Bigger, more refined Sorento reaches Oz

An all-new Kia Sorento has surfaced in Australia, offering buyers new or upgraded engines, larger internal dimensions, reduced NVH and uniquely calibrated suspension for the Aussie market.

But the range has jumped by $2000 at entry level. The difference in pricing reflects the new Sorento's design and engineering advances over the older model's, as well as extra equipment across the range, but currency exchange rates are a factor also, says Kia Australia's Senior Product Manager, Jeff Shafer.

"The Won [the South Korean unit of currency] is not helping..." he told motoring.com.au during the drive programme for the new Sorento.

Pricing starts from $40,990 for the petrol-engined Sorento Si, which is front-wheel drive. Kia has structured the model range around three levels of trim and two drivetrains. At the base of the range is the Sorento Si, with mid-range SLi and flagship Platinum grades rounding out the hierarchy.

The two drivetrain variants comprise the new 3.3-litre V6 driving through a six-speed automatic to the front wheels and an upgraded R Series 2.2-litre diesel four-cylinder also matched to a six-speed automatic, but driving all four wheels. Kia doesn't offer the petrol engine in the Platinum grade, which makes the diesel Sorento Platinum the sole top-shelf offering at $55,990.

The new Sorento is based on a modified version of the 'N' platform that also underpins the new Carnival, but the Sorento – unlike the people mover – has been rated five stars by local crash-safety testing authority ANCAP. Crash safety has been boosted with the new body shell, which is more rigid and torsionally stronger.

Longer overall by 95mm, the new Sorento has been stretched 80mm in the wheelbase and 15mm in the rear overhang, boosting interior space for passengers and luggage capacity with all seven seats in use. Kia claims that boot space available with the third-row seat raised is now 320 litres.

The longer body and careful styling has also contributed to an aerodynamic drag coefficient figure of 0.33Cd, which is a slight improvement on the figure of 0.33Cd for the superseded Sorento.

The new 3.3-litre petrol V6 is the same basic architecture as the petrol V6 in the Carnival, but running a conventional port fuel injection system rather than the people mover's direct-injection system. Peak output is 199kW and 318Nm for a combined-cycle fuel consumption figure of 9.9L/100km.

The 2.2-litre diesel produces more power and torque in this new application, reaching 147kW and 441Nm for a fuel consumption figure of 7.8L/100km. Both the petrol and diesel engines are Euro 5-compliant.

Kia has made changes to the suspension geometry for the new Sorento, and local suspension tuning has further enhanced the car's ride and handling balance for Australian consumers.

Safety features as standard across the range include stability control, Kia's Vehicle Stability Management, Hill-start Assist Control, Emergency Stop Signal, front/rear parking sensors, reversing camera, auto-on/off headlights, static cornering lights, front/rear fog lights, six airbags and impact-sensing door unlocking. Additionally, the mid-range SLI gains an electrochromatic mirror, and the range-topping Sorento Platinum comes with LED daytime running lights, headlight levelling, headlight washers, adaptive front lighting system, blind spot detection, lane change assist, rear cross-traffic alert and lane departure warning system.

Comfort and convenience features for the Sorento Si comprise 17-inch alloy wheels, anti-theft alarm, follow-me home facility, cloth upholstery for seats, six-way manually adjustable driver's seat, triple-split folding second-row seat that slides/reclines in 60:40 ratio, split-folding third-row seat, trip computer with 3.5-inch screen, electric windows, woodgrain trim, three 12V power outlets, two USB recharging ports, six cup-holders, four bottle-holders, MP3-compatible six-speaker audio system (no CD), Bluetooth connectivity with music streaming, satellite navigation, seven-inch LCD infotainment touch screen, multi-function steering wheel and dual-zone climate control with vents for all three rows of seating.

The Sorento SLi rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and comes as standard with all the Si-grade features plus: push-button starting, leather upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, hands-free power tailgate, LED tail lights, privacy glass, woodgrain steering wheel rim, seven-inch trip computer screen, illuminated alloy scuff panels, woodgrain centre console with illumination and 10-speaker audio.

Capping the range, the Sorento Platinum is fitted with 19-inch alloy wheels and is equipped with Sorento SLi features and: 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat with two-position memory, eight-way power-adjustable front-passenger's seat, panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, heated steering wheel, sunshade for second-row seating, luggage net, auto demist, ventilated front seats and heated front/second-row seats (outboard only).

All Sorento variants are equipped with full-size alloy spare wheels. Exterior colours are Clear White, Silky Silver, Metal Stream, Platinum Graphite, Aurora Black, Sunset Red and Snow White Pearl. The only opaque colour is Clear White, and Snow White Pearl is not available in the Sorento Si grade. Interior trim is limited to black for the Sorento Si and SLi, but the Sorento Platinum can be ordered in a two-tone (black and stone) combination for cars finished in Aurora Black, Sunset Red or Snow White Pearl.

Kia Australia COO Damien Meredith anticipates selling "350 to 400" units of the new Sorento each calendar month. For the full year 2014, the Sorento sold 2608 units, which is an average of 217 units per month.