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2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000
 
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Kia Sorento SLi |
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Kia Sorento SLi diesel drove into the winners' circle this year, thanks to a robust argument in Design and Function and an improved showing in On the Road to complement some already impressive numbers in Value for Money. Not only did the seven-seater Sorento knock Subaru's well-regarded Outback Premium off its pedestal, but it managed to see off Korean kindred brother, the Santa Fe R Series Elite, and newcomer BMW X1 2.0D xDrive. This is an SUV not short on standard features. Tick the boxes for active front and adjustable rear headrests, height-adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners, centre rear lap/sash belt, immobiliser, remotecentral locking , auxiliary power outlets, map reading lights, cruise control, driver’s footrest, tie-down hooks, door and seatback pockets and steering reach/tilt adjustment. Also standard fit are AM/FM tuner, CD player, wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls, MP3 connectivity and auxiliary input, tinted windows, trip computer, auto-off headlights, front fog lamps, heated powered mirrors, powered windows and intermittent wipers. As with most offerings with a third row of fold-flat seats, Sorento is better suited to children or the more vertically challenged, although head and legroom is commendable. With the third row in use, cargo space is understandably compromised, which is an outcome common among seven-seater vehicles other than those people movers based on larger commercial van underpinnings. Fold down the third row when not needed, however, and Sorento has the solution to most load-carrying challenges. It’s extremely user-friendly in having flat floors and no internal load lip or intrusions to the cargo area. There is also rear ventilation for back seat passengers, a full-size alloy spare and, as mentioned, extra seating capacity. Three child restraint mounts are fitted. Sorento is now a monocoque construction with multilink rear suspension. While OK around town, the ride feels underdone when smooth hot mix gives way to the patchwork quilt that is often Australian back roads. Handling is another area that Kia will hopefully sharpen up. Compared with, say, the X1 and Outback, Sorento is nowhere as nimble on its feet nor as responsive. Turning circle is 10.88 metres. Peak power of 145kW arrives at 3800rpm while Sorento with auto transmission enjoys 14Nm more torque than its manual sibling (436Nm versus 422Nm, both between 1800 and 2500rpm). But the manual version boasts a higher towing capacity, able to pull 2500kg as against 2000kg (both braked). There's a hint of turbo lag off the line, but the 2.2-litre CRD turbo four-cylinder is punchy enough and commendably quiet. During testing, Sorento recorded an average of 10.4 seconds from 0-100km/h with two occupants on board. From 80km/h to a stop, it averaged 26.5 metres. These are solid, rather than outstanding, times for this type of vehicle. The previous model’s low-range transfer case has been dropped in favour of a torque-on-demand all-wheel-drive system with lock mode, which endows Sorento with capable off-road performance for its category.
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