Car review: 2024 Kia Sorento

Posted 5 October, 2024 Mark Borlace

Kia’s styling has matured in recent years while still retaining its reputation for value. The new seven-seat Sorento is the epitome of this and will rival some European brands with what they offer in a family car.

Features and range

Besides the standard seven-year warranty, the Sorento also has Kia Connect which is a seven-year complimentary connected car service. It enables over-the-air map updates and uses telematics systems to transfer real-time data, such as weather and traffic information. Kia Connect also provides software updates without having to take the car into the dealer.

The four-model range has an engine and spec combination that will suit any budget, but at the top end, the GT-Line has all the kit found in a high-end luxury vehicle.

The tech

Inside the S, Sport and Sport+ variants, one of the first features to stand out is the new four-inch multi-function LCD digital display, replacing the analogue gauges. The display provides sharp, clear digital gauges and high-definition images. It gets even more impressive in the GT-Line, which features a dual 12.3-inch panoramic integrated touch-screen display. On top of that, there’s a heads-up display providing the driver with convenience.

Design and function

The family-oriented Sorento has lots of storage and plenty of charging points in the cabin. It’s a seven-seat vehicle spread across three rows, but it’s only comfortable for four adults and three kids on longer trips. The sliding second-row seat allows leg space to be adjusted so there’s balance for all occupants. If you need more cargo space, all seats are easy to fold away.

Safety kit

Safety upgrades include highway driving assist, which builds on adaptive cruise control and stop-and-go
capability. There’s also lane-following assist to keep the car centred even when driving around a curve. The GT-Line includes parking distance warning for the front, rear and side of the car. The addition of side detection zones provides a more comprehensive warning system that will warn the driver when a collision is likely during parking.

On the road

The overall on-road ride of the Sorento, enhanced by the tailored Australian tuning of the suspension and handling, really adds to the luxury feel of the car. A start button engages the engine, and the easy-to-use rotary-dial transmission shift is standard across the range. Unlike many new cars, the Sorento has a full-size spare tyre.

One annoying driving element of the Sorento is the sensitive speed-limit assist, which can chime frequently. It can be switched off every drive, however this is a bit of a process.

It’s available in 3.5-litre front-wheel-drive petrol and 2.2-litre all-wheel-drive diesel variants. For me, the diesel is the pick of the bunch with its smooth, quiet performance and decent fuel efficiency of about seven litres per 100km. The Sorento also has a usable two-tonne towing capacity.

The bottom line

The long warranty and competitive pricing, paired with a stylish design and the functionality of seven seats, make the Sorento a good-value, family-friendly SUV package that will end up in lots of SA driveways.