Meanwhile, the Kia Sorento has already arrived in the fourth generation. Many Kia’s have already passed in this section, but the largest SUV of the brand has never before shown what it is worth in its basic version. Time to change that.
Kia Sorento Comfortline 1.6 T-GDI Hybrid
€ 45,995
The first generation of Kia Sorento entered the market in 2002. In appearance, that SUV was very similar to the Mercedes M-class of that time. Especially the shape of the rear side windows is reminiscent of the SUV van Das Haus. If you put the new Sorento next to the first, it is especially striking how much the design department of Kia has improved itself over the years. Remarkably, the Sorento did well in the Netherlands, especially in its first construction years. 2007 was the peak year with 2,819 units sold, but after that it came to a close. In the past five years, Kia has only been able to sell 252 copies here.
However, that has not stopped the brand from bringing the Sorento to the market in the Netherlands. Kia now only offers the Sorento with electrified powertrains and that suddenly yields an interesting pricing. To see what you get for the starting price, we naturally take the cheapest variant: the 1.6 T-GDI Hybrid with 230 hp. The Sorento is also available as a Plug-in Hybrid with 265 hp and a battery pack of 13.8 kWh. Compared to the Hybrid, it has an additional cost of € 3,600 in the Comfortline version, bringing the total to € 49,595. For reference: the previous Kia Sorento was only available from € 59,020 in its last years and then you had to make do with the 200 hp 2.2 CRDI diesel engine.
Not to be seen
The Kia Sorento does not look anything like a basic model in the ComfortLine version. The more expensive versions are called DynamicLine, DynamicPlusLine and ExecutiveLine, which are in the price list for € 48,995, € 52,995 and € 55,995 respectively. Unfortunately, the configurator only shows the larger 19-inch wheels, but these are only standard from the DynamicPlusLine. The Sorento is standard on 17-inch alloy. If you do not make a further color choice, the SUV is painted in ‘Clear White’. You have to pay € 995 for the other nine metallic paint colors. The Sorento has windows that are framed with chrome in the Comfortline version. The chrome can also be found on the rear bumper, while the accents in the front bumper are in black. If desired, you can opt for two ‘Design Styling Kits’ for € 619: ‘satin chrome’ and ‘piano black’. In the doors and at the bottom of the boot lid there will be an extra strip in the desired color. The mirror covers will also have a contrasting housing.
LED headlights and rear lights are already available on the ComfortLine. You do not have to activate it yourself, because a light and rain sensor and high beam assistance are always present on the Sorento. To make parking the large SUV somewhat easier, standard front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera are included. Since the Sorento takes up quite a bit of space, the standard electrically folding mirrors are a welcome addition. In terms of options, Kia mainly works with the above trim levels. Many options are not available separately, but various accessories such as sidesteps and mud flaps are. For things like full-LED headlights and heat-resistant glass you have to go to the DynamicLine, while a panoramic roof and privacy glass are only on the Sorento from the DynamicPlusLine.
Always safe
As a ComfortLine, the Sorento already has a whole range of safety systems on board. Front Collision Assist, Multi Collision Braking, Lane Keeping Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control are all things you don’t have to pay for. In addition, the Sorento recognizes road signs and the SUV also knows when its driver needs a break. Also standard: a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation, dual-zone climate control and an auto-dimming interior mirror. You can accommodate five people in the ComfortLine, in all other versions the Sorento has a third row of seats. In the basic version of the Sorento you sit on fabric seats. The furniture is only covered with leather from the DynamicPlusLine. The interior in the photos is the most luxurious ExecutiveLine. Kia has no images of the less well-off versions in the configurator.
In terms of infotainment, the ComfortLine only has the essentials: an 8-inch touchscreen for operating the audio. This system does have DAB +, Bluetooth connectivity and preparation for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Only from the DynamicLine do you get the 10.25-inch full map navigation system. Music lovers might do well to opt for the DynamicPlusLine, because then a Bose audio system with 12 speakers is included.
The lack of individual options has two sides: on the one hand, the Sorento cannot really be flavored according to individual needs, but on the other hand, you have a lot of luxury for relatively little money. The packed Sorento Hybrid ExecutiveLine costs exactly € 10,000 more than the entry-level model. With the German brands you have actually only just started ticking the option list for that amount.