Car Statistics: Kia - Sorento Series (3 stars)

Styling (4 stars)

Not hugely distinctive, but modern and international with a hint of premium brands.

Handling (3 stars)

Certainly not clumsy, but not inspiring either. It will get you to your destination without you ever really noticing the handling.

Comfort (3 stars)

The automatic transmission, which many buyers will chose, makes for a particularly restful drive. The ride is generally comfortable, but it can get a bit jiggly over rougher roads.

Quality (4 stars)

Reliability is never a problem with Kias. Quality is generally good, except for some very poor interior plastics.

Performance (5 stars)

The 2.2 diesel engine is a star performer and, when mated to the automatic transmission, makes for a drivetrain that can rival anything from Europe.

Roominess (4 stars)

The Sorento is a mid-sized SUV, so it is not the roomiest in absolute terms, but it makes clever use of its space. The three rows of seats (in all but the cheapest versions) make it a practical choice.

Costs (3 stars)

Fuel economy in the diesel versions is fair and servicing costs should be reasonable. However, a high list price and a Korean badge may make for severe depreciation.

Value (3 stars)

This is the big problem. It is (mostly) a premium product sold at a premium price, but without a premium badge. The pricing is probably a few years ahead of Kia's true position in the market place.

Stereo (4 stars)

There are plenty of connection options and the stereo is good quality (it is Korean, after all). However, sat nav is only an option on the top of the range version, when it becomes a very pricey car indeed.