It is unusual for any OEM to give a car as dramatic a restyle as Kia has done for the mid-life facelift of MQ4, the fourth generation Sorento. Whatever this cost, it was worth it, as US sales are surging, things are suddenly improving in China (exports soared in August) and Europe remains strong.
The best selling vehicle in South Korea
The 4.8 m long five- or seven-seater is doing best of all at home, where it is now number one with 60,686 sales YtD. Moreover, the Carnival is second (57,452) and another Kia, the Sportage (51,522), is third. At least Hyundai got the best seller’s title last month, with the Sonata surging by more than 100 per cent year-on-year.
The brand is a major force in the UK too, with the Sportage (30,100) second only to the Puma (32,263) during the first eight months, well ahead of the Qashqai (27,684). Kia ranks fourth (74,885) behind Audi (80,958), BMW (84,278) and Volkswagen (105,586). Worth noting: in August, more Kias were sold than BMWs, while the Korean brand is a long way ahead of fifth placed Ford (69,852) year-to-date.
HEV and PHEV lead the way in the UK
New in 2020, the MQ4 restyle was announced back in July 2023 with the Federalised, West Point-built model debuting with its distinctive orange DRL at the LA auto show four months later. Sorentos for Europe are made not in that US factory but at a site in Hwaseong, some forty miles south of Seoul.
Sometimes imported Kias take their time landing in Britain and that applies in this case. The plug-in hybrid is the one which Kia Europe is understandably keen to promote, and that was the powertrain of the Sorento I have just enjoyed seven days with.
Big changes outside and in
The changes at the front end make this look like a new vehicle but the sides with that signature fin motif behind the back doors show this is still the same basic model. Wheel designs are fresh, as are the bumpers and tail lamps and paint colours, while recycled cloth/artificial leather seat facings now feature.
Kia has even changed some of the metal - usually too expensive a thing for facelifts - with the bonnet now a different shape. The logo also moves there from the grille and the large piece of plastic between the vertical headlights has been switched to a 3D-effect mesh design.
A major makeover has taken place inside too. Initially I thought it might be a backward step to change the dashboard design, but the digitalisation is logically applied, not just loads of tech thrown onto one screen.
Long digital dash-top display also new
Driving the Sorento back to back with the new Picanto, the simple delights of a more analogue little car were, on balance, more appealing. But, we are where we are: the market is believed to want ever larger screens and even fewer physical controls. Though some of us are not always convinced by what can often be Too Much Tech.
At least in the biggish, newish Kia, everything does what it should and rarely irritates. Such as changing from Park to Drive to Neutral to Reverse, which is beautifully done via a knurled plastic dial. A good example of Hyundai Motor Group retaining components which work with a lovely action.
As a family car, the Sorento still takes some beating and the 60/40 middle row not only reclines but will slide too. Which is a boon for parents with growing teenagers or even just taller occasional passengers. Upholstery is fabric for the base trim and leather for higher-end versions. Heating is standard for the front seats, along with the steering wheel.
Diesel variants the least expensive Sorentos
Petrol-electric power is what private buyers and fleet managers seem to want, though as we all know, this is changing almost by the month. And European markets can have diverging trends so we should spare a thought for the product planners. As I had tried the HEV in the pre-facelift Sorento, it was time to give the PHEV a go.
The hybrid, like the plug-in, has a torque converter automatic transmission with just six ratios, whereas the diesel has one of Hyundai Motor Group’s own eight-speed DCTs. Battery capacities are respectively 1.49 kWh and 13.8 kWh. The larger of those two is placed below the middle seats rather than at the rear where it might intrude on space for luggage. And the HEV’s battery is under one of the front seats.
Three model grades, standard two-axles drive
All-wheel drive is standard in the British market, as is a seven-seat layout. And when it comes to trim levels, 2, 3 and 4 apply for every engine: 2.2-litre diesel, 1.6-litre hybrid or 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid.
Cars in 3 or 4 specification have a 12-speaker Bose audio system plus dynamic indicators while all three of the 4 variants add remote parking assistance, a rear side airbag, a blind-spot camera, digital key, fingerprint recognition and a head-up display.
Driving the PHEV
Kia quotes up to 34 miles of range running in electric mode and that seemed realistic during my days with the car. The engine was also smoother than I had thought a 1.6-litre four-cylinder one might be, and noise is kept to the very minimum. As a motorway cruiser, the PHEV is terrific.
Power and torque are 185 kW (252 PS) and 367 Nm. Top speed is 113 mph, zero to 62 mph takes 8.8 seconds and CO2 is 37 g/km WLTP. Kia quotes a silly economy number (officially 176.6 mpg WLTP) but a realistic one is 45-55 mpg depending on load and how you drive.
This is by no means a narrow model but the Sorento is just 1.9 metres across so far easier to live with in the UK than the EV9 which sits above it in the local line-up. Length, at 4.8 m, is equally handy for a seven-seater. And three rows in the PHEV beat the likes of the Kodiaq but against that the Škoda has a better range in EV mode. At least the Kia does deliver the whole 34 miles it is claimed to.
Which powertrain is best?
Caravaners will want the diesel as it can pull up to 2,500 kilos versus only 1,010 for the plug-in petrol-electric (HEV: 1,110). If a buyer has no need for towing, then an argument for the more expensive PHEV can certainly be made. Quiet in almost all circumstances and easily locked into electric - via a button - for those times when this is needed or wanted, the plug-in hybrid could be the best Sorento of the three.
Kia Sorento prices range from GBP41,995 to GBP56,670 OTR. The lowest CO2 number is 37g/km (PHEV).
