Kia Sorento Diesel 2.2 CRDi (A) Review
11 May 2015|35,480 views
Kia was once like the ignored Korean, the junior sibling to Hyundai. But in recent years, it has become a brand on the rise with newer offerings that sport sharper looks and are packed with wholesome features, such as the Forte K3, the Optima K5, the Sportage and the new Sorento.
In spite of rethinking the Sorento just about two years ago, Kia has reinvented it again for 2015. The previous rework was officially a facelift, which makes this latest model the third generation. Regardless, the aim this time around was to instill more refinement and luxury and it seems the Korean carmaker hasn't failed.
We took a spin in the new Sorento a while ago, and this time we test the oil burning variant of Kia's seven-seater SUV to see how well it rolls.
Up close and Personal
While some may call the design of the new Sorento sophisticated, the smooth surfaces and simple sheet metal, front intakes, head and taillights are unlikely to divide opinion, except for maybe the aggressive front grille.
But a closer look reveals that the obvious emphasis here is very much on quality instead of daring design.
And nowhere is that more evident than in the new cabin, which is smothered in soft-touch surfaces and higher quality materials than what existing Sorento owners are used to.
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The new Sorento is bigger, longer and wider than the old one and with an increase of 80mm in wheelbase, the interior space is much improved. As such, accommodation is generous in the front and second row of seats, with a flat floor in the rear and sufficient width for three Asian adults to sit in comfort.
Busy dads and mums will also appreciate the boot lever that easily flips down the third-row seats to reveal a 605-litre cargo area.
This space can be accessed via Kia's Smart Power Tailgate System and we were again impressed by it - standing at the rear of the vehicle, the Sorento senses the smart key in the pocket and automatically opens the power tailgate - no hands or feet required.
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The Drive
The Sorento Diesel here is powered by a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine that pushes out 197bhp and 441Nm of torque.
Right from the word go, the engine pulls strongly with a good slug of torque in the mid-range and gets to the century mark in a nifty 9.6 seconds - 0.6 seconds faster than its petrol counterpart. Moving onto serious highway speeds, the Sorento just purrs along effortlessly without missing a beat.
The turbodiesel is teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission that proves to be well matched to the engine, taking advantage of the torque at play. It also smartly snaps down a gear or two when there's any intention of passing a slower vehicle.
Out on the road, the Sorento Diesel is quiet and refined with only minimal wind whistle from the A-pillars and door mirrors at higher speeds. Diesel clatter has also been muted to a distant whisper from within the cabin, with credits going to better sound insulation.
And while there's a bit of body roll and understeer if you push the car a little too hard, within its normal operating window, it has impressive poise and balance for a seven-seater SUV.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with the way the way the Sorento Diesel grips, thanks to the proficient part-time all-wheel drive system that sends power to the rear axle when it senses slip at the front.
Considering that this is a big car, the suspension also does a good job of keeping the car well-cushioned along the way.
Conclusion
The latest Sorento takes a massive step forward in terms of overall refinement. It has a significantly richer interior and improved comfort.
Combined with markedly better driving dynamics, the diesel version tested here also boasts more urgency on the go. However, at $179,999 (as of 8th May 2015), the car costs some $20,000 over its base petrol driven sibling.
But if Kia wants to engage with car buyers on new merits of quality, design and driveability, this car is sure to begin that charge. Well, it seems like it's hard to ignore the Korean carmaker now.
Kia was once like the ignored Korean, the junior sibling to Hyundai. But in recent years, it has become a brand on the rise with newer offerings that sport sharper looks and are packed with wholesome features, such as the Forte K3, the Optima K5, the Sportage and the new Sorento.
In spite of rethinking the Sorento just about two years ago, Kia has reinvented it again for 2015. The previous rework was officially a facelift, which makes this latest model the third generation. Regardless, the aim this time around was to instill more refinement and luxury and it seems the Korean carmaker hasn't failed.
We took a spin in the new Sorento a while ago, and this time we test the oil burning variant of Kia's seven-seater SUV to see how well it rolls.
Up close and Personal
While some may call the design of the new Sorento sophisticated, the smooth surfaces and simple sheet metal, front intakes, head and taillights are unlikely to divide opinion, except for maybe the aggressive front grille.
But a closer look reveals that the obvious emphasis here is very much on quality instead of daring design.
And nowhere is that more evident than in the new cabin, which is smothered in soft-touch surfaces and higher quality materials than what existing Sorento owners are used to.
The new Sorento is bigger, longer and wider than the old one and with an increase of 80mm in wheelbase, the interior space is much improved. As such, accommodation is generous in the front and second row of seats, with a flat floor in the rear and sufficient width for three Asian adults to sit in comfort.
Busy dads and mums will also appreciate the boot lever that easily flips down the third-row seats to reveal a 605-litre cargo area.
This space can be accessed via Kia's Smart Power Tailgate System and we were again impressed by it - standing at the rear of the vehicle, the Sorento senses the smart key in the pocket and automatically opens the power tailgate - no hands or feet required.
The Drive
The Sorento Diesel here is powered by a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine that pushes out 197bhp and 441Nm of torque.
Right from the word go, the engine pulls strongly with a good slug of torque in the mid-range and gets to the century mark in a nifty 9.6 seconds - 0.6 seconds faster than its petrol counterpart. Moving onto serious highway speeds, the Sorento just purrs along effortlessly without missing a beat.
The turbodiesel is teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission that proves to be well matched to the engine, taking advantage of the torque at play. It also smartly snaps down a gear or two when there's any intention of passing a slower vehicle.
Out on the road, the Sorento Diesel is quiet and refined with only minimal wind whistle from the A-pillars and door mirrors at higher speeds. Diesel clatter has also been muted to a distant whisper from within the cabin, with credits going to better sound insulation.
And while there's a bit of body roll and understeer if you push the car a little too hard, within its normal operating window, it has impressive poise and balance for a seven-seater SUV.
The Sorento Diesel here is powered by a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine that pushes out 197bhp and 441Nm of torque.
Right from the word go, the engine pulls strongly with a good slug of torque in the mid-range and gets to the century mark in a nifty 9.6 seconds - 0.6 seconds faster than its petrol counterpart. Moving onto serious highway speeds, the Sorento just purrs along effortlessly without missing a beat.
The turbodiesel is teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission that proves to be well matched to the engine, taking advantage of the torque at play. It also smartly snaps down a gear or two when there's any intention of passing a slower vehicle.
Out on the road, the Sorento Diesel is quiet and refined with only minimal wind whistle from the A-pillars and door mirrors at higher speeds. Diesel clatter has also been muted to a distant whisper from within the cabin, with credits going to better sound insulation.
And while there's a bit of body roll and understeer if you push the car a little too hard, within its normal operating window, it has impressive poise and balance for a seven-seater SUV.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with the way the way the Sorento Diesel grips, thanks to the proficient part-time all-wheel drive system that sends power to the rear axle when it senses slip at the front.
Considering that this is a big car, the suspension also does a good job of keeping the car well-cushioned along the way.
Conclusion
The latest Sorento takes a massive step forward in terms of overall refinement. It has a significantly richer interior and improved comfort.
Combined with markedly better driving dynamics, the diesel version tested here also boasts more urgency on the go. However, at $179,999 (as of 8th May 2015), the car costs some $20,000 over its base petrol driven sibling.
But if Kia wants to engage with car buyers on new merits of quality, design and driveability, this car is sure to begin that charge. Well, it seems like it's hard to ignore the Korean carmaker now.
Photos by Low Fai Ming
Car Information
Kia Sorento Diesel 2.2 SX 7-Seater (A)
CAT B|Diesel|16.1km/L
Horsepower
147kW (197 bhp)
Torque
441 Nm
Acceleration
9.6sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Kia Sorento Diesel
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