KIA has a very small problem - its three letters long, a few inches high and very often its set in a small, red, oval disc. It's the KIA logo.

Whip that off its latest vehicle - the Sorento 4x4 - and stick on a green nine-letter logo and the car would sell by the shed load. But, unfortunately there are still some buyers out there who don't mind what they drive so long as it has the right status symbol attached to it.

Well, they are missing out on a great deal.

Not only is the Sorento a good looking, well-built vehicle, but it is now powered by a whopping 3.5 litre V6 engine, capable of 195bhp, a top speed of 119mph and 0 to 62mph in 10.2 seconds.

The fact that it is only available in the higher spec XS models, married to an automatic gear box, should not present any major problems to the potential buyer. First there's the price - £21,995 - a lot less than other marques in the 4x4 market. Second, there is the cheaper 2.5-litre diesel option available at £17,995.

Both have the same high driving position, large, well-designed interior, plenty of leg and head room and no skimping on the boot.

The Sorento has already won awards across Europe and the States. The brand is working hard to shake off its cheap and cheerful image. It has called on the expertise of Porsche, Borg Warner, Sachs and Bosch to sort out suspension, fuel injection and the four-wheel-drive system. The latest accolade is to be voted one of the safest cars on the road in Europe. The Sorento achieved an overall four-star rating in the European Ncap crash test survey.

And it has added a few little extras that make it a more attractive proposition to the multi-use buyer. The information panel includes not only a temperature gauge but also a compass and altitude reading - fun for the kids, if nothing else.

At the back, the rear window opens via the key fob, so if one of those drivers who dreads their car being lonely has snuggled up next to yours you can still get the shopping in and probably a few kids, too.

If you do decide to stump up the extra few thou for the V6 you will be getting a lot for your money. Leather upholstery, electrically operated driver's seat, climate control, cruise control, power sunroof, 16-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, leather steering wheel and gear knob, remote central locking, radio/CD and electric windows are all included in the price.

Two minor niggles would include the fact that although the slightly dull dash is all clearly laid out, annoyingly the indicators are on the right and windscreen wipers on the left. But that is only irritating if you are used to them being the other way round. It would be nice if manufacturers could come up with a wipers/lights protocol.

The second would be that there is not a lot of storage space up front - room in the glove compartment is negligible once the vehicle handbook is fitted in.

But, that said, the armrest between driver and passenger redeems the situation somewhat by adding storage and cup holders and sweetwrapper bin for the rear seat passengers.

No niggles about the driving experience though. The responsive steering and excellent road manners make the Sorento a delight to drive. Opt for the 2.5-litre D manual and you'll be treated to a short, sharp gear box. For those who will actually use this vehicle off-road the switch from high to low ratio is at the turn of a dial.

Four-wheel-drive capability is either automatic, with the car's management system enabling it to kick-in when needed, or manual, which allows the driver to choose.

Like all Kias, the Sorento will not cost you a fortune to buy or to run. What Kia cannot offer is a change of badge - but that's your problem.

Updated: 12:07 Friday, July 04, 2003