Kia Sorento Reviews

Kia was heading in the right direction with an affordable, durable (in a slightly backyard kind of way) 4WD wagon that made up for Tonka toy styling with stuff that the big LandCruisers got - like a low-range gearbox, full ladder frame chassis and high ground clearance. It was, to families who wanted to inhale the eucalyptus fragrance of adventure, a well-priced, offroad-capable and city and family-friendly car.And the Kia Sorento - one ‘r’ because Toyota licensed the other ‘r’ in its Avalon Sorrento limited-edition special - did quite well on the sales charts. That was, until the truth came out about what these families actually did with their dirt-capable wagon on weekends. 'Sod all'... because the parents were too busy moving children from one sports oval to the next and fighting with the rest of town for supermarket shopping bays. Which made Kia, and all of its rivals, figure that adding all the off-roady bits was all a bit pointless. So the carmakers simply took the bits back.Now its Sorento wagon comes with seven-seat room for the kids and their sports gear for Saturdays and a tall riding stance to locate a parking bay in a crowded shopping complex. The suspension is more compliant and the floor level is lower, so you don't show too much leg while boarding. The girls will also appreciate this feature. It's quieter, easier to drive, has better ergonomics, looks a lot - a real lot, in fact – better.Thanks to sharing engine development with its parent Hyundai, now comes with an excellent turbo-diesel engine and delightful six-speed automatic transmission. This 2.2-litre R-Series four-cylinder drank an average of 8.7 litres/100km on its predominantly city-suburbs route which - given its size and capacity for load - was pretty good. Even better was its verve. Strong from idle to give it a push away from the lights, it breathed second wind at about 2000rpm for a healthy kick that really dazzled neighbouring traffic.The engine is also remarkably quiet and this, together with its elastic power delivery and its choice of six cogs, made it surprisingly smooth and almost unassuming. That said, the engine - which is set transverse with a T-drive for the prop to head to the back wheels - isn't just made for the city streets. It cruises without fuss and the only complaint is that it can occasionally be uncomfortable in its top gear and doesn't easily select a lower cog to ease its pain. It does, however, have sequential shift so individual gears can be locked. You can go over firm sand, it'll run a beach or two and enjoys gravel, but rock hopping isn't its bag. So it's not a big adventure machine but it's still a great package.The rest of the chassis works without complaint. I was pleasantly surprised with the steering that has, thanks to some reworking, lost a lot of its disconcerting vagueness and lifeless feel. It's no BMW now, but it's a heck of a lot better than before. The third row of two individual seats lifts neatly from the cargo floor and will accommodate two adults for short journeys. Though it lacks windows back there, it does get big airconditioning vents (as does the centre row) with its own fan speed dial, plus a storage bin and cupholders.There's more room in the centre seat which adds split, fold and tumble modes plus a recline function for sleepyheads. Parents will appreciate the lower floor height if they're loading babies or toddlers. Most of the niceties mentioned here about the Sorento is thanks to its upmarket Platinum trim level. You can buy a Sorento for $36,490 and it's pretty complete. The Platinum costs $48,990 and while that's a lot of money, it's actually better value than most of its peers.Amongst the Platinum's goodies are two sunroofs - well, a tilt glass with shade-cloth slide at the front and the shade-cloth cove for the rear unit. Kids love it, though, because of the night-sky outlook and airy daytime feel. The audio accepts iPod, other auxiliary appliances and a USB stick. The reverse camera is a beauty with its screen within the rear vision mirror - clever - and the keyless start has a port within the centre console to recharge the key fob.

If there was a turning point when Korean cars were not just thought of as cheap but started to earn respect as worthy in engineering and quality, I'd nominate the introduction of the Kia Sorento in February 2003.Now, the latest edition Sorento advances that, to add style, comfort and space into the mix, to create an attractive proposition in the medium-large SUV wagon sector.In these past seven years, other Korean cars have stood up, too. Kia's own Cerato sedan and Koup being a good look in any driveway, sister brand Hyundai becoming a valid big seller and its i30 a big force in the small-car segment, and brands such as Holden sourcing cars from Korea, such as Captiva and the popular Cruze.The point being: don't dismiss something because it's Korean. The Kia Sorento is an excellent example of a good thing to own and drive if you can overcome any lingering badge snobbery.Sorento is available from $39,990 in petrol, diesel, manual or automatic (each six-speeds) and two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive.  We've been driving the top of the tree, the Sorento Platinum. It comes only with automatic transmission, AWD and the diesel engine which outguns the petrol unit in power and certainly in torque while using less fuel. And at $48,990 (between the prices of a Holden Commodore Sportwagon V8 and SV6) it's pretty well equipped.For starters (literally), you keep the key in pocket or purse, walk to the car and touch the doorhandle for it to unlock. Still without getting out the key, just push the dashboard start-stop button and you're ready to go.Sorento Platinum has power front seats, a full seven seats, leather trim (though having a durable look and feel rather than soft luxury), a premium audio system of eight speakers, dual-zone airconditioning for driver and front passenger and headlight washers.There's an electric sunroof (too much wind noise when open at highway speed). The second row passengers have a non-opening glass sunroof as part of the "panorama" roof. The wagon sits on big alloy wheels and tarmac road-biased hefty tyres, Happily, the spare is full size and kept under the rear of the vehicle. It has a foot-pedal park brake.Centre-dashboard controls are easy to read and understand. Cruise control switches are on the steering wheel right-hand spoke.   The D-pillars are wide but those blind spots are helped overcome by large exterior mirrors, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera that has its almost-9cm colour screen appear in the left of the interior rear view mirror, a perfect spot for it.Front occupants get good elbow room. Scond row passengers have improved leg room and a reclining back rest, the middle person getting a flat floor for their feet, and the pair of third row seats are just OK for average-sized adults if they keep their heads forward. The third row also gets variable-fan vents.Luggage space is minimal with the third row seats up (no surprise) but those seats easily fold to a flat floor, as do the 40/60 second trow.  Even better for families, Kia Sorento has ESP, spread of airbags and a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.This latest Sorento is a complete re-design of the earlier model. First the good news: it is more car-like thanks to a monocoque body, it has lower entry and floor level, is sleeker, more modern looking and the new suspension MacPherson strut at front and independent multi-link at the rear gives a far better ride comfort. The lower centre of gravity helps handling.Now the bad news, at least for 4WD adventurers: it no longer has low-range transmission, its lost 19mm in ground clearance and the front overhang is 105mm longer. It will still take to a bumpy dirt track in quite some comfort but is no longer an off-roader.A dash button gives all-wheel-drive lock but otherwise it's front-drive and AWD on demand. Technology is some help with a feet-off downhill creep control and traction control, but a limiting factor will be the tyres designed for tarmac, not clay. For 4WD pundits who want to check, it has a 25 degree approach angle, 23 departure and 17 degree rampover with 184mm ground clearance.The sump "guard" is merely plastic.  Exterior mirrors fold in electrically -- just as useful in parking by a bike lane as negotiating bushes and trees.So consider this an all-wheel-drive SUV luxury wagon and not a bush-basher and it will do the job nicely.  The diesel engine is a beauty. A typical rattle on cold start but once warm, barely noticeable, unless 2500-plus rpm is used for sharp overtaking or hillclimbing, when there is a buzz. We did mostly urban driving yet still achieved 8.3 litres/100km economy, this in a 1960kg SUV. It's even better country cruising a whisker under 2000rpm at 110km/h in sixth gear.

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."The Korean-built two and four-wheel drive SUV - on sale now - now boasts seven seats but is now a monocoque body with no low range.  The new-look design - which follows the family look of the breed, drawn by design boss Peter Schreyer - has dropped the drag-co-efficient from 0.425 to 0.38. 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.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.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.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/hrThe 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.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.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.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.

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.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.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.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.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.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. 

But the time has come to send two of our long-term garage residents back home. Kia's surprising Sorento and the polarising Subaru WRX are on their way after giving sterling service. Numerous shopping trips, commutes to work and longer drives down the coast gave the Sorento every chance to prove itself a reliable companion. And on the whole, it did just that.With the high equipment level, high passenger satisfaction in terms of comfort and high seating position, there was little to complain about. In appearance, it's not the most glamorous SUV around, with its no-frills looks, but it's not really trying to be. The Sorento diesel starts at an affordable $34,990, but our model was the range topper at $44,990.The only real problem encountered was the “wake up Jeff” cruise control, that would frequently decide to go to sleep on the job.Cargo room in the rear is good for those successful shopping trips, and packing the whole family on board doesn't turn into a back seat scrum, as there's enough room to ensure everyone rides in reasonable comfort.The noticeably diesel model averaged about 600km around town on one tank — meaning a fortnightly fuel bill of about $80.Equipment levels were good with an MP3-compatible CD player, leather trim, a sunroof, dual-control aircon and lots of good safety equipment, including stability control — which, curiously, only works in 2WD — and plenty of airbags. The 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine isn't the most exciting drive, but is adequate and is at its best when cruising.The biggest discovery from time spent with the WRX was that you could, indeed, spend time with the WRX. Subaru copped plenty of flak over the decision to “soften” its performance Impreza, but most of that would have to be from those who haven't driven the car and certainly don't use it as a daily drive. Comfortable, compliant, spacious for its class and a stylish interior are things you couldn't have said with a straight face about the previous WRX models.The little WRX served bravely as a family car, spending most of its time pottering around the shopping centres and schools of suburbia protesting not a whit at being utilised so far inside its performance capabilities. When asked to step up for a country run or a sprint to an appointment the WRX showed it is still an athlete at heart. Overall fuel consumption was a touch higher than the claimed 10.7litresper100km but not excessive and the only issue was a remote key fob that occasionally forgot its job description.There are no two ways about it, we are really going to miss the WRX.Staying with us for the while is Chrysler's 300C Touring — cruelly dubbed the Mafia staff car. Living with the 300C is like being in a fishbowl. As you move around you are under constant scrutiny. And, in this fish bowl you're the whale.The gangster-mobile wagon with its monstrous grille, 18-inch alloy wheels and small rear windows is not easily missed.Indeed, it's hardly missed at all given the number of heads turning as we have driven it around Sydney over the past few months on this long-term road test.At first, people usually ask if it is the high-performance SRT-8, a 6.1-litre V8 supercar. However, when they find out it is the V6 diesel with surprisingly good fuel economy their interest grows noticeably stronger.We've been filling the 71-litre tank about once a fortnight and it's proven good for about nine litres per 100km. The low-down pulling power of the diesel engine and its amazing 510Nm of torque is impressive.There's no sprightly spring away from traffic lights; instead there is a feeling of tremendous power, ever-increasing as it gradually pulls away. Living with the car has revealed a few problems, such as the awkward set up of driver controls around the steering wheel and dash, poor rear visibility, and the feeling that you are driving a really big car is fairly pronounced at shopping centre car parks.The leather interior is grey and plain and the rear loading space in the wagon is reduced by side intrusions. However, the second row seats fold down very easily creating much more room.And while the economic benefits of diesel engines are leading to an upsurge in sales across most market segments, many Sydney service stations haven't moved with the times.We have found that many diesel pumps are dirty with spilt diesel underfoot and diesel residue on the hoses and nozzles.All very well if you are in your work overalls refilling a truck, but not so great when you are dressed to the nines heading for a night out in a 300C Touring with its limousine looks. SNAPSHOTS CHRYSLER 300C TOURINGPRICE: $60,990ENGINE: 3.0L/V6 CRD turbo diesel, 160kW/510NmTRANSMISSION: 5-speed autoECONOMY: 8.2L/100km combined claimed  SUBARU IMPREZA WRXPRICE: $39,990ENGINE: 2.5L/4-cyl turbo, 169kW/320NmTRANSMISSION: 5-speed manualECONOMY: 10.7L/100km  KIA SORENTO CRDiPRICE: $44,490ENGINE: 2.5L/4-cyl turbo diesel, 125kW/392NmTRANSMISSION: 5-speed autoECONOMY: 9.4L/100km 

Despite all the misgivings some may have about Korean-made cars, this vehicle was hard to fault for the entire 1300km of combined highway, city and bush bashing that we did over three days.The only glitch was the cruise control, which decided to have a break for about an hour on our way home. It did come back on, so no real hassle, but that could prove irritating on long trips.Otherwise, and sorry to use that word again, but a big solid pass mark for all aspects of this vehicle. Despite trying very hard, my loyal sidekick and I failed to find deficiencies or faults. Everything did the job as required and it provided a comfortable and adequate performance.In the looks department the Sorento, currently part of carsguide's long-term garage, is hardly a standout, but it is far from offensive.The interior was functional and well laid out. The dash and centre console is on the clunky side, with some hard plastics used. But with most of the bells and whistles standard on our EX-L model, including leather trim, cruise control, six-speaker MP3 CD player, dual climate control, eight-way adjustable driver's seat, power everything and trip computer, it was certainly a lot of metal for money at a nudge under $45,000.More importantly, the Sorento CRDi doesn't skimp on safety and security, with ABS, traction control, stability control, dual front and side curtain airbags and immobiliser as standard.The Sorento's standout feature is its wonderful 125kW 2.5L, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine.This is one very refined motor.With a big 392Nm of torque from as low as 2000rpm, the Sorento powered through all conditions, both city streets and off-road.And with a stated fuel consumption of 9.4 litres per 100km (we averaged about 10), it isn't too harsh on the wallet for such a big vehicle.It effortlessly provided extra grunt when required for overtaking on the highway, and negotiating a few steep and rocky inclines deep in the Snowy River National Park. On the downside, the transmission can be a little slow in gear changes, but there's always the option of manually deciding the gears for yourself.From the moment I took off from the inner city and headed south on the M5 to collect my partner in road grime, I found it easy to get myself in a comfortable driving position, with all controls within simple, clear reach. The added bonus of finding an MP3 jack to plug into my iPod to provide the road tunes was a pleasant surprise.The sound system was of an above average quality, but steering wheel audio controls would have been a welcome addition.A sunroof is a surprising addition to the Kia.Although park entrance fees to the Snowies are more than most national parks, you can see where your money goes, with the $5 million raised each year from visitor fees being spent exclusively on the park.As many as 25 camping sites complete with toilet and picnic amenities cover the length and breadth of this natural playground. Most are on pristine creeks, rivers and lakes, making the 4WD and camping enthusiast spoilt for choice.As far as summer activities go, the Snowies provide as much or as little as you'd like. From trekking up Mount Kosciusko, as we did, to simply resting by a babbling river somewhere and reading a book. But beware, bring your insect repellent because flies love it here.Back to the Sorento. On the downside, it is slightly let down by vague handling and wobbly road manners. It isn't meant to be a sports car, but it was noticeable on all road types.Even around the city, its unsteady nature is was evident at fast and slower speeds.There's too much movement in corners and bends and the light steering lacks efficient feedback to make the car feel stronger.However, the fact that the Sorento is a “real” 4WD is a bonus in my eyes.Although we could have done the same trip without the low-range gearings, the added confidence they give on trips like this is a crucial ingredient to having a safe and enjoyable time.And when you saddle the Sorento CRDi up against its competitors, it gives it a distinct advantage over most when it comes to off-road ability at this price and equipment level.

Kia is expecting big things from the new diesel version of its mid-sized Sorento SUV, and first impressions suggest the vehicle will deliver not only on performance but also quality and price.The company’s Australian president and CEO, SK Lee, says Kia has more than 30 years experience in the diesel field, and has a continuing commitment to developing cleaner units.The 2.5-litre CRDi direct-injection oiler, and a 3.3-litre V6 petrol sibling, have just been launched into one of the most crowded segments of the Aussie vehicle market, with more than 20 competitors vying for attention.But of the two, it is the diesel Kia that is expected to account for about 80 per cent of the 200 monthly Sorento sales forecasted.And if they can get people past any lingering doubts about Korean product, and into the vehicle, there should be no trouble exceeding those figures.The Sorento arrives with selectable 4WD in three drivetrain choices, either engine mated to a five-speed automatic with simulated manual mode, or a five-speed manual available only on the diesel and three trim levels.Prices start with base $33,990 auto petrol LX trim level, $36,490 EX and $41,490 Ex-Limited, with $3000 more for the diesel at each level, and the manual diesel coming in at $34,990.The 180kW/309Nm petrol engine (which has lost 500cc on the previous for a fuel saving of nine per cent) posts a 0-100km/h figure of 9.2 seconds and average fuel consumption of 10.9L/100km. In normal driving the unit is smooth and capable, but unless you slotted the transmission into the manual mode there was a slight hint of reluctance if you tried to push it too hard.No such trouble with the diesel, which pulled hard straight from the start and just kept going, with 125kW of power and 392Nm of torque, the large part of which is available at a low 1300rpm to get it to 100km/h in 12 seconds with the manual transmission and just 0.4 more with the auto.The manual shift was easy to use, smooth and precise, but the sequential auto was the one to have, with only minimal lag on the changes in the manual mode, and a decent performance even in full auto.The all-wheel drive system is switchable on the fly from 4x2 high to 4x4 high and 4x4 low, and proved it could handle a range of tough surfaces from loose gravel and wash-out riddled tracks to greasy mud and rocky creeks.It has a decent approach angle of 27.9, breakover of 21.9 and departure of 26.4, but the low 208mm clearance will always hinder any attempts at really deep fording or mountain climbing.With a strong ladder chassis and a 2800kg braked (750kg unbraked) towing capacity, it would have no trouble with a fair-sized boat or even a double horse-float, although curiously on the base model gets a limited slip differential, which offers more ability while the EX and EX-L win the electronic stability program instead.The Sorento is mid-sized, but seems larger than that inside, with plenty of leg and headroom. Cargo capacity is 897 litres in normal set-up, but that blows out to a huge 1960 litres with the help of the 60:40 split-fold rear seat extending a flat load floor.The body design is largely unchanged, with revised grille, bumpers, lights and mouldings giving the main exterior clues that this is the new version, while the cabin gets a brushover and better materials.Even at the entry level, the quality is surprisingly good, with the impression of solid build and not a rattle or squeak to be heard. Surfaces and textures are excellent, with soft-feel plastics in well-designed shapes, just a sprinkling of chrome to spark things up, and smooth movement on anything that opens and shuts.The interior is full of clever little features: removable rubber mats in the bottom of storage nooks, a tray under the front passenger seat, double sunglasses caddy, huge vanity mirrors and lights, large maplights, sliding sunvisors and a nifty vent to blow a clear space onto a misted side window so you can see the wing mirrors.Neat saddle stitching sets off the fabric upholstery, but the seats would benefit from more bolstering on both sides and squab. And with no reach adjustment on the steering wheel, it can take a while to find a comfortable driving position.But visibility is good all round, and effective noise damping means that little (normal) engine or road noise enters the cabin.Entry level equipment includes goodies like roof rails, 16” alloys, skid plates and remote-operated tailgate window. But you don’t get cruise control or traction and stability control _ until you move up to EX, which also gives you another inch on the wheels, and leather and multi-function controls to the steering wheel.The Limited adds dual-zones on the airconditioning, leather on the seats and shift knob, a rear spoiler.There are just twin front airbags in the lower two levels, and you have to get into the EX-L to get the side curtain bags. But the Sorento has been given a four-star rating in the Euro-NCAP crash testing program, and that will be high enough for most people.What will ultimately win them over is the SUV’s value and ability, and a level of quality that shows the Korean manufacturers are moving up in the field very quickly.

In the last five years, the Koreans have come on in leaps and bounds, from building cars that were cheap and a bit tinny to producing vehicles that are still cheaper but almost as good in most cases as their Nippon counter- parts.A case in point is the Kia company which has made significant in-roads into the Aust- ralian market over the past couple of years, with models such as the Carnival people mover and Pregio commercial van.It is not one of these vehicles that were are looking at today, but the five-seat Sorento offroad wagon.The Sorento is one of Kia's new generation of cars and it shows in the superior fit and finish.It not only looks good, but is well built and goes surprising well, thanks in part to a brand new five-speed automatic that was slotted into the car recently.The Sorento is a much better looker than its Hyundai cousin Terracan and often draws unsolicited compliments.Although it looks like a softroader, Sorento actually sits on a full ladder chassis and has a low range set of gears, so it can cope with the rough stuff.There is also a full size spare tucked under the back.However, ground clearance could be the limiting factor at just 203mm.Powering the offroader is a 3.5-litre V6 engine that delivers 145kW of power at 5500rpm and 295Nm of torque at 3000rpm.Coupled with the new auto (a $2000 option), it offers surprisingly brisk performance, with well spaced gears.The transmission is responsive, changing on queue and the driver also has the option of changing gears manually.On the downside, fuel consumption seems on the heavy side.Kia has not supplied figures but we were just shy off 500km when the low fuel light popped on, which puts consumption at about 16.0L/100km.Ouch!Fuel concerns aside, our main issue with this car, concerns the ride and handling.Both myself and Mrs Riley (whose opinion I value greatly) found it "jiggly" and at times uncomfortable. Mrs Riley actually felt unsafe which is not a good thing.In this respect, some further tuning would work wonders, perhaps with some input from an outside suspension specialist like Lotus.Inside, the car is roomy with large easy to use controls and rear window that opens separately for quick access.But we note the lack of a three-point seatbelt for the centre rear passenger.This is simply unacceptable and sure to become a hanging offence in the near future.Standard equipment includes aircondition- ing, two airbags, cruise control, power win- dows/mirrors, eight-speaker CD sound system and a roof console that includes temperature, barometer, compass and altimeter readouts.Kia Sorento automatic is priced from $37,990 before on-road costs.

Price check: Around $40,000 for the top-spec version.Are you sure? Yes. Kia's Sorento SUV gets a lot of ticks in the positive column but the biggest is reserved for its value for money.You could spend a lot more and still not get a four-wheel-drive that can seat five adults and all their luggage in any more comfort than the Sorento.On test was the top-of-the range "leather-pack" auto, which also includes a sunroof and adds $2800 to the base price of $37,950. The manual is $35,950.The $2800 is money well spent as it takes the stylish Sorento into the lower realms of luxury motoring.Kia has been very clever with the Sorento. It has loaded it with features that are options on many of its rivals.You get keyless entry and engine immobiliser; power windows and mirrors (the mirrors are also heated for demisting); overhead display for altitude, direction and barometric pressure; cruise control; sockets for phones, DVD players and laptops; airconditioning with plenty of vents strategically placed around the cabin; and a lot of storage space.Around 900 litres is available with a pull-over cover as standard. If you take up the 60/40 split-folding rear-seat option, you get up to 1960 litres of luggage space.This cargo area can be easily accessed through the remote-operated rear window without opening the tailgate. It's features like this that make the Sorento an easy vehicle to live with. There is a lot of versatility built into it. For example, the ladder chassis helps give it a maximum towing weight (brakes) of 2300kg.It you think this makes the Sorento a workhorse, think again. Slightly understated European styling gives a classy, blended look that holds its own against a lot of rivals in the inner city fashion stakes.The Sorento is undemanding to drive in everyday conditions.Pushed hard through corners, the power steering feels a bit vague and the suspension slightly mushy.There is also some wind noise at freeway cruising speed but these areas are among the few compromises of this budget-beater. The optional sunroof works well and adds another dimension to the driving experience. A 3.5-litre V6 engine, mated to a five-speed automatic, pulls the 2027kg Sorento along quite briskly. The 24-valve, DOHC, fuel-injected motor produces 145kW of power at 5500rpm and maximum torque of 295Nm at a useful 3000rpm.High-range four-wheel drive can be selected at up to 80km/h, which is good if road conditions change. Low-range has to be selected at standstill but it's no big deal as you'd want to assess the situation anyway before charging on. It's just another turn of the dashboard knob.A little more engine braking would be good on steep descents but, generally, the Sorento performs well in tougher conditions.Fast dirt roads, however, require care as the suspension gets a bit flustered by corrugations and sudden dips. Nothing feels like it's about to let go as the limited-slip differential system feeds drive to the wheel getting better traction.The anti-lock brake system features ventilated discs on all wheels. It's a good, strong system that makes the Sorento ideal for towing duties.Passenger safety is based around the ladder chassis. This works with the body's front and rear crumple zones to absorb any impact, while the occupants are protected inside a safety cell comprising the door and window pillars. There are also dual front airbags.As the Sorento is a relative newcomer to the SUV market, there are questions about resale value. They can best be answered by a few statistics. Kia sales have increased five-fold since the 1990s. The company is expanding aggressively with design centres in the U.S., Europe and Asia. It has assembly plants in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.Kia is here to stay and the Sorento is a linchpin in its sales and marketing prestige in Australia.The recent success of Ford's Territory has given the middleweight SUV market a new focus that Kia is poised to take advantage of.

A budget alternative to the established 4WD brands, the Sorento has most of their features. The big bonus is it leaves the buyer enough change to be well on the way towards putting a new Kia Rio runabout in the garage for other family members.The 4WD market segment is in boom mode, with the iconic brands building sales on the back of a long history of development.While Kia is a recent addition to the market, its compact Sportage has earned a good reputation.The Korean company has had several decades of experience building a 4WD workhorse for military application in the Asian subcontinent, so it knows what it's doing. There's nothing workhorse-like in the Sorento, though.Especially in the optional metallic silver paint, it has a crisp Euro look. From waist height down, the body flares over its stylish alloy wheels in a muscular stance. The 3.5-litre V6 engine gives the Sorento almost car-like acceleration, although it doesn't quite have the power and torque of some of the big 4WDs from Japan. Nonetheless, its 145kW of power at 5500rpm and 295Nm of torque at 3000rpm pulls its 2027kg kerb weight along briskly.Towing capacity of 2300kg (braked) compares well with many of its more expensive rivals.Visibility from the driver's seat is good. The clutch, power-steering and gear change (five-speed manual) operation are light and clean. A simple knob to the right of the steering wheel takes the Sorento from rear-wheel-drive to four. The gearbox has high and low ratio. High can be selected "on the fly" up to 80km/h. Low ratio also locks the diffs.You'd expect some compromises in a large 4WD costing $35,950, but the Sorento has just one. Its suspension feels a generation behind most of its more expensive rivals. With 10,000km up, the test vehicle exhibited little bodyroll under extreme cornering. Of concern was the way the suspension tackled undulations on bitumen and corrugations on dirt roads. The force of the bumps was transmitted through the chassis, rather than being absorbed by the suspension. The set-up is coil springs all-round, double wishbones up front and a five-link rigid rear axle. Perhaps the spring and shock rates need revising.Although handling is fine on sealed roads, it feels nervous at speed on rough roads in the way many family 4WDs did 10 years ago. Back then, some buyers were prepared to spend extra at aftermarket suspension specialists sorting this out. Today it's expected the factory will do it.For everyday use, the Sorento is as good as anything around, despite fighting with the big boys in a league above its price range.There is excellent headroom in the front and three adults fit comfortably in the rear. Those passengers are cosseted in airconditioning, have an eight-speaker CD system to listen to, adjustable headrests, plenty of cupholders and storage pockets, along with power sockets for laptops, phone chargers or DVD player.Up front, the driver has cruise control, fog lights, heated rear-view mirrors, full instrumentation including compass, body-angle-lean and altitude gauge, remote-operated rear window for easy cargo access, power windows and keyless entry.A large storage box under the front passenger seat, split-foldable rear seats, rear cargo cover and net, flip-up tailgate window and a roof rack with adjustable cross-spars gives many loading options. Kia claims 900 litres of rear storage expands to 1960 litres with the rear seats folded.Safety features include ABS brakes with ventilated discs and front airbags. The Sorento has a ladder chassis but crumple zones are built into the body and the doors have impact beams.For the money, the Kia Sorento offers a lot. Build quality is good, comfort excellent, performance adequate for most drivers and it looks classy.Drive one and you may find the Sorento is all you need in an all-rounder off-roader.