Adjusting the rearview mirror
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The Kia Sorento has a consistent appeal in the UK, as a large, practical family SUV that doesn’t require a huge outlay to buy or run. It’s got more expensive over time, of course - the original Sorento arrived in 2002 and the car is now in its fourth generation, the latest arriving in 2020 - but it’s also got more usable and more luxurious in that time.
With seven seats and good towing ability it’s not just big or rugged purely for decoration. This does encourage some caution when buying used, as pre-owned Sorentos might have been used a little harder than some rivals, but then you’ll typically pay a lot less to get behind the wheel, and be getting plenty of kit for your money too.
The Kia Sorento is a good no-nonsense car. No, the badge doesn’t have the same appeal as the Land Rovers and Mercedes that square up to the Sorento in size, but it doesn’t need to, since it’s a lot more affordable and in many cases, does its job equally well. You’ve heard the term “you get what you pay for” - well with the Sorento, you’re arguably getting more than you paid for, so it feels like a bit of a bargain.
The Sorento being backed up by Kia’s standard seven-year warranty brings peace of mind too - there’s every chance the used car you’re looking at will still have quite a few years of manufacturer cover left. That’s added incentive to use the Sorento as its maker intended - filling it with people and stuff, and making use of healthy tow ratings (up to 2500kg for the diesel).
With diesel and hybrid powerplants, you get a good mix of performance and economy, and pretty decent refinement too - the diesel can be a little gravelly but it’s worth it for the low-down torque, while the hybrids are impressively smooth. Ride quality can be a bit firm on the largest wheel options, but the Sorento handles tidily and confidently without ever straying into the realms of being agile or fun.
You probably will find more enjoyment in a Mercedes GLB or a Land Rover Discovery Sport, but you’ll also end up paying more for the privilege. Perhaps the most natural rival for the Sorento is the Hyundai Santa Fe, which is very similar under the skin, though we reckon the Kia’s the more handsome of the pair (at least before the all-new, Range Rover-like Santa Fe arrived in 2024).
A lineup of diesel and hybrid engines is a smart choice for the Sorento, and all of them do a good job not just of moving this heavy SUV down the road, but not using too much fuel while they do so. The hybrids have hefty low-end torque that mean they don’t need to be worked too hard to make progress, but the diesel could be ideal if you’re looking for a tow car, with its 2500kg braked trailer rating.
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Mid-spec ‘3’ trim is the pick of the trim grades, getting a healthy list of equipment including a larger touchscreen, leather trim, and self-levelling rear suspension. ‘4’ trim looks even more appealing, but you’ll be paying more for what are mainly cosmetic upgrades rather than essential features.
The Kia Sorento’s exterior dimensions are:
The Kia Sorento’s boot space is:
The current Sorrento debuted in 2020 which means all versions get a flat rate of VED. Most however also cost more than £40,000 brand new, which means you don’t just pay a flat rate of £190 per year (or £180 for the hybrids), but also a surcharge - lifting annual tax to £600 for the diesel and £590 for the hybrid and plug-in hybrid.
Depending on specification, the entire Sorento range sits in insurance groups 28-34, which are roughly in line with where you’ll find similarly large and practical but non-premium SUVs. One car that might be a little cheaper to insure though is the Santa Fe from Kia’s sibling brand Hyundai, which starts in only group 22.
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How many Kia Sorento cars are available for sale?
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