by Richard Dredge (04 Feb 10)

When the original Sorento arrived, there were a few sharp intakes of breath as it was revealed this then-new car ushered in the era of the £20,000 Kia. That was seven years ago; there's an all-new Sorento about to hit the streets and this time it's the £30k barrier that's set to be breached. That's right - order a range-topping edition of Kia's new full-sized SUV and you'll have to find 30 big ones.

Don't run away screaming just yet though, because an entry-level (petrol-engined) Sorento can be picked up for £20,495, but you'll need at least two grand more for a diesel edition. If Kia has a problem, it's not that its cars aren't competitive, it's that buyers' perceptions aren't changing as fast as the company's products. Kia claims that once potential buyers try out its cars, they're converted - the hurdle is getting those punters into the showroom first.

The new Sorento is a good example of how Kia's products are evolving. Whereas the old car featured a separate chassis, the new one has a monocoque. The ground clearance has been reduced and so has the towing capacity - you could pull 3.5 tonnes before, but that's shrunk by a tonne with the new car. So Kia is clearly aiming the new Sorento at a different market, but that's not to say the new model can't cope with a bit of rough.

Indeed, teaming up with Alan Kidd for the launch, I soon got to discover just how accomplished the Sorento is when venturing into the rough. Alan is editor of Total Off Road magazine, and as such he's not interested in anything unless it's got a bunch of diff locks and enough ground clearance to traverse the Himalayas. He also gets very excited if there's plenty of axle articulation on offer and, sure enough, it didn't take him long to establish that Kia's new toy can acquit itself admirably when the tarmac runs out.

Few owners will care about such things of course; they'll be more interested in the driving experience, standard kit, cabin space and such like, and suffice to say that there's good news to report on every front. Between us, Alan and I couldn't mark the car down significantly for anything - it's that good.

Sorento V2.0 gets a new 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine which offers more power and torque than the old 2.5-litre unit (now 194bhp and 311lb/ft) while also consuming less fuel, with the consequent road tax benefits. Kia claims the new Sorento can average 43.5mph in two-wheel drive manual form, which equates to just 171g/km – choose the six-speed automatic transmission instead and these figures jump to 39.2mpg and 189g/km.

For some inexplicable reason, Kia is also offering a 2.4-litre petrol engine, with a six-speed manual gearbox only. With just 172bhp and 166lb/ft of torque, it promises to be rather underwhelming compared with the diesel. It's also available only with five seats and solely in two-wheel drive form, so don't expect to see many when it arrives later this year.

We got to sample only the turbo diesel engine, and having done so it made it even harder to understand why anybody would opt for the petrol. Smooth, torquey and decently frugal, the CRDi is extremely impressive, and while the manual gearbox is a little notchy, it feels precise rather than awkward - the six-speed automatic works well with the turbo diesel engine too.

The rest of the dynamics are equally impressive; body control is good and so is the ride, while the speed-sensitive steering is well weighted. Getting comfortable in the front seats is easy, and there's space aplenty in the middle row too. The optional third row is rather low and there isn't much leg room for six-footers, but as long as you're not carrying seven adults, there's room for everyone - but not their luggage.

As you'd expect with a Kia, kit levels are generous, with the entry-level Sorento 1 getting air-con and a decently specced six-speaker hi-fi. The KX-2 (KX denoting four-wheel drive) adds cruise control, heated front seats and reversing sensors, while the range-topping KX-3 adds 18" alloy wheels, cream leather upholstery, electric panoramic sunroof and xenon headlamps. Safety hasn't been forgotten either, with electronic brakeforce distribution, ESP and downhill brake control all standard. So too are active head restraints for those in the front, six airbags with passenger's side cut-off switch, plus Isofix mounting points.

So far so good; the dynamics are good, the cabin is spacious, the equipment levels are excellent and the fit and finish are superb too, even if the cabin design doesn't ooze design flair from every pore. But is it good enough to command a 30 grand price tag? In all honesty, the answer has to be yes. After all, excellent reliability is guaranteed – and Kia has enough confidence in its products to offer a seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty on them. Even better, the balance of this warranty transfers when the car is sold; on that note, residuals are also much stronger than they once were.

So while the thought of the £30,000 Kia may seem like nothing short of utter madness, put the new Sorento through its paces, compare it with key rivals, and you'll see it acquits itself pretty admirably. Roll on the 40 grand Kia in a few years' time.

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