Kia Sorento Video Reviews

We compare the Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy Hybrid with the Kia Sorento GT-Line Hybrid to find out which of these closely related SUVs is the safest, most practical, most fuel efficient and best to drive.

The fourth-generation Kia Sorento was already a winner, but the hybrid version could be the brand's best-ever offering.

If this car was a Hollywood leading man, we'd be talking about his 'chiselled good looks.' It's a handsome looking vehicle! The 2021 Kia Sorento S looks very attractive from the outside, but how does it perform as a family car around the suburbs? Here's how I went with my family of four for a week.

The last Kia Sorento had few faults, and this new one must have set Kia’s engineers a challenge. Could they improve the bits that needed fixing while leaving everything that was good about it alone?

Nikki Cousins and Peter Anderson road test and review the 2016 Kia Sorento SLi diesel with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Malcolm Flynn road tests and reviews the Kia Sorento SUV with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch.

The Kia Sorento is one of the few large SUVs to still offer a manual alternative, and paired with all-wheel drive and the turbodiesel drivetrain

A month after the release of its Hyundai seven-seat Santa Fe SUV cousin, Kia’s 2013 Sorento has arrived in Australian dealerships.Kia says that Ford and Toyota have found that more than 50 per cent of their Territory and Kluger sales are 2WD models – a clear demonstration that there is a significant market – especially in urban areas – for large family SUVs.The 2013 Sorento range starts from $37,490 for the automatic Si 3.5-litre petrol two wheel drive and climbs up to $50,390 for the Platinum 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four wheel drive. Alloy wheels ranging from 17-inch versions on the Si to 19s on the top-spec Platinum are fitted and each has a full-size alloy spare.Other across-the-range standard features include cruise control, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel and shift knob, a six-function trip computer, remote central locking with keyless entry and tailgate release, power windows and exterior mirrors, nice big sun visors with pull-out extenders, dual-zone climate-control air and tinted glass.All models come with an MP3-compatible, six-speaker CD/AM/FM audio system, AUX/USB input and iPod compatibility, Bluetooth functionality for phone and media streaming. The list goes on and on and for the top-spec Platinum there is a huge panoramic sunroof, satellite navigation and climate-controlled front seats.All three versions have front-and-rear parking sensors and both SLi and Platinum models add a reversing safety camera with a 130 degree wide-angle lens. The Platinum also gains active high intensity discharge Xenon headlights.While at first glance exterior styling changes appear minimal, under the skin there’s a raft of upgrades that have improved the big Korean no end. That said, so far as its persona is concerned, there are new headlights and LED daytime running lights and new-look LED taillights as well as a redesigned grille and tailgate and new bumpers and wheels.One of the good-news stories for the new Sorento’s passengers is that Kia’s clever designers have been able to give second-row seat occupants another 30 mm of leg room and those in the third-row pews can stretch out another 9 mm.Family buyers will welcome not only the seven-seat capacity but a raft of storage cubby holes and a cargo space that, depending on the second- and third-row seats are occupied or folded flat, ranges from 258 litres to a whopping 2700 litres. Split-folding second- and third-row seats add greatly to the Sorento’s cargo flexibility. In summary, it’s surprising how much better the new face lifted Sorento is than its look-alike predecessor.Unlike its Santa Fe cousin which is a 4WD-only vehicle, the buyers of the new Sorento can opt for a 2WD petrol version. At launch, the new Sorento is available with two engine choices – one petrol and one turbo-charged and inter-cooled diesel. A 141 Kw/242Nm 2.4-litre direct-injected four-cylinder petrol engine could be added down the track.The 2.2-litre turbo-diesel is good for 145 kW of maximum power at 3800 rpm and 421 Nm of peak torque (manual) and 436 Nm (automatic) that is on tap between a lazy 1800 and 2500 rpm. A new exhaust-gas recirculating system has cut CO2 emissions from 177 g/km to 153 g/km and Kia claims a combined fuel-consumption figure of 6.6 litres/100 km for the manual version and 7.3 litres for the automatic.The 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine delivers 9.8 L/100km and its power and torque figures are 204 kW at 6300 rpm and 335 Nm at 5000 rpm respectively. The transmission for all models bar one is the Hyundai/Kia group’s excellent sequential-sports-shifting automatic. The exception is the 2.2-litre diesel Si six-speed manual 4WD.Kia says an 18 per cent boost in torsional rigidity has refined the ride comfort and improved its handling. Adding to the handling improvements are various design and engineering tweaks to the MacPherson-strut front and multi-link rear suspension set-ups and upgraded cross-members.Over the years both Kia and Hyundai received their share of criticism about poor handling. To their credit, both companies have taken the negative reviews on board and these days they put a great deal of time, money and effort into local testing and tuning their underpinnings for Australian conditions.In Kia’s case, suspension engineering wiz Graham Gambold has worked closely with Australian and Korean engineers and product-planning people on setting up vehicles for this market. Stronger sub-frames, beefier anti-roll bars and dual-low dampers have been fitted and like the new Santa Fe, the motor-driven power-steering has three settings – normal, sport and comfort modes.The new Sorento rides on Kia’s interpretation of the new Santa Fe’s platform and engineers have used new ultra-high-tensile steel to endow the car with greater rigidity and enhanced crash protection for its occupants. As well as boasting a stronger body shell that means better front, side and rear impact protection, all models come with dual front airbags, front side airbags and side-curtain airbags for front- and second-row occupants).Standard too is Kia’s vehicle-stability management system that bundles stability control, traction control, ABS anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, hill-start assist and downhill brake control. Also standard are front-and-rear parking sensors while the SLi and Platinum variants add a reversing safety camera with a 130-degree wide-angle lens.Platinum models also gain active HID (high-intensity discharge) Xenon headlights. Bigger (320 mm) ventilated front discs and the carried-over 302 mm rear discs have improved the Sorento’s stopping power and Kia claims that if the driver jumps on the brakes at 100 km/h, the big SUV will stop in an impressive 36.3 metres.A maximum safety rating helped along by driver- and front-passenger airbags, front side airbags, curtain airbags active front head restraints and other safety goodies combine to make the new Sorento an extremely safe family chariot. Like virtually everything from Korea these days, the Sorento – even the entry-level Si version – comes with an impressive standard-kit inventory. Active driver aids include Kia’s vehicle stability management system with electronic stability control, traction control, ABS brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, hill start assist and downhill brake control. While on the subject of brakes, the Sorento has one of those horrible foot-operated parking brakes.Out on the road both the petrol and diesel versions are surprisingly spirited vehicles and hills and rapid overtaking are dispatched with ease. Irrespective of which engine is under the bonnet, one of the first things you notice is how quiet the Sorento’s cabin is. This is the result of a great deal of work by Kia engineers to cut noise, vibration and harshness levels. While the front seats are comfortable enough, a bit more thigh bolstering would be handy – especially for the leather-trimmed Sli and Platinum versions during enthusiastic cornering on winding roads.Speaking of cornering, the newly tweaked suspension settings delivers flat, confident cornering and precise turn-in and while the motor-driven power-steering system’s ‘Sport’ mode is great during highway cruising, we found ‘Normal’ to be a better bet on the twisty bits.It’s a quieter, more comfortable, more handsome, roomier and better-handling vehicle that offers value-for-money family motoring.

To look at the new Kia Sorento isn't radically different, but it's under the skin that the big changes are to be found. The 7-seat SUV, sister to Hyundai's Santa Fe, sits on a new, stronger lighter platform that helps reduce fuel consumption as well as noise, vibration and harshness.There's also more legroom for rear seat passengers - 30mm for the second row of seats and 9mm for the third row. But this has not been at the expense of luggage space.Although the two wagons share the same platform, the recently launched Santa Fe is "all new" while Sorento has only been given a mid-life makeover.You'd think if Kia was moving Sorento to a new platform, it would take the opportunity to completely redesign the vehicle just as Hyundai has done - but not so. No one is saying it, but it looks like head office has pulled rank to give the Hyundai front running.Sitting 10mm lower than before subtle changes in design have produced a wider, more aggressive look, particularly through the use of vertical lighting elements. The re-design includes new head lights with LED daytime running lights, a new tailgate with LED rear combination lights, new bumpers front and back with vertical, rectangular shaped fog lights and less use of unpainted plastic trim around the lower part of the body as well as a greater range of wheels topping out with 19s on the Platinum.At this stage there's a 3.5-litre petrol V6 or 2.2-litre turbo diesel, both excellent engines and both carried over from the previous model. A 2.4-litre four cylinder petrol engine is under consideration, but Kia is keen to maintain a sporty flavour with this car and is not sure the four has enough punch.The petrol V6 pushes out 204kW of power and 335Nm of torque, while the turbo diesel delivers 145kW of power and 421 or 436Nm of torque depending on whether it's the manual or automatic. Petrol models are front-wheel drive, while the diesels are all-wheel drive.Transmissions are 6-speed auto or 6-speed manual, although the manual is available only with the entry level diesel model. SLi and Platinum models score adjustment for the amount of force required to turn the steering wheel, with three different settings.With a 64-litre tank a reduction in weight of about 100kg has seen fuel consumption pruned from 10.0 to 9.8 litres/100km for the petrol engine and from 6.7 to 6.6 and 7.4 to 7.3 litres/100km for the diesel manual and automatic.Sorento comes in four grades: Si, SLi, SLi Navigation and Platinum - all of them with seven seats. Prices start at $37,490 for the entry level Si petrol model, with a V6 engine and six-speed auto while the entry level Si diesel with a six-speed manual will set you back $38,990.That's a difference of $1500, but bear in mind that one is front-wheel drive and the other all-wheel drive. The addition of the better equipped petrol SLi at $40,490 is sure to attract more buyers. Satellite navigation, standard with the $53,390 Platinum, is paired with a new premium 10-speaker sound system.Six airbags and a full array of safety systems are standard across the range, giving Sorento a five-star safety rating. That is apart from a reversing camera which you only get with SLi and Platinum models - although front and rear parking sensors are also standard.Cruise and Bluetooth with audio streaming are standard, with more soft-touch surfaces plus a new LCD style speedo for SLi and Platinum, new centre stack with 7-inch display screen (SLi and Platinum), and new console featuring a straight-gate selector with a leather-booted lever on automatic transmission models. We had a crack at all of them. Kia has once again put considerable time and effort into tuning the suspension for Australian roads. It is money well spent with Sorento remaining composed and controlled in a variety of conditions, soaking up the bumps and potholes whether it's on the dirt or bitumen.The entry level manual diesel is surprisingly fun to drive and even comes with dual zone climate air. The manual change is easy to use and will appeal to those wanting to tow a van or boat as it has a higher tow rating of 2.5 tonnes.The petrol V6 feels like a completely different car and has some real attitude. It is the quickest of the bunch, responds quickly and positively to the throttle, accelerating loudly and aggressively, with the dash from 0-100km/h taking 8.2 seconds.Top of the line Platinum diesel (Platinum comes as diesel only) is the consummate performer, smooth and powerful with large reserves of torque that help it power up hills as though they are not there. Bigger brakes pull the car up faster. The old Sorento was good and this one is better again. The styling is sharper and it sits better on the road, with more equipment in most cases. Whether buyers baulk at the prospect of paying more than $50K for the top of the line Platinum remains to be seen, though they're unlikely to be disappointed.