I clearly remember a few years back when I first drove a Kia Sorento. It was big, heavy and was obviously built around a more utilitarian design philosophy.
It didn't leave me smiling and I didn't particularly enjoy living with it.
Time has moved on and I recently had the opportunity to try Kia's latest version of their large SUV. Wow! How things have improved! The new Sorento is a completely different vehicle. Gone is the heavy, cumbersome working off-roader, to be replaced with a stylish, practical, even elegant step up the Sorento's evolutionary ladder.
Even the look of the car has been transformed. It now looks much more 'roady' than it did before, being slightly longer and lower than its predecessor. It is now also a seven-seater, with the option to fold away the rear two seats flush with the floor to allow for a massive load carrying capacity. Swapping from one mode to the other was simplicity itself.
The sumptuous, comfy upholstery makes this latest version feel more like a luxury family car than a pure off-road working vehicle. It is now light and easy to drive and even made light work of weaving through the claustrophobic 'Lanes' car park in Brighton. Visibility is good all-round and despite the fact that this is still a big car, parking and manoeuvring in confined spaces was surprisingly easy and stress-free.
Where I noticed the biggest difference was on the open road. The six-speed manual gearbox, combined with the standard cruise control made this one of the most relaxed touring SUV's I've driven in the last few years. It is amazingly long-legged, with the rev-counter barely on the scale when cruising at seventy. Economy for a car this size was phenomenal, completely astounding me with the range that was available from a single tank of diesel. It seemed inexhaustible!
One other thing worth mentioning was 'passenger appeal'. My better half, who was at my side throughout actually commented about how quiet, smooth and comfortable the Sorento was. The very good climate control and large airy cabin made for a very luxurious experience. Even when doing battle with a five mile tailback on the A23, which according to the BBC was the result of a car boot sale event but was actually caused by some irresponsible driving, it was all still very relaxing.
What surprised me most about the Kia Sorento was how easy it was to drive. It is a big car that anyone should be able to drive easily. If you're a Mum with kids, don't let its size intimidate. It's a really accessible, versatile and fun car to drive. With an iPod cable, a top-notch CD Audio unit, complete with steering wheel controls, the entertainment is brilliant, there are heated seats for those cold winter mornings and to minimise the risk of any damage in the UK's economically allocated car park spaces there are reversing sensors and folding door mirrors.
All-in-all the Kia Sorento is a fantastic value for money, luxurious, versatile and economical large family car that offers the whole package. You won't be disappointed!
Nigel Crawford
Jun 2010
www.kia.co.uk | 
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