Unbeatable Value
by Richard Dredge (26 Oct 06)

Before now, I've been on SUV launches where the most demanding driving attempted is a gravel track that's less of a trial than the tarmac surface in front of my house; rather a waste when you consider the engineering in a modern 4x4. However, a trip down the A4067 followed by a few minutes on the edges of the Black Mountains wasn't enough for Kia - they had bigger plans.

To prove the Sorento's mettle, Kia let us loose in the dunes of the Sahara followed by a lengthy trek through the Atlas mountains. I think it's fair to assume that such activities probably go beyond what the average Sorento buyer will be attempting, so if the car could cope with this trip, it can cope with life in the suburbs. Suffice to say that on the basis of my Moroccan excursion, your money is safe with Kia.

I doubt that any current off-roader would struggle to cope with what we threw at the Sorento. I would also doubt that many Sorento buyers will do any green laning or dune driving. But some owners will use the car in the rough and the fact that the Sorento costs so little makes it all the more impressive; despite a whole raft of improvements, prices have remained as before.

That means the range kicks off at just £19,995; you can't buy a full-sized SUV as good as this anywhere for the money that Kia is charging. The XC90, X5 et al may be plusher inside and more impressive to the neighbours, but that doesn't make them more capable.

The refreshed Sorento first showed its face at the British Motor Show back in July, with the car going on sale in mid-August. While the revisions may seem rather minor at first glance, the reality is that they're more far-reaching than you'd think. That's not to say there's still no room for improvement, though, but more of that later.

More . . .

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