WHETHER it’s a selling gimmick or abundant faith in its own quality of manufacture, Kia’s seven year warranty is like a magnet to potential buyers. Never has a customers’ ‘safety net’ that is more than double the length of the standard period been more appreciated. The confident boast is emblazoned on the rear screen of all its new cars that are rolling out of showrooms more and more frequently as sales boom. One of Kia's latest introductions is the new version of the Sorento SUV, which fits in somewhere between the Freelander and Discovery in terms of size. It’s a bit of a snip compared with the various Landies but with a starting price of a little over £20,000 going up to more than £30,000 for the top version, the Sorento is hardly bargain basement stuff. This was a four wheel drive version - it also comes as a two wheel drive- in mid-range KX-2 trim option and came out at £26,395. Under that tall bonnet there’s a gutsy 2.2 diesel lump that whacks out a lusty 194bhp giving it the sort of performance that you find in a executive nifty saloon rather than an off-roader. The new bodystyle is both less aggressive-looking and roomier than the old car, and an extra row of seats at the rear turns it into a seven-seater within seconds. So in addition to the go-anywhere capability, the Sorento can double as a useful people carrier. Kia makes great play that in its latest guise, the Sorento is a ‘premium’ player and indeed the amount of standard kit compares well. But the cabin trim and general ambience falls behind some of its perceived rivals – the plastic mouldings feel a tad cheap and there’s a lack of flair in the fascia design. Get down to the nitty-gritty though and the big Kia lives up to and beyond its potential. The engine is a real stonker both in terms of refinement and pace. It will hit 62mph in 9.6 seconds and tops out at 118mph, while the economy is better than you could hope for in such a large vehicle. My average was in the mid-30s with a best of 38mpg on a long run. The CO2 emission figure is a reasonable 194g/km. The six-speed gearbox is light to use and is well ratioed, with the final gear being great for motorway cruising. It has 15 per cent more cargo room than the old car, so when the final row of seats are folded flat it has 531 litre of space and when the centre row is folded this expands to 1525 litres. There are loads of wide, useful cubbies and door pockets plus the usual array of cup-holders. The Sorento is packed with electronic devices – all with impressive initials – to ensure any excursions off-road are safely carried out. It has EBD (electronic brake distribution) to allow you to steer and brake at the same time and there’s ESC – electronic stability control – and HAC which stands for hill assist control. Most will never be required as more than 90 percent of owners venture no further into the hinterlandthan the golf course car park or the local gymkhana. High on value and with hidden dynamic depths, the big Kia has a lot going for it. FAST FACTS Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX2 4WD Price: £26,395 Mechanical: 194bhp, 2,199cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving four wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox Max speed: 118mph 0-62mph: 9.6 seconds Combined mpg: 42.8 Insurance group: 27 CO2 emissions: 194g/km BIK rating: 29% Warranty: 7yrs/ 99,000 miles | 
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