Kia Sorento 2017 Review

Changes are afoot in the seven-seat SUV market. Toyota has recently updated its strong-selling Kluger, likewise Nissan with the Pathfinder and Mazda with its Carsales Car of the Year-winning CX-9.

We’ll also see a revised Hyundai Santa Fe in local showrooms before the end of the month – not to mention the half-dozen ute-based seven-seaters which now also vie for a share of this burgeoning family-car faction.

But this week Kia takes centre stage, with the facelifted third-generation Sorento adding safety, technology, comfort and driveability improvements which the company expects will deliver a 10 per cent market share gain in the large SUV segment. With 401 sales per month, that’s a pretty big claim.

What’s new?
As midlife updates go, the Sorento’s is significant. On the equipment front, the range gains Autonomous Emergency Braking, Apple CarPlay and Andoid Auto connectivity, a larger 8.0-inch infotainment screen, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistant. Higher grade models also score driver attention alert, dynamic bending lights, LED headlights and tail-lights, a 360-degree camera, and a 640-Watt, 10-speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound audio system.

There are mechanical changes, too. These include a new in-house-developed eight-speed automatic transmission, comprehensive chassis and steering upgrades (including revised spring, subframe, damper and steering enhancements), and a long-stroke 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine (a development of the outgoing Sorento’s 3.3-litre Lambda unit). The 2.2-litre R-Series four-cylinder turbo-diesel continues.

Turbo-diesel models develop 147kW/441Nm with an ADR Combined fuel consumption figure of 7.2L/100km (190g/km). The larger capacity petrol powerplant makes 206kW/336Nm (+7kW/18Nm over the previous 3.3-litre unit) while consuming 10.0L/100km (235g/km).

Visually, the updated Sorento is identified by revised front and rear bumpers, ‘Tiger Nose’ grille, redesigned alloy wheels, and LED headlights (GT-Line only) and tail-lights (SLi and GT-Line variants). A new Gravity Blue paint colour replaces Sunset Red, and is one of seven hues available (metallic paint attracts a $500 premium).

Inside, the cabin sports a new steering wheel and instrument cluster, new LCD climate control array, more soft-touch materials throughout, and the addition of adjustable lumbar support on high-grade variants. Four trim choices are available, including Black or Stone leather upholstery.

Model nomenclature has also changed, with the mid-grade Sorento Sport replacing the Sorento Si Limited, while the top-spec Sorento Platinum GT-Line subs for the previous Platinum.

What isn’t?
Being based on the outgoing model, the Sorento is familiar in terms of its body and cabin presentation. Small changes aside, it’s still the same layout we’ve known since the third-generation range was released in 2014, meaning there’s ample space inside for five adults and two children.

The seats are still configured with a family-friendly 40:20:40 split-fold second row, and 50:50 third row. Kia offers three top-tether and two ISOFIX child seat anchors, and curtain airbags for the second row of seats (joining front and side airbags in the front row).

In seven-seat mode, the Sorento continues to offer 142 litres of cargo space to the tailgate, growing to 605 litres in five-seat mode and 1662 litres all told. All variants, irrespective of wheel size, carry a full-size matching alloy wheel beneath the boot floor. Braked towing capacity is restricted to 2000kg with a 100kg down ball weight .

As is the case with all Kia passenger vehicles, the Sorento comes with a seven-year warranty, capped-price servicing and roadside assistance plan.

How’s it drive?
Bobbing around town the Sorento’s new eight-speed transmission provides the most obvious improvement for driving dynamics. It’s a decisive and smooth unit which cooperates perfectly with both powertrains and, if the test route is any indication, also improves fuel economy.

The new V6 feels (and sounds) much like the unit it replaces, and is a little abrupt off the mark. Perhaps the throttle calibration is a little tense, though with the American market at its core, the ‘spritely’ action is understandable. At least you will get where you need to go in a hurry…

But, for our money, the carry-over 2.2-litre turbo-diesel makes more sense. It does have a bit of ‘clatter’ at lower speeds, but is an otherwise smooth performer delivering its stronger torque load lower in the rev range for fuss-free acceleration and impressive fuel consumption. On a run through NSW back-roads, we saw as low as 4.9L/100km.

The choppy roads west of the Blue Mountains readily showed the improvements in the Sorento’s chassis. It’s more agile and responsive to steering input and reacts with less pitch and roll. Less steering input is required to achieve the same result and the effort from lock to lock is more linear.

However, the change in sub-frame geometry does mean there’s more resistance than before. And, given tuning of the motor drive rack which could be better, overall the effort in the Sorento is heavier than many in its class which, considering the target market, may not be encouraging for those who seldom leave the city.

On the other hand, the Sorento’s ride and handling away from the big smoke is most impressive. For the test route, Kia certainly didn’t shy away from the worst Aussie roads have to offer; over broken asphalt and corrugated gravel the Sorento held tight, the security and ride comfort of the 1900kg+ SUV up there with the best in class.

Unfortunately the same can’t be said for tyre and road noise, neither of which rank among the best.

So, what do we reckon?
Short of holding a comparison, but with enough experience of the Sorento’s immediate rivals to make the call, we think the changes shown here are worthwhile.

Sure it may be a little dearer than the outgoing model, but the new Sorento is both on par with its peers, and better value than almost all. The inclusion of AEB and Active Cruise Control across the range is a boon for safety-conscious family buyers, while the savings at the pump certainly won’t go unnoticed. For the record I managed 5.8L/100km in the diesel and 8.9L/100km in the petrol. And don’t forget Kia’s industry-best seven-year warranty.

We also feel the changes to the chassis make the Sorento far better suited to a wider variety of Australian roads than nearly every immediate rival. Barring the Mazda CX-9, we think the Sorento is now one of the best handling and most comfortable large seven-seat SUVs on the market, and for rural buyers especially, that point alone should be enough to sell the car.

2017 Kia Sorento pricing and specifications:
Price: $42,990 – $58,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel / 3.5-litre six-cylinder petrol
Output: 147kW/441Nm / 206kW/336Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.2L/100km (ADR Combined) / 10.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 190g/km (ADR Combined) / 235g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP