Kia is a car brand that has transformed itself over the past five years, upping its game to take on big mainstream competitors, and doing pretty well at winning new customers. And it is not just about competitive pricing. Kia has paid great attention to European design requirements, upgraded its build-quality and added to its already generous standard equipment levels. You see all this effort coming to fruition in its latest Sorento model. It looks stunning, matching anything BMW and Audi offer in the sector, and inside, it still impresses, with better-quality trim materials, beautifully sculpted styling which makes it seem rather classy, and it drives beautifully too.

My test model was powered by a 2.2 litre diesel engine available on all but the entry level model, and it offers 194 hp, which gives it plenty of grunt for towing, and for smooth motorway cruising. Top speed is 118 mph, and the 0-60 mph time is quite quick in this class - just 9.2 seconds.And there is good news at the fuel tank too - the combined figure is 42.2 mpg, more than respectable for a 4WD model of this size and weight.

The price tag on the flagship KX3 test model was £28,620, though of course you get the looks and much of the equipment lower down the range and at several thousand pounds less. The cabin is very smart to look at, very comfortable and very spacious, both for passengers and for luggage. There are seven seats in all Sorentos other than the entry-level model (which has five) though the ones that can be folded out of the floor in the third row are really just for children. The KX-3 gets leather upholstery, an electric panoramic sunroof and xenon headlights among its extra equipment, plus larger wheels with lower-profile tyres. The ride and handling are very good, though the ride quality is a bit harder on the skinny tyres than it would be with conventional ones.

The Sorento offers responsive power delivery, excellent steering feedback, and the auto transmission on the test model was well-spaced and smooth in its operation. Not all 4WD models are pleasant to drive on a day-to-day basis. Some are un-weildly to handle and some uncomfortable to in in for longer trips, but I found the Sorento scored top marks on these counts. Kia may not be the first brand to come to mind in this crowded sector, but anyone who takes the time to check out the Sorento is going to be very impressed, not just with its look and its equipment levels but in its sheer value for money.

 

FOR: Classy styling, elegant interior, good cabin occupant and loadspace, fluent driving feel and good economy.

AGAINST: Rear vision a little restriced when reversing, and the engine is a tad noisy at higher revs. ends