sold almost 900,000 globally since it introduced Sorento in 2002 (9000 in Australia since it started here in January 2003) and Kia Australia president and CEO Terry Im says the new Sorento's arrival is just the start.

"The company is scheduled to introduce 20 all-new or upgraded models between 2009 and 2012 - this is our fourth new model in Australia just this year," he says.  "The development of the new Sorento clearly demonstrates the depth of Kia's engineering and manufacturing capability."

Kia admits it may lose some sales to other ‘proper’ 4WDs, as well as those looking for a heavy-duty tow vehicle, as the braked towing capacity for the lighter new-mode Sorento has also been reduced to 2500kg for the manual and 2000kg for the auto.

Equipment

Seven seats, stability control, dual front, side and full-length curtain airbags for all three rows are all standard range-wide, which will give it a Euro NCAP five-star rating, although an ANCAP rating of the same number will have to wait for the addition of a front passenger seatbelt reminder.

Size

The car has grown by 95mm in length but has 10mm from its wheelbase and 15mm from the overall height of the outgoing car.  The company claims it is quieter - with more sound deadening materials and foam injection into keys areas - as well as being lighter and stronger, thanks to the use of 70 per cent high tensile steel.

Drivetrains

The brand has downsized both the petrol and diesel engines but has improved fuel use without sacrificing outputs.  The 3.3-litre petrol 180kW/309Nm V6 engine has been replaced by the familiar (to Kia and Hyundai buyers) Theta II 2.4-litre four-cylinder, with variable valve timing - the four-cylinder produces 128kW and 226Nm, but with a claim of 16 per cent better fuel economy at 9.2l/100km.

The diesel and its own six-speed auto are big news for the company, with the engine down from 2.5 to 2.2 litres but all-alloy in construction with double overhead cams and 16 valves.  The variable-geometry turbo works with third-generation common-rail injection to produce 145kW and 436Nm, while claims of 6.7l/100km for the six-speed manual and 7.4 for the six-speed automatic, more than a litre better than the out-going diesel.

The six-speed auto was four years in development - which has yielded more than 300 patent applications by Kia - and is 12kg lighter and more compact than the five-speed.  The Sorento has an on-demand 4WD system that has a manual 50/50 locked mode, which releases above 30km/h; the system as has hillstart assist and downhill assist, which brings the car down a steep slope at 8km/hr

Suspension

The double-wishbone front suspension has been replaced the lighter, smaller and cheaper MacPherson struts, while the rear end gets a sub-frame mounted multi-link suspension with coil springs; the diesel models also get an automatic self-levelling system.  The new model gets four-wheel discs - front rotors are ventilated - with anti-lock and brakeforce distribution and the aforementioned stability control as standard.

Sorento Si

The base-model Sorento Si is available from $36,490 for the two-wheel drive petrol model - the 2WD drivetrain is available with the four-cylinder petrol engine (Si only) and offers a slightly lower weight: 50kg less than 4WD models.  The Si gets 17in alloys, front fog lights, remote keyless entry, auto door locks, cloth trim, 60/40 split 2nd and 50/50 3rd split-fold seats and folding power-adjustable side mirrors.

A leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control (with wheel-mounted controls), trip computer, power windows, reach'n'rake adjustable steering, a six-speaker MP3 compatible single CD sound system with USB/iPod input, dual-zone climate control with CleanAir ioniser and vents for 2nd and 3rd rows.

Sorento SLi

The four-wheel drive manual turbodiesel is $39,990 (the auto adds $2000), with the mid-spec SLi turbodiesel - which Kia believes will represent the biggest slice of its annual sales target of 2000 - is an automatic-only proposition at $45,990. 

The SLi ups the wheel-size to 18in and adds a rear view camera (with screen within the centre electro-chromatic rear-vision mirror), rear parking sensors, automatic lights, leather trim, roof rails, LED rear taillights, alloy pedals and scuff plates and fan controls for the 3rd row.

The Platinum tops the list with a smart key, the panoramic sunroof, an external amplifier, centre speaker and sub-woofer for the sound system.  The Sorento flagship Platinum auto turbodiesel starts from $48,990.   The company has full iPod integration across the range but has no integrated Bluetooth or satellite navigation available yet, although the company is working on the latter.

Driving

The shift from the 4WD to the SUV genre for Kia's Sorento has done the Sorento no harm.  While the grey nomads might not like the reduction in towing capacity and the transfer case will be missed by the rock-hopper, most people in the market for a medium SUV will like much of this new offering.

The first impressions from behind the wheel of the new car is that Kia has toughened up the structure, if not maintaining the rough'n'tumble off-road image.  More svelte, with the longer, more stylish nose, the front of the new Sorento has an attractive edge, unlike the rear which looks a little out of balance and nowhere near as nice.

The smaller diesel is smooth and quiet, with a strong bottom-end - once the turbo has wound up a little - and the surge doesn't taper off until well up the rev range.  We didn't sample the six-speed manual but the diesel-six-speed auto combination worked well - as long as the engine revs didn't drop away too far.  The ride is on the firm side but has some compliance and isn't skittish, the body control is similarly good and it is only tyre grip that sees the front wash wide under pressure.

The launch drive was far from frugally-minded but both the SLi and Platinum versions had figures in the low 9s on the trip computers.  The third row is more useful than some but there's minimal storage space with it in use for passengers - something not unique to this car - but in five-seater mode there's decent luggage space, without being cavernous.

The rear pillar is very thick and there's a solid blind spot at either back corner, which will make sensors and a reversing camera most welcome.  The Sorento has a more solid feel than its predecessor and the new smooth and quiet diesel will put it on plenty of shopping lists.