The Kia Sorento has been a solid choice in the family SUV market, and for 2024 it gets a bit of an update. So, what’s new? Well, the facelift aims to keep things fresh and in line with Kia’s evolving design language. Take in the front with those angular headlights, and you might notice the resemblance to the EV9 and even the baby in the range, the (also refreshed) Picanto. You get a sense of a bold, confident stance.

 

The model I tested was the HEV ‘2’ Hybrid, and it’s priced at £42,995. Under the bonnet, you’ll find a 1.6-litre T-GDi petrol engine, paired with a 6-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive.

This setup delivers a respectable 212bhp and 367Nm of torque. It’s not a sports car by any means, but with a 0-62mph time of 9.7 seconds and a top speed of 113mph, it’ll keep your family up alongside regular traffic with ease.

Fuel economy isn’t bad either for such a big beast, thanks to a combined figure of 42.2mpg – and this is the thirsty sibling! Sorento also comes as a diesel and a plug-in hybrid. The CO2 emissions are 153g/km, but if you’re concerned about that, seek out the, admittedly, more expensive PHEV.

With three rows of seats, this SUV can fit seven passengers, well two tall people, three regulars and two kids, or seven average-sized adults at a push, although the third-row occupants won’t be the happiest, despite their own AC controls.

There’s 179 litres of boot space, which admittedly isn’t huge. But drop that third row, and you suddenly have 813 litres at your disposal. Need more? Fold down the second row, and you’re looking at a whopping 1996 litres of space – you want to move house in this thing, or just live in it?

The interior is a blend of practicality and comfort. The front seats are heated, and the upholstery is a mix of cloth and faux leather, which feels premium enough for the price point. The driving position is high and commanding, giving you a great view of the road ahead.

And for those in the back, the rear seats slide and recline, making long journeys that bit more comfortable. And there are additional USB-C ports in the sides of the seats to keep the kids plugged in and tuned out.

The Sorento HEV ‘2’ comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, complete with sat nav, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. There’s also a 4.2-inch instrument display behind the steering wheel, giving you all the essential info you need while driving. The sound system is a 6-speaker setup, which does a decent job, though audiophiles might wish for a bit more oomph.

The Sorento is packed with features like forward collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. There’s also a reversing camera (though not a 360 at this spec) and front and rear parking sensors, making manoeuvring this big beast a lot easier than you’d think. With airbags all around, ISOFIX anchors for the child seats, and a host of driving modes including terrain settings for mud, snow, and sand, the Sorento appears ready for action.

Now, onto the drive. The Sorento HEV isn’t trying to be a sports car – it’s a big, comfortable SUV that’s designed to get you and yours from A to B with minimal fuss. On the road, it’s smooth and serene. The steering is light, making it easy to manoeuvre around town, but it’s got just enough weight to give you confidence at higher speeds. The suspension is tuned for comfort, soaking up the bumps nicely, though you do feel a bit of roll in the corners, which is expected for a vehicle of this size.

The hybrid system works seamlessly. The petrol engine is relatively quiet, only really making itself known when you stomp on the accelerator. It happily passes driving duties to the electric motor whenever it can, not only saving fuel (and Mother Earth) but also ensuring serenity whenever possible.

For those who like a bit of control, there are paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. In normal driving modes, they help with regenerative braking, allowing you to increase or decrease the level of braking when you lift off the throttle. But switch to Sport mode, and they become proper gear shifters, giving you a bit more involvement in the drive – though I suspect most Sorento owners will leave it in one of the automatic modes.

The 2024 Kia Sorento HEV has the space, the tech, the safety features, and the performance to keep most families happy. It’s not the flashiest SUV on the market, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s practical and comfortable.

With prices rising to an eye-watering £56k plus at the top end, it doesn’t necessarily offer the opportunity of affordability you may have once sought with the Korean car makers, but things have moved on. And the middling HEV ‘2’ as tested here at just under £43k is about par for the market.

If you’re in the market for a seven-seater that can do it all, the Sorento should definitely be on your shortlist.

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