The new Kia Sorento is available to order from Kia dealerships from the beginning of October with customers able to pick up their models from December.

Far more than just the usual mid-term upgrade, this is a front-to-rear and top-to-bottom re-engineering of the car which improves safety, comfort, luxury and driving dynamics while lowering fuel consumption, emissions and running costs. In a simplified range, all models now have permanent all-wheel drive system and are powered by a revised version of Kia’s 2.2-litre CRDi turbodiesel engine.

The length and width of the car are unchanged at 4,685 mm and 1,885 mm respectively, but New Sorento is 10 mm lower than the outgoing model at 1,700 mm as a result of a corresponding reduction in ride height. This has the benefit of lowering the centre of gravity, an ideal starting point for the much-improved on-road agility and responsiveness of New Sorento as well as improved access and easier loading ability as well.

All versions of New Sorento are now powered by a revised version of Kia’s 2.2-litre CRDi turbodiesel engine, driving all four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox or the company’s’ six-speed automatic. A new exhaust-gas recirculation system has helped New Sorento achieve fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 47.9 mpg and 155 g/km (manual) – improvements of 5.7 mpg and 22 g/km over the outgoing model. The figures for New Sorento with the six-speed automatic transmission are 42.2 mpg and 175 g/km with the 17-inch wheels fitted to the majority of models, or 41.5 mpg and 178 g/km for KX-3 with 18-inch wheels. These represent reductions of up to 4 mpg and 19 g/km.

The 2.2-litre CRDi engine develops 194 bhp at 3,800 rpm and 422 Nm of torque from just 1,800 rpm, endowing New Sorento with outstanding driveability on- and off-road. New Sorento accelerates from 0-60 mph in 9.4 seconds (manual) or 9.5 seconds (auto), and all versions have a top speed of 118 mph.

The new Sorento, like every other Kia, benefits from a seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty.

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