Yesterday, one of my favourite trendy brand of the land of the morning sun, Kia Motors, have launched two new SUVs in Malaysia, namely the third-generation Kia Sorento and the fourth-generation Kia Sportage at KLPAC. Since I'm reviewing these two cars, I will split these posts into two. So today, I'll be covering the new Kia Sorento first.
Here's the Sorento 2.4 MS and the 2.4 HS, respectively.
This one is the diesel variant Sorento
Back in the year 2003, the Sorento was Kia's second SUV after the Sportage, which accommodates 7 seats inside. The first-gen Sorento was a ladder-frame based SUV and it only had a 2.5 diesel engine with turbo. After 2009, the Sorento became a unibody-constructed SUV, making the car to be more comfortable and no longer truck-like feel while driving in the city.
The new Sorento is now available with three different trim levels, known as the 2.2 CRDI, 2.4 MS and the high end 2.4 HS. New to the lineup is the 2.2 inline-4 diesel engine with turbocharger that produces 200 hp at 3800 rpm with a whopping torque of 441.3 Nm. That is way higher and quicker than the Fortuner 2.4 diesel and the Everest 2.2 diesel! The other two trim levels get the same engine from the previous-gen Sorento XM, making 171 hp at 6000 rpm with 224.6 Nm of torque. All engines are mated to a 6-speed torque converter-based automatic transmission.
The HS gets HID headlights with adaptive lighting system. The other two gets the normal halogen projector headlights.
For the 2.4 HS, the Sorento gets a 19" alloy wheels with chrome finish.
The 2.4 MS gets the same size too, but it has a different design. However, it still looks nice to it.
For the 2.2 CRDI, sadly, it gets a smaller 17" wheels to make the price lower since it is a base model.
The Sorento features a power tailgate for the HS and MS. The cargo space has been expanded due to a hike in length over the predecessor.
By getting inside the Sorento, the interior is fully redesigned and it is no longer have a bulky-feel to it. With the help of Kia's chief designer, Peter Schreyer, the Sorento has the up-to-date design and features rounded edges in each parts. The central digital instrument cluster remains for the high-end Sorento with the bigger screen and more detailed graphics. The middle and the base model only get the analog gauges instead.
It does have 6 speaker surround sound system across the range. Note that only the 2.4 HS gets the navigation system.
All models get an electronic parking brake as standard. Also, Smart Parking Assist System is only available for the HS like this one.
Even though the height is shortened, the headroom for the back seats do not compromised that much, there is still plenty of room for it. Wait until you see the third-row seat.
Stepping to the third-row seats, you get a massive legroom and fits two adults without any problems. For the first time in my whole life, this is the best place to sit behind compared to other SUVs with 7 seats.
To keep yourself cool, there's another air-cond vents behind, a rare feature for most SUVs with extra row seats.
Without further extent, it's time for a drive. First, I'll be talking about the diesel-powered Sorento and finally the petrol-equivalent ones.
The Drive
The new Sorento drives a little bit different compared to the previous one, albeit it has a lower height and longer wheelbase. For the diesel version, I was quite impressed with the power. After trying most diesel-powered pick-up trucks and SUVs around the city, this one was the most superb for a 2.2 litre engine. Even a 2.4 litre petrol engine can't touch the pace. Sadly though, the diesel ones don't get any exclusive features in the petrol-powered Sorento. Handling this SUV has a little special touch due to the redesigned platform. It feels lighter and way easier like most continental SUVs. Braking is way better than expected, as it stops earlier than before.
The audio system is pretty great to the ears. However, it still can't come close to a typical premium sound system. Dual-zone air-conditioning system is standard and easily freezes me within seconds. The auto-start-stop system is very convenient (only for diesel variant), for those tree huggers especially who wants to save the world by reducing the CO2 emissions.
Moving to the petrol equivalent, obviously it has a huge power difference. The petrol engine is still considered underpowered compared to the CR-V and X-Trail. To forgive this situation, Kia put most bells and whistles inside to keep the drivers and passengers entertained. One of the best tech features for it is the Smart Parking Assist System , which enables to steer the car itself while the driver can manage the brake and the autobox to move. Here's the video clip of the demo of the system.
The system works well only if the side sensor scans at a full percentage if you drive the car way damn slow around the parking lot. Not only that, you have to master the brakes to get the parking done perfectly.
Overall, the Sorento UM is another strong achievement by Kia, thanks to the new diesel engine and high tech gadgets. For those who like to go for eco-friendly journey and affordable for your pocket, I will like to recommend you the 2.2 CRDI. It is quicker than most low-spec diesel-powered SUVs in the market. If you wanna go high-tech like most Europeans, try go for the 2.4 HS. Most bells and whistles can make you having a cool and enjoyable ride, especially with the digital center instrumental cluster and Smart Parking Assist System for easy parking.
Price for the Sorento UM starts around RM 155,888 for the 2.2 CRDI, RM 165,888 for the middle range MS and RM 175,888 for the exclusively looking HS.
Comments
Post a Comment