The KIA Sorento is a large SUV that has standout features like a spacious interior, seven-seat layout and large boot when the third row seats are folded down. As an All-Wheel Drive (AWD), it will ensure good road holding more so on Myanmar roads and even in the worst weather conditions. On top of it all, it has a reasonable price tag and a powerful diesel engine that offers strong fuel economy. And with KIA’s excellent five-year warranty it will stay ahead of its competitors in Myanmar.
Despite looking very similar to the second-generation vehicle it replaces, the 2014 KIA Sorento is a new generation vehicle that offers an 80% change over the outgoing Sorento. The third-generation 2014 model brings changes that help make for an even better-looking crossover. Improvements include LED daytime running lights and vertical foglights up front, while horizontally oriented LED taillights add a much cleaner look to the Sorento’s back than the outgoing model’s square-shaped, honeycomb units. Overall, these modest improvements have given the 2014 Sorento a more mature and classy appearance.
Interior wise, the Sorento’s cabin has a redesigned center console with a larger touch screen infotainment display and a T-handle gear shifter that oozes luxury. That attention to detail is also evident in all the new switches and knobs. The rear seats now have an additional 1.2” of legroom to go with the sliding and reclining 40/20/40 second-row seats. The third row seat is still intended for smaller occupants. Another interesting detail of the Sorento’s back seat is the ISOFIX latch that allows anchoring of child seats.
Practically is the Sorento’s main strength. Boot space is pretty limited with all the seats up, with just 116 liters of capacity but the third row of seats can be folded down easily with the pull or a chord to free up a humungous 515 liters of trunk space. And with the second row down you’ll have an enormous 1,530 litres of capacity. The loading area is pretty flexible too, as the third row split-folds 50:50 and the second row folds 60:40.
There’s only one engine available on the Sorento, an excellent 194bhp 2.2 – litre diesel power plant coupled to an equally excellent six-speed automatic transmission. It provides plenty of power and toque, and will accelerate the car from 0-62 mph in under 10 seconds with a top speed of 118 mph. That makes it very quick for a car of this size. The Sorento also feels surprisingly nipppy on the road and is equally agile on twisty roads. The all-wheel drive (AWD), which is fulltime four-wheel-drive provides a comfortable ride with decent power, comfort and composure for that long distance ride.
The Sorento scored the full five marks in the Euro NCAP crash safety tests. All models come with an array of safety kit including six airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes and traction control. It is also equipped with hill-start assist (HAS) and electronic brake force distribution (EBD) to improve braking control.
At just above the 500 lakhs mark [K50,000,000], the Sorento offers great value for money with a panoramic sunroof, full options and even a reverse parking camera. KIA’s rivals would be foolish to take the threat it poses with anything less than total seriousness.
In conclusion, the new KIA Sorento provides a lot of evidence that KIA has come a long way and the Koreans have become a motor industry force to be reckoned with. Not only is the SUV a likable and capable car but it also offers a comparison to someone looking for a SUV close to the top of the class. It’s hard to fault its build quality.
In all, this new Sorento appears to have what it takes to compete with the best European SUVs. Make no mistake, this is great car, well priced and great value for money. And if that is not convincing enough, the numbers of Sorentos on yangon roads might just convince you the car is indeed popular.
