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Keeping the new Sorento on the road

Friday, 02 July 2010

WHEN Aidan Doyle from Kia handed me the keys of the new Sorento 2.2 litre diesel with 190 brake horse power, he said that I should try and “keep her between the ditches”. With all that power under the bonnet it would indeed be easy to slide off the road if you didn’t have your wits about you. Kia’s Marketing and PR man also mentioned that the new model was built using the monocoque effect and being the shy chap that I am I didn’t ask him to explain, but googled ‘monocoque’ when I got home. The word comes from the Greek for single (mono) and French for shell (coque), so the frame is a single shell. Monocoque construction was pioneered in aircraft in the early part of the last century but it wasn’t until the second half of the 20th century that widespread use was made for motors. The monocoque effect means that the new Sorento is 215 kg lighter than the previous model. So now we all know. The original Sorento was a ‘landmark’ vehicle for Kia when launched in Ireland eight years ago. It proved to be a huge step for the Korean manufacturer as they challenged many established brands and it helped begin the process of changing public perception about Kia. Later the smaller and equally popular Kia Sportage arrived. The new Sorento can carry seven people. But the third row of seats are small and I didn’t have any reason to raise them up, using the space at the back instead to carry bulky items. I drove an inky-blue coloured model but it’s also available in various other colours and Spicy Red looked nice. Inside, black was the dominant colour, but the white roof did give the interior décor a lift. The rear windows are darkened which could give the impression that you are transporting somebody famous in the rear. The radio controls in all Kia cars are now very good and a massive improvement from the early days. Also when first introduced to Ireland, Kia cars could be irritating at times in that they had the indicators and wipers switch on the ‘wrong side’ of the steering wheel. But they have long since followed European designs and you will no longer find yourself  turning on the wipers when you really want to indicate right. You can probably tell from the photo that this is a massive motor. Roof rails add to the jeep/SUV effect. You wouldn’t want to have a dodgy hip or knee to climb on board, but once inside it’s a very comfortable motor, with excellent views of the road and indeed the fields. Kia describe the SUV as a ‘highline cruiser.’ I liked the way I could electrically adjust the driver’s seat. Kia with its seven-year guarantee is doing well, especially with their Venga, Soul, Rio and Picanto models. But the Sorento doesn’t qualify for a scrappage scheme. Prices start at e38,895 for the basic EX model, while the GSE model I drove will cost you e41,995. This is a very safe SUV as it achieved five stars in the Euro NCAP safety test. With the recession still hurting, SUVs have been taking a bit of a hammering from various quarters. But they are still a very comfortable mode of transport to travel in or for transporting bulky items, if you can afford one.