FOUR-WHEEL drive can be scoffed at with some justification when the only off-roading that’s ever attempted is bouncing on to the kerb outside a primary school, but a not-inconsiderable number of drivers have a genuine need for additional traction and ground clearance day-to-day.

Then there’s towing duty. Only a capable vehicle will do. Of course, some of the most popular large SUVs boast the additional practicality of a third row of seats, too. The large body of an SUV results in plenty of interior space – ideal for growing families.

Finally, there’s the comfort factor.

Few cars can match the cosseting ride offered by an SUV’s absorbent suspension, or the relaxed driving experience that comes with a higher seating position.

So to avoid being pilloried, modern SUVs must cater to these requirements. It’s no accident that the new Kia Sorento does just that.

A flagship vehicle for the brand, and the largest that Kia sells in the UK, the Sorento was previously more workhorse than lifestyle acquisition. The new model is visually far more appealing and more in keeping with the current trend for stylish SUVs that make the most of their large proportions.

As it edges ever closer to the premium class, the few niggles that customers had with the former version have also been addressed.

The Sorento range now comes only with that perfectly-matched 2.2 litre turbo-diesel engine mated to either manual or automatic transmissions.

With its stablemate, the Sedona, now out of production, Kia has been able to focus its efforts on the Sorento, Carens and Sportage offerings in this sector.

Far more than just the usual midterm upgrade, this is a front-to-rear and top-to-bottom re-engineering of the car which improves safety, comfort, luxury and driving dynamics while lowering fuel consumption, emissions and running costs. In a simplified range, all models now have permanent allwheel drive system.

There is an all-new platform and a more rigid bodyshell with additional front, side and rear structures to disperse impact energy. Torsional stiffness has been increased by 18 per cent compared with the previous model, thanks to the use of 25 per cent ultra-high-strength steels in the body construction. This should ensure New Sorento maintains the five-star Euro-NCAP safety rating awarded to the previous model, despite increasingly tougher test conditions.

The new Sorento is lower than the outgoing model, lowering the centre of gravity, which is a good starting point for the sharper driving dynamics, which are also down to major changes introduced to the suspension, steering and brakes.

And if you opt for the rangetopping KX-3 model, you get the Kia Flex-Steer system, which allows the driver to choose between normal, sport and comfort levels of assistance according to how the car is being driven.

Wherever you choose to look, Kia has improved the package. Some of the changes are minor, but they add up to a very impressive tally.

For example, the hydraulic power steering system on the outgoing model has given way to Kia’s widely-used Motor Driven Power Steering to save fuel and improve agility, while the standard 18-inch alloy wheels are now 7.5 inches rather than 7 inches wide, increasing the contact patch on the road for greater traction and turning capability. It also means that the new Sorento requires up to 2.6 metres less than its predecessor to come to rest from 62mph.

The extensive list of improvements also includes a new exhaust-gas recirculation system that has helped the Sorento achieve class-leading fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 47.9mpg and 155g/km (manual), rewards buyers with a saving of £155 in the first year’s road tax.

The new platform has improved space for passengers in rows two and three without any increase in the car’s overall footprint or wheelbase.

There are improvements in the soft-touch materials used to trim the cabin and higher levels of equipment for all four trim grades.

Leather is used to trim the steering wheel of every model, and all but the entry model have ambient lighting in the front centre console and door trims.

In KX-3 trim, the standard threedial instrument cluster has been replaced by a 7-inch touchscreen LCD multi-function high-definition display. In all models, dual-zone automatic climate control with rearseat air ventilation is fitted, allowing all occupants to fine-tune the temperature in their area of the cabin.

Additional equipment to be found as standard on all versions includes body-coloured bumpers, chrome exterior door handles, aero bladetype front wipers, projection headlamps with cornering lights, electrically folding, adjustable and heated door mirrors, chrome interior garnish and rear air ventilation.

With premium class touches such as panoramic sunroof, satellite navigation system and ten-speaker audio system available, the discerning customer will find the Sorento lacks for nothing.

At one time the Sorento was distinctly average in terms of refinement and handling, the offroad and towing capabilities, the old-school ladder-frame chassis, the engines, the modest interior and even the seating arrangements.

With one eye on the market research that showed today’s SUV buyers are younger, more likely to be female and want the car for family use rather than a traditional country lifestyle, the sophistication level and perceptions of quality have again been given a thorough going over.

The world of the SUV has changed enormously since the firstgeneration Sorento arrived in 2002.

In revising it here, Kia has created a car that reflects the confidence and direction of a brand that started out ruffling some feathers and now is a major player in the UK with a product line-up that continues to impress and keeps on getting better and better

 

Kia Sorento 22 Crdi Kx-2 Satnav Awd

PRICE: £29,995 (range from £26,695)

ENGINE: 2.2-litre diesel developing 194bhp

TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual

PERFORMANCE: 0 to 60mph in 9.2 seconds; top speed 118mph

ECONOMY: 47.9mpg combined

CO2 RATING: 155g/km