New version of Kia’s big SUV is a car of real ambition and new powertrain options
Apart from a few outliers and van-based exceptions, seven-seat MPVs are pretty much dead and buried in the UK. Instead, large family SUVs like the Kia Sorento have become the acceptable face of seven-seaters.In a way, the Sorento charts the history of Kia in the UK, evolving from crude Mercedes ML impersonator to bargain-priced tow car and family holdall, and finally to the sharp-styled, practical, capable mainstream tow car and family holdall you see here today.The fourth generation of the Sorento was launched in 2020 and introduced full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain options for the first time. A facelift in 2024 brought a big interior refresh, as well as updated styling that emphasises the Sorento’s family connection to the electric seven-seater in the brand's line-up, the Kia EV9.The Sorento line-up at a glanceThe model range for the fourth-generation Sorento is refreshingly simple, even if the hardware itself is much more complex than was offered on the model before. All versions have mechanical four-wheel drive and two of the three models are hybrids.The PHEV is comfortably the most powerful – and potentially frugal – model in the line-up, as well as the most expensive. Notably, it retains the third row of seats, despite the need to carry a sizeable battery.There’s no need to learn some arcane trim level language. Instead, there is 2, 3 and 4. The higher the number, the posher the trim.VersionPower1.6 T-GDI HEV226bhp2.2 CRDi199bhp1.6 T-GDI PHEV261bhpAs for transmissions, there's a six-speed automatic for hybrids and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic for the diesel
