With about three million units sold and over 18 years on the market, the Kia Sorento presents itself in its fourth generation as a showcase of Kia's evolution over the past two decades.
Top of the range of the South Korean brand in the national market, this seven-seat SUV “points its weapons” at models like the Skoda Kodiaq, SEAT Tarraco, Peugeot 5008, or the “cousin” Hyundai Santa Fe.
To find out if it has arguments for its rivals, we put it to the test in its hybrid version, the Sorento HEV, with 230 hp of maximum combined power, and in the Concept equipment level, for now the only one available on the domestic market.
Big on the outside...
At 4810 mm long, 1900 mm wide, 1695 mm high and a wheelbase of 2815 mm, the Sorento is what we might call a “big car”.
I must admit that its dimensions initially caused me some apprehension as I walked through the narrow streets of Lisbon. However, that's when one of the best qualities of this Sorento HEV began to shine, namely, some of the equipment installed as standard.
Aware of the dimensions of its SUV, Kia endowed it with more exterior cameras than those used in some independent short films (we even have cameras that project what's in the “blind spot” on the dashboard when we turn on the turn signal) and suddenly navigate in tight spaces with the Sorento it becomes a lot easier.
… and inside
Inside, the large exterior dimensions allow the Sorento to establish itself as one of the most suitable SUVs for large families, alongside more traditional proposals in terms of ease of access to the rear seats, such as the Renault Espace.
In addition to the materials being of quality, the assembly does not deserve repairs.
But there is more. Remember the history of standard equipment? The offering is generous, elevating the Kia Sorento HEV to a plateau among the industry benchmarks in this chapter. We have heated seats (the fronts are also ventilated) that fold down electrically, USB sockets for the three rows of seats and even climate controls for the third row occupants.
All this in an ergonomically well-conceived interior (the mixture of physical and tactile controls proves that none of them need to be given up), with quality materials that are pleasing not only to the eye but also to the touch and a fitting that matches the best of the best. is done in the segment, also proven by the absence of parasitic noises.
Long travel fan
Despite the many cameras that make it easy to “navigate” the city with this expansive SUV and the hybrid system that keeps consumption contained in this medium (the average was around 7.5 l/100 km), it goes without saying that the Sorento feels like “fish in water”.
Stable, comfortable and silent, the Kia Sorento HEV proves to be a great traveling companion. In this context, the South Korean model also stands out again for consumption, achieving averages between 6 l/100 km to 6.5 l/100 km without difficulties that can go down to 5.5 l/100 km when we work hard. .
When the curves arrive, the Sorento is guided by serenity. With no pretensions to the title of “most dynamic SUV in the segment”, the Kia model also does not disappoint, always showing itself to be safe and predictable, precisely what is expected of a family-oriented model.
A precise and direct steering contributes to this, and a suspension that manages to satisfactorily control the 1783 kg that Kia's top-of-the-range “accuses” on the scale.
Finally, in the field of performance, the 230 hp of maximum combined power does not disappoint, allowing the Sorento HEV to be driven decisively to “forbidden” speeds and making maneuvers such as overtaking mere “formalities”.
Is it the right car for you?
In this fourth generation of Sorento, Kia has created one of the most interesting and attractive proposals in the segment.
With quality materials and remarkable sturdiness, the Kia Sorento HEV also has a very complete range of equipment and good levels of habitability in its list of qualities. Added to this is a hybrid engine capable of combining consumption and performance in a very interesting way.
The price of 56 500 euros for our unit seems high and is justified by the vast offer of equipment and, after all, it is a more complex hybrid (not plug-in), but with a very interesting performance/consumption mix.
The only direct rival is the “cousin” Hyundai Santa Fe, with which it shares the engine, with the other rivals resorting to plug-in hybrid engines (which the Sorento will also receive later) or Diesel engines which, in most cases, they get prices a little more attractive.
However, with the existing campaigns, it is possible to purchase the Sorento HEV for less than 50 thousand euros and, being a Kia, it comes with a warranty of seven years or 150 thousand kilometers. Arguments additional to the others (strong) that it already has to be, definitely, one of the options to take into account in the segment.