Kia Sorento
If you were to compare the range of cars each major manufacturer currently offers to what they had for sale even five years ago, the difference would be astonishing. This is largely down to the relentless march of electrification and the comparable, unyielding popularity of SUVs in all shapes and sizes. Kia are a case-in-point on this, but it’s not just the variety of models they presently sell that’s eye-opening, it’s the design and perceived quality that’s worlds apart, too.
A diesel engine!
With Kia‘s ever expanding EV range (EV3, 6 etc) it’s easy to forget they still sell cars like the Sorento we have here and, shock horror, it’s available with a diesel engine, too. Knowing I had a fair-few miles to navigate during my week with the car, I leapt at the chance to loan the diesel, and the fact it came in ‘2’ spec, which means relatively small wheels and lots of compliant rubber was even better.
This Sorento’s actually been around for a few years now but it’s had a recent facelift and it does have the desired effect of keeping its looks sharp and fresh. Some might say the new look is a touch Americanised but, to be fair, the US of A is the spiritual home of the oversized SUV so why not jump on that gravy-train too?
Properly useable 7 seats
This is no 5-minute headlight re-think, though; the interior’s been refreshed too. 7-seats are still standard fitment and the third row is properly useable for adults, even coming with its own air-con controls and USB ports. The middle row of seats is on rails which not only makes access to the third row easier, it also allows you to adjust leg and knee room to suit whoever’s in each row.
Up front the dash has been renewed and improved, too. Both the central infotainment screen and the driver’s display are 12.3″ affairs and the central touchscreen is clear, precise and easy to navigate. Not everything is controlled via the central screen but there’s not exactly a plethora of physical switches and dials, either. What there is is a slim row of touch-sensitive ‘buttons’, flanked by two dials, one at each end and it all adjusts the climate control. Press a certain option and the whole row, including the dials, is switched to now alter the entertainment settings; clever way of keeping things neat and unfussy.
How much does the Sorento cost?
We’ve already touched on the fact the Sorento’s still available as a diesel; that starts at £42,675 and comes with AWD, DCT transmission & 7 seats as standard, as do the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions that make up the range. The diesel comes in ‘2’, ‘3’ or ‘4’ spec, just like all the other Sorentos and it ekes out 43.5mpg combined, which is very similar to the hybrid’s 42.2mpg but nowhere near as impressive as the plug-in hybrid with it’s typically high claimed 176.6mpg.
And how much to tax?
The other problem with the diesel engined version is its 170g/km emissions; that’s going to hit company car users especially hard in the tax department. The hybrid doesn’t fare much better at 153g/km but it’s the PHEV with its 34 miles of pure electric range that’ll be cheapest to run at 37g/km CO2. Take into account that a lot of these vehicles will be paid for monthly and then returned, rather than bought outright, and despite its higher list price, the higher residuals of the PHEV will probably balance out its £47,405 cost.
Will the Sorento cut it off-road?
This is an SUV and so really should have some off-road prowess, some might say. That way of thinking’s all-but disappeared now as the reality that the majority of SUVs will hardly ever venture off the tarmac’s hit home but the Sorento is more capable than most. They all come with AWD and there’s a dial on the centre console to adapt the car’s settings for various terrains; sand, mud etc. This type of thing may never get used but it also might be the difference on a snowy winter’s day. Either way, it’s standard fitment and just adds some perceived value to the Sorento as an overall package.
Should I buy a Kia Sorento?
Yes, Kias have gone up in price; they’re not the bargain-basement brand they were fifteen years ago. It’s also fair to say their range, quality and all-round brand image is streets ahead of back then, too, and this Sorento is a great example of that improvement. If you spend over £56k on the very top of the range version, that’s pushing it a bit but £42k for the cheapest diesel and £47k for the cheapest PHEV when they come with 7 proper seats, AWD, loads of tech and safety features and an attractive image.
By Ben Harrington
2025 Kia Sorento 2 CRDi Specifications:
Engine – 2.2l diesel, Transmission – 8-speed DCT, Layout – Front engine, AWD, Power – 190bhp,Torque – 440Nm, Emissions – 170g/km CO2, Economy – 43.5mpg, Maximum Speed – 124mph, Acceleration – 9.7s – 0-62mph, Price – £42,675 OTR
The 2025 Kia Sorento is available now, priced from £42,675. For full details go to:www.kia.com/uk
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