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Kia Sorento Platinum 2012 Review

EXPERT RATING
7

While not quite the flagship of the Kia range - surely that's the more-expensive eight-seater Carnival peoplemover - the Sorento SUV is Kia's quiet achiever.

The big seven-seater has some of the new look - without the full-blown style-house look - and quietly goes about its business, recording a few hundred sales a month and giving those with a larger brood another option beyond its peoplemover siblings.

The recent addition of satellite navigation - something the Korean brand has lagged behind some of its competition with - has warranted some more time behind the wheel.

VALUE

The top-spec Sorento will be $50,180 Platinum gets the aforementioned satnav, as well as remote central locking with keyless entry and push-button start, 18in alloy wheels (and a full-size spare), leather trim, a power-adjustable driver's seat, splitfold 2nd and 3rd row, exterior heated power-folding mirrors, LED taillights and HID headlights, a double sunroof, dual-zone climate control with rear air vents.

There's also cruise control with audio, phone and cruise controls on the reach-and-rake adjustable leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear selector, a trip computer, sports pedals, two 12-volt outlets and an auto-dipping centre rearvision mirror, a 6-CD six-speaker sound system, USB and auxiliary input, Bluetooth phone and sound system link.

TECHNOLOGY

Shop for the flagship and its a diesel-only model - a 2.2-litre turbocharged, intercooled and direct-injected 16-valve double-overhead cam four-cylinder. The little powerplant produces 145kW and 436Nm, worthwhile outputs when the Sorento was upgraded in 2009 and still numbers that warrant attention.

This is the Korean brand's first satnav system is a 6.5in touchscreen unit sourced from LG that is standard on Platinum models. Navteq maps (which at the moment are updated at 12 and 24 months for free, says Kia) are displayed clearly and the unit uses the SUNA live traffic information system to help avoid delays.

The touchscreen set-up is easy enough to use and informative, with real time traffic and road-weather warnings useful to avoid snarls. The satnav's display is also used for the reversing camera, which is a little easier to see than the in-mirror version seen on other Kias.

DESIGN

The big SUV gets plenty of the Schreyer-snout but aside from that has less of the sculpted surfaces of its brethren - big, square and boxy dimensions abound when looking beyond the nose. It's not an unattractive beast but has less attitude than the newer Sportage.

Inside, there's a useful amount of space - more than enough for four average adults and their gear stowed in the rear, which Kia says can swallow 1047 litres when configured as a five-seater.

Pulling up the simple-to-use third row, which also gets vents from the climate control, reveals two seats and a half-decent footwell, but luggage spaced drops to 258 litres - the Carnival is cleverer in that respect, bringing the seats out of the floor and leaving more cargo space.

SAFETY

The big Korean SUV has a five-star rating from its launch in 2009 and no shortage of safety features - anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control, hill start and descent control, rear parking sensors and reversing camera, automatic headlights (but no rain-sensing wipers), six airbags (dual front, front-side and full-length side-curtains) and front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

DRIVING

It's a peoplemover for those who want to look like explorers and not breeders - with 184mm of ground clearance and no low range any more, locking the centre diff is only going to get you so far off the bitumen, but it can cope with more than most will attempt.

The little turbodiesel carries out its work without intrusive noise levels and once its taken a deep breath there's plenty of torque in the mid-range to keep the throttle pedal well clear of the firewall.

The six-speed auto is slick and smooth, which is a good thing as its indecisiveness can get a little tiresome, as can the foot-operated parkbrake, which never feels like it's up to the task even at full stretch. Manual changes won't fix it either, as the transmission over-rules anyway, but if steer well clear of the redline or lugging it in a high gear you choice remains unaltered.

The driver will also want to make sure the A-pillar isn't hiding any unseen vehicles or pedestrians - this is not a problem just for Kia either, many car makers have widened A-pillars for crash load paths and it's an on-going problem. Also something that needs attention is the headlights, or more specifically the high beam, which is lack-lustre at best.

The ride is firm but what may put some off the Platinum is the top-spec wheel-tyre package - it relays smaller ruts and bumps in a way that's normally reserved for tyres lower in profile than the 60-series Nexen rubber on the Sorento. Aside from that the suspension does its job without too much wallow either, but it's no Ford Territory or BMW X5.

Another annoyance - which Kia says is being resolved - is the lack of compatibility between an iPhone, it's USB cable and the USB port in the Sorento. It won't charge or connect for the music player, leaving Bluetooth as the only music option without the special Kia accessory cable.

Kia Sorento Platinum

Price: from $50,180
Warranty: 5 years/ unlimited km
Resale: 53 per cent (Source: Glass's Guide)
Service interval: 15,000km/12 months
Safety rating: five star
Spare: Full-size
Engine: 2.2-litre, 145kW/436Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto, 4WD
Body: 4.7m (L); 1.9m (w); 1.8m (h)
Weight: 1959kg
Thirst: 5.51/100km, on test 10.1, tank 70 litres; 161g/km CO2 

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
Stuart Martin
Contributing Journalist

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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.