Kia Sorento 2018 Review

What’s it all about?

Like many of today’s SUVs, the Kia Sorento began its Australian life in 2003 as a dinkum, dual-range transmission, full-chassis off-roader.

The road has become softer in subsequent years and today’s Sorento mingles with its peers offering monocoque construction and front or all-wheel drive options with no dual-range in sight. As well as being thoroughly road-oriented, it has also grown physically, with seven-seat accommodation the norm.

Now in its third generation, the Sorento brandishes all the safety technology needed to compete in today’s large SUV segment. Only just. Autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure technology and adaptive cruise control only became available with a mid-life update in 2017.

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How much will it cost?

The Kia Sorento update brought a revised model range spanning from the base $42,990  (before on-road costs) petrol V6 Si to the Platinum-spec replacing AWD four-cylinder GT-Line diesel at $58,990, also before on-roads.

Part of the update included a bigger petrol V6, bumped from 3.3 to 3.5 litres. The exclusively front-drive V6 engine appears not just in the Si, but also in the $44,990 Sport and the slightly pricier ($46,990) SLi.

And Kia remains the warranty king, with seven years and unlimited kilometres of factory-backed cover.

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Why should I/shouldn’t I buy it?

The inclusion of safety technology including (low speed) autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control, largely explains the price jump that took place with the update: The Sport petrol reviewed here is up $1000 over its previous Si Limited equivalent, a $1000 increase that is reflected in all models except the 2.2-litre diesel GT-Line ($500 more) and the base Si V6, which has been dragged $2000 upwards.

Other than attention to the styling that brings a reworked “tiger nose” grille, new front and rear bumpers and a revised interior, the big news is the meatier, long-stroke 3.5-litre V6 which is now accompanied by an in-house eight-speed auto transmission that replaces the previous six-speeder.

Power is up marginally, from the previous 3.3-litre’s 199kW/318Nm to 206kW/336Nm, both produced at slightly lower rpm than before, for a basically inconsequential lift in quoted fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, which go from 9.9L/100km and 230g/km to 10.0L/100km and 235g/km.

The bigger engine works well with the new eight-speed auto. Theoretically it should more easily find an appropriate gear ratio and avoid some of the smooth but noticeable roar of the smaller V6 which was notable for its over-zealous kick-downs.

The new engine is not a dramatic change, but it has the torque to retain gears for a bit longer before downshifting. Rewardingly, we found that our (admittedly freeway-intensive) week with the Sorento saw an average consumption of 9.9L/100km, which was better than the official claim.

With steering and suspension revisions, the updated Sorento’s on-road qualifications are pretty impeccable and certainly up there with the best of its competition.

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When is it available in Australia?

With its revised model lineup (Si Limited and Platinum versions are out), the new-look Sorento went on sale across Australia in late 2017. The range includes Si petrol V6 front-drive and diesel AWD, the Sport V6 reviewed here, SLi V6 and AWD diesel and the range-topping AWD diesel GT-Line.

Who will it appeal to?

The Sorento has been criticised for its 2000kg towing capacity, but that’s no less than the identically-rated Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Santa Fe and Mazda CX-9 – all of which contrast with the Nissan Pathfinder’s significantly more capable 2700kg.

But if you’re seeking a decent -size seven-seater that crams in just about everything you want, including leather trim, sat-nav, and a new, user-friendly dash layout with oodles of soft-touch vinyl, then the Sorento Sport isn’t about to leave you feeling short-changed.

There’s nothing fussy or clever about accessing the third-row seats and, once there, even adults might be surprised at the space available. And there are air vents for all three rows.

One might decry missing items at Sport-spec, such as power front seats and a power tailgate (they appear further up the range), but there is an appropriate sense of quality that sits well in this segment where $40,000, pre on-roads, is the price benchmark.

And the maximum 1662-litre load capacity – provided you don’t expect too much of the area behind the in-place third-row seats (it’s a meagre 142 litres) – is definitely class-competitive.

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Where does it fit?

Close to equivalent in terms of overall bulk and weight (1932kg) with its Kluger/Santa Fe/CX-9/Pathfinder contemporaries, the Kia Sorento is well suited to urban use. And, with its interior space and reasonable if not heavy-duty towing capacity, it has the ability to be a great foundation for family holidays.

With a model spread topping out at $58,990 it has an overall price advantage of its peers which can stretch close to $70,000 in top-spec form.

The coup de grace though is the warranty: Nobody, not even Hyundai, comes close to the seven-year, unlimited-kilometre deal offered by Kia. And that includes roadside assist back-up for the entire term. If that’s not confidence-inspiring . . .

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So, what do we think?

The Kia Sorento, though not as strong in the marketplace as Mazda CX-9, Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Santa Fe, is a convincing member of the large-SUV club.

It has the looks, the capabilities, the accommodation, the pricing – and now the safety credentials – to match it with a solid group of competitors. And even though the V6 is still only available with front-drive, there are few occasions where owners will notice the difference.

How much does the 2018 Kia Sorento Sport V6 cost?

Price: $44,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.5-litre six-cylinder petrol
Output: 206kW/336Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 10.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 235g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP