Kia Sorento - the power of calm
In the SUV segment, Kia won the hearts of buyers with its Sportage. However, in the offer of the South Korean manufacturer, we can find another, larger offer - Sorento. This is a tribute to people who value anonymity, but do not want to give up elegance and comfort at the same time.
The Kia Sorento gives the impression of being a US-market car, so as you might guess, it's quite large. The exact dimensions are 4785 mm long, 1885 mm wide and 1735 mm high. The wheelbase is 2700 mm. But let's leave the technical data. Recently, a facelift was carried out, during which the front and rear lights were changed. The dark grille is enlivened by chrome strips. The exterior design is restrained, and the only extravagance is the fog lights, located vertically. But despite this, the Sorento can be liked, especially if it is equipped with 19-inch rims. Separately, it is worth noting the handles with LED illumination, which we really liked. Therefore, the first impressions are positive.
Such a large body promises quite a lot of space inside. With a height of 180 centimeters, I was delighted not only with the seats of the first and second rows. The additional two seats hidden in the trunk floor (its capacity is 564 liters) should traditionally be considered a curiosity and an emergency solution. However, as it turns out, very tall people in glass-topped specimens may have a little trouble getting their heads to touch the roof sheathing. The position in the back seat is saved a little by the backrest, which is largely adjustable. This issue is described in more detail in the video below.
In terms of ergonomics, it's hard to find fault with anything. There is a huge amount of space in the armrest. Cup holders are placed so that drinks are always at hand. The storage box next to the A/C panel is lined with rubber to keep your phone from sliding around corners. The LCD display (called the KiaSupervisionCluster) serving as the speedometer and trip computer is simple and easy to read. Kia's interior designers were able to train their colleagues from other, larger brands.
The quality of the materials used in the cabin makes it clear that the Sorento still falls a little short of the premium class. The cabin of the test car is mostly black, the plastics are not very attractive. However, the manufacturer offers bright upholstery that will brighten up the gloomy interior. While I do complain about the materials, the fit is really top notch. Nothing squeaks or squeaks. It is worth adding that the car traveled more than 35 kilometers as a press car. Given the lack of any scratches or damage on the inside, it's safe to say that they won't appear on much higher mileage cars that will be driven by "typical Kowalskis".
However, there is one aspect that needs to be clarified. Vibrations generated by the largest diesel engine are transmitted to the gear lever and steering wheel when stationary. They are relatively large and do not correspond to the class of the car represented by the Sorento.
The range of engines includes three positions. The Sorento can be equipped with 2.0 CRDi (150 hp) and 2.2 CRDi (197 hp) diesel engines or a 2.4 GDI (192 hp) petrol engine. Under the hood of our copy, a powerful "empyema" worked. 197 horsepower and 436 Newton meters available at 1800 rpm make it the best choice for this car. It does not give amazing results in the sprint (about 10 seconds to “hundreds”), but given the weight of the car (from 1815 kilograms) and its dimensions, it does quite well.
The catalog fuel consumption of 5,5 liters per hundred kilometers on the road is an extremely weak joke on the part of the manufacturer. Real values are about 10 liters in the city and 8 liters outside the city. Of course, if we don't go too far ahead. You also shouldn't depend on the readings of the on-board computer because it tends to lower average fuel consumption. Perhaps the driver will like economical driving for a while, but such a lie will surface soon after the first visit to the gas station.
The automatic transmission fits perfectly into the boulevard nature of the car. It has 6 gears and runs very smoothly without annoying jerks. It might be tempting to say that the smoothness of operation is equal to modern eight-speed competitors. Of course, it is not perfect - the reaction speed in sporty driving could be better. Some drivers will probably be confused by the lack of petals on the steering wheel. Given the target group of buyers, the transmission was chosen quite well.
Regardless of the gearbox chosen, vehicles with 2.2 CRDi and 2.4 GDI engines have all-wheel drive. The rear axle is connected via a Haldex coupling. The system is so smooth that the driver is unlikely to feel it. Off-road performance is decent: ground clearance is 185mm, approach angle is just over 19 degrees, descents are 22 degrees. We may not take part in the Camel Trophy, but we will definitely go further than many crossovers on our roads.
Suspension, consisting of MacPherson struts (front) and multi-link system (rear), requires additional comments. We will appreciate the smooth performance on the track, but when changing lanes, the driver is sure to feel significant body roll. The Sorento also tends to dive under braking. It may seem that then the car should be rehabilitated with a large damping of bumps. Unfortunately, it does this relatively loudly and not very imperceptibly. Engineers managed to combine the disadvantages of extreme suspension settings. And it probably wasn't about that.
The price list of Kia Sorento starts from PLN 117. A copy in the XL version and with a 700 CRDi engine costs PLN 2.2. However, we won't get the Exclusive (includes Blind Spot Assist and Line Assist) and Comfort (xenon headlights with dynamic cornering lights, heated 177nd row seats and steering wheel, self-levelling rear suspension) packages. This requires PLN 700 and PLN 2 respectively. But that's not all! Panoramic roof - another surcharge in the amount of PLN 4500. 5000 inch rims? Only 4500 PLN. Metallic lacquer? 19 PLN. A few of these additions, and the price of the car will fluctuate around PLN 1500.
Kia Sorento is not often seen on the Polish streets. What a pity. This is a convenient, roomy and comfortable car. In addition, which is important for many customers, it is unobtrusive. Unfortunately, looking at the competition, we can conclude that the popularity of this generation of the car will not increase.
