Kia Sorento 2024: road (and off-road) test of 194 hp diesel

The new 2024 Kia ​​Sorento officially enters its mid-career overhaul by embracing some of the features of its sibling, the electric Kia EV9. The Sorento, however, does not share the electric power supply alone, in fact it remains traditional, given that the diesel is still present and in this product category, a car with dimensions that are more American than European, continues to make sense due to torque. characteristic of diesel powered units. At the same time, however, the 2024 Sorento offers hybrid and plug-in options, both powered by a 1.6-liter turbo gasoline as well as electric motors of varying power that work with 1.49 kWh and 13.8 kWh batteries, respectively.

Remodeling brings aesthetic innovation where it’s easy (and not too expensive) to do: front, back and inside, especially on the dashboard.

The reason? When you give a car a refresh without changing the platform and without bringing the project back to hand, it is the sheet metal that you want to avoid touching at all costs so as not to incur more costs to prepare the production line: for this reason. we get a new pillar of light, narrower and less traditional, a new bumper and small changes in the lines also for the rear lights, without affecting the side lines and the overall proportions.

Inside we find the same philosophy, but perhaps with a more visible effect because the dashboard changes and is now much thinner than the previous version: it is true that the effort to integrate the displays has been lost and the dashboard gives a “suspended pill. “effect”, but the lines are cleaner and everything seems less crowded and chaotic than before.

The two screens are 12.3″, one for instruments and the other for infotainment, and among the new features comes activation via fingerprints associated with various user profiles.

The platform has not changed, which is why there are no significant changes in terms of chassis and suspension. Kia Sorento 2024 is still an SUV that is particularly prone to hard driving, it is not easy to take curves because the steering is clearly not that of a sports car, but just lift your foot a little to enjoy it in “turismo” mode thanks to the good. comfort guaranteed by the configuration of the suspension group. If you push hard the body roll makes itself felt, but if you go for a trot the car is also unexpectedly easier, with measurements that can be easily read even in the narrow and claustrophobic streets of the Italian mountain villages (Tuscan in the case of the test).

The diesel engine is very generous with its torque of 450 Nm, it does not fail to climb and is well managed by the 8-speed automatic (double clutch) which is unique to it considering that hybrids are equipped with six speeds. one by one. Apart from the minor problems of starting and stopping on steep off-road slopes, where, however, when the car is restarted, the management of the four discs can allow us to start again even on very slippery surfaces without having to return to the valley to gain speed, cooperation between the gearbox and the engine is always better.

The acoustic comfort is also excellent, making the car pleasant on the road and blocking sound enough not to have to shout to reach those sitting in the third row, although it is not a “zone of silence” because the front mark certainly does not make much aerodynamic and noise you can see a speed of more than 120 per hour.

Kia Sorento 2024 parts and 47.350 € for the Business version with a diesel engine (2WD, but there is also 4×4), a figure that rises to €49,350 for the Full Hybrid version (also two-wheel drive but 4×4 is available as an option) and up to €56,350 for the plug-in Hybrid , only all-wheel drive and strategically placed to fall into government incentives and Ecobonus. Warranty is always 7 years or 150,000 km.

As for the standard equipment, the Business already has several ADAS, including a central station with cruise control, dual-zone climate control, sliding rear seats, light and rain sensors, front parking sensors, keyless, Full LED, electric mirrors, 7 seats. , 12.3″ infotainment with CarPlay and Android Auto (but the instrument panel only has a 4.2″ screen and not 12.3″), 3 years of OTA map updates, 7 years of Kia Connect traffic , various USB and electrochromic rearview mirror.