ON FRONT PAG E N O R T H E AST V I C TO R I A , A L P S A N D H I G H CO U N T RY
FEBRUARY 17 - 23
| 2017
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KIA SORENTO: is a quality SUV/people mover crossover.
Kia Sorento is big, bold and practical IT’S a bit of a stretch to call Kia the sleeping giant of the Australian automotive industry but for a company ZLWK VXFK FORVH OLQNV WR LWV KLJK ³ \LQJ Korean sibling, Hyundai, it has long been something of an under-performer. That’s all changed in the last two years with back-to-back growth in sales of 20.5 per cent in 2015 and 26.5 per cent in 2016 and Kia has now moved into the top 10 RI RYHUDOO PRWRU YHKLFOH VDOHV IRU WKH ² UVW time. This week’s test vehicle, the Sorento is the larger of Kia’s two SUV models and it has been an important contributor in the sales growth following the arrival of its current (third generation) model in mid2015.
By ALISTAIR KENNEDY Sorento comes in four grades. In rising order of equipment and price they are Si, SLi, Platinum and GT-Line. Prices range from $40,990 for the petrol two-wheel-drive Si to $58,490 for the turbo-diesel AWD GT-Line. Sorento is neat and compact with a high bonnet and the characteristic Kia grille ³ DQNHG E\ ODUJH FXWRXWV IRU WKH IRJOLJKWV and eyebrow headlights topped by LED daytime running lights. Both the grille and lower air intake have DQ DWWUDFWLYH KRQH\FRPE ² OO 7KH URR³ LQH ³ RZV JUDGXDOO\ GRZQZDUGV from above the front seats to the rear and, while it does reduce headroom in
the third row seats that’s only going to be a problem in the unlikely event of adults occupying the seats. Kia Sorento is a seven-seater, effectively an SUV / people mover crossover, so outward vision is important and the side windows are large and extend all the way to the rear. Likewise, the rear of the vehicle is squared-off to enable 320 litres of luggage to be carried even when all seven seats are in use. That increases to 1077 litres with the third row seatbacks folded, and a vanlike 2066 litres with the second row also folded. Standard across all three models are roof rails and rear spoiler.
SLi and Platinum add a handsfree powered tailgate and LED rear combination lights with the Platiunum getting a panoramic sunroof. The Si rides on 17-inch alloy wheels; the SLi on 18-inch alloys and Platinum and GTLine on 19s. The latest addition to the Sorento range, the GT-Line, added in late 2016, gets chrome wheels, stainless steel side steps, red brake calipers, red leather trim, paddle shifters, LED ice cube fog lamps, chrome accented interior and GT-Line badging. Two engines are available, 3.3-litre V6 petrol and four-cylinder 2.2-litre turbodiesel.
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