Revamped Sorento a real head-turner

THE Sportage is Kia’s best seller, but the Korean manufacturer’s flagship motor in Ireland has been the Sorento which has been doing very well for them here over the past 10 years.

At the recent Irish launch of the revamped Sorento, James Brooks, MD of Kia in Ireland, said that the Sorento was the reason Kia got a foothold in Ireland. Now 10 years on, this

‘beast’ of a car has been freshened up by German-born designer Peter Schreyer.

Most upgrades involve several internal and external improvements, but in the Sorento’s case the biggest change is definitely in the cabin. It has now evolved from a traditional 4×4 to a refined SUV. It certainly is a big improvement on previous models and it can now be genuinely described as a very stylish motor.

The new version is lower, longer and wider than previous models. The exterior is now more rounded and Kia’s famous

‘Tiger nose’ design on the grille dominates the front. But the biggest changes have been inside. The dash is now much more refined and a touch of cream on the seats does add a touch of class. Some would say the interior reminds them of a Land Rover, which is certainly not a bad comparison.

The dash is dominated by a screen where you get your sat nav, if provided, and reversing camera. I also liked the fact that two regular-sized buttons were provided for the radio controls. Kia has certainly come a long way from the days when the indicators were on the

‘wrong’ side of the steering wheel – a wheel which is now packed with slave controls.

Kia’s marketing people make no secret of the fact that the Sorento’s first cousin, the Hyundai Santa Fe, is one of their main rivals in Ireland. The Sorento is

?¬700 more expensive than the Santa Fe, but James Brooks of Kia is confident that that their car has more to offer in terms of spec.

The Sorento is available in five or seven seats.

Prices start at

?¬38,995 for the entry level EX model, while the higher speced Platinum will cost you

?¬43,995.