Kia Sorento arrives in Oz

Kia's second generation seven-seater SUV, the Sorento, has arrived in Australia, boasting improvement in almost every regard.

All models come standard with a seven-seat layout, and the Sorento has already been given the maximum five-star crash safety rating by Euro NCAP. Kia expects the car to score five stars when it is crash tested by Australian NCAP in December.

Pricing for the new-look vehicles, excluding government and pre-delivery charges, starts at $36,490 for the 2WD 2.4-litre automatic petrol model and $39,990 for the powerful new 2.2-litre turbocharged manual diesel model. The range-topping Sorento Platinum models fetch $48,990. See below for the Kia Sorento's full price list.

Since Kia first launched the Sorento SUV back in 2002, the Korean car maker has sold close to 900,000 units worldwide, but plenty has changed in seven years. For a start, the new Sorento gets an all-new design, built on a monocoque platform and created by a team of artists led by Kia's chief design officer, Peter Schreyer.

With a contemporary new design that conveys a sportiness not seen in its predecessor, the Sorento "...adopts simple, linear lines to create a powerful, yet polished appearance," explains Schreyer.

"Both sporty and striking, new Sorento represents a new breed of SUV," states Schreyer.

Sitting on a new floorpan and measuring almost 4.68 metres long and 1.88 metres wide, the Kia Sorento is no small fry, some 95mm longer than the first generation model -- but neither is it thirsty.

Compared to some of its rivals, the seven-seat Sorento is in a different league, as the powerful new 145kW 2.2-litre 'R' diesel engine sips a claimed 6.7 litres of fuel for every 100 kilometres travelled.

The new, all-alloy, common-rail diesel engine is the first of the 'R' class of oilers to reach Australia. Able to grind out 145kW/436Nm, thanks to some clever features such as an electronic variable geometry turbocharger and an advanced 32-bit ECU microprocessor, the new engine will be shared with the new Hyundai Santa Fe, due to be launched here later this week.

Thanks to self-levelling suspension and a boost in pulling power, the Sorento manual AWD diesel models can tow trailers up to 2500kg. Automatic diesel versions can tow up to 2000kg.

Diesel models are offered with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions, the latter featuring slightly lower torque levels, dropping from 436 to 422Nm. The 128kW/225Nm 2.4-litre petrol engine is only offered as a single entry-level model with the six-speed auto, achieving a claimed fuel efficiency rating of 9.2L/100km.

All-wheel drive models feature a high ratio 4WD system, "with a default status that delivers 100% of engine torque to the front wheels during all routine city and highway driving" says Kia. There is a 4WD lock mode that splits torque evenly between front and rear axles up to speeds of 30km/h, and designed for low grip surfaces and slower speed off-roading work.

Inside the Sorento is a newly designed interior that "creates a new ambience and echoes the sense of power and dynamism" with cloth trim for entry-level Si models and leather trim for mid-grade SLi and top range Platinum models.

Standard features across all Sorento variants include dual zone aircon with vents for all three seating rows, a six-speaker unit with MP3, USB and iPod connectivity, plus six airbags and ESP.

Top grade models get rear parking sensors and an eight-speaker system, while a reversing camera is also available, as is a panoramic glass roof and HID headlamps. Pricing is as follows:

Sorento Si 2WD petrol: $36,490 (auto)
Sorento Si: 4WD diesel: $39,990 (manual) Sorento Si: 4WD diesel: $41,990 (auto)
Sorento SLi: 4WD diesel: $45,990 (auto)
Sorento Platinum: 4WD diesel: $48,990 (auto)

Key to pictures: Sorento Platinum (grey) and Sorento Si (red)

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