Say hello to…
…the new Kia Sorento which is not only available as a plug-in hybrid, but is one of the few diesels remaining in the market. Kia believes there’s not only demand for a diesel in the large seven-seat SUV sector, but that it also will sell enough EVs to meet its ZEV Mandate targets to be able to still offer ICE in this sector. And it’s the 2.2-litre diesel we’ve tested here. All versions are four-wheel drive
The styling may be more conservative against the EV9, but the new Sorento is clearly still from the same family with Kia’s signature lights and grille.
Three trim levels are available:
- 2
- 3
- 4
Standard equipment on 2 includes 17-inch alloys, auto headlights and wipers, powered and heated door mirrors, artificial leather upholstery, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, automatic aircon, 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 6x USB connections, 4.2-inch digital driver’s display, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, adaptive cruise control and speed limiter.
Trim level 3 adds 19-inch alloys, rear privacy glass, leather upholstery, rear outer heated seats, powered driver’s seat with lumbar adjust, middle row window blinds, powered tailgate, 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, uprated stereo, wireless phone charger, side parking sensors, uprated adaptive cruise control, blind spot assist, surround view camera and self-levelling rear suspension.
Trim level 4 adds 20-inch alloys, panoramic sunroof, uprated leather upholstery, cooled front seats, memory front seats, massage front seats, powered steering wheel adjust and head up display.
Is The Kia Sorento Suitable For My Fleet
For those business drivers covering high mileage or that need to tow, a diesel is often still the most appropriate option and Kia is to be praised for offering it alongside the more tax-friendly PHEV.
As with the previous generation Sorento, Kia has favoured rear seat leg-room (the Sorento will properly fit seven people – unlike some rivals) over boot space (in 7-seat mode) with a minimum boot space of 179 litres. Use the Sorento in five-seat mode and there’s a whopping 813 litres of boot space.
And for those that tow, the diesel will handle a braked trailer up to 2,500kg.
Leasing A Kia Sorento
Intelligent Car Leasing is offering the Sorento deisel in top spec ‘4’ trim for a very competitive £672 a month on a 3+36 contract with 20,000 miles a year. Running costs are likely to be £73 a month according to Gensen Reports with a Class 1A NIC liability of £170.
Driving A Kia Sorento
In a large, seven-seat, SUV you want a comfort, refinement and an easy driving experience and that’s exactly what Kia has delivered with the Sorento.
By electric car standards, the diesel engine isn’t particularly quick, but it doesn’t matter. In a car this size you don’t want ‘quick’ you want smooth. And now that we’re all used to EV’s being smooth it’s easy to forget that diesels can be smooth and refined too. The eight speed automatic gearbox helps too and the only thing that interrupts that experience is a fractionally slow stop-start system – which is only an issue if you do a lot of town driving.
At motorway speeds the Sorento wafts along and the adaptive cruise control systems work well. Kia has made it easy to switch off the annoying beeping for speed limit warnings and for lane assist should you want to.
In fact, the infotainment system is one of the best on the market – it’s intuitive to use with enough physical buttons either on the dashboard or the steering wheel.
Standard equipment levels are impressive too. While the entry point ‘2’ has all the basics, ‘3’ is generous and ‘4’ strays into wanting for nothing.
All Sorentos are all-wheel drive and come with drive modes for both on-road (eco, normal, sport) and off-road driving to give maximum grip.
While the car is very much a comfy SUV and there isn’t anything sporty about it, road manners are good on twistier roads, plus the high driving position gives a good view of what’s ahead which helps progress.
FleetandLeasing.com Verdict On The Kia Sorento
Impressively high quality seven-seat SUV that’s refined, roomy, comfortable and is still available as a diesel.
Kia Sorento
- Model: Sorento diesel 4 2.2 CRDi auto
- Power: 191hp
- Torque: 440Nm
- Max speed: 124mph
- 0-62mph: 9.7sec
- Official mpg: 42.8mpg
- Test mpg: 36.9mpg
- CO2 emissions: 173/km
- BIK tax band 2023/24: 37%