Kia Sorento test, technical data sheet, reviews and specifications 2.2 CRDi Evolution DCT8 AWD

More modern and now also diesel powered

Four years after the launch of the fourth generation model, the Kia Sorento updated with a more modern and sophisticated look and engine gain: in addition to a full petrol or plug-in hybrid, the large seven-seater Korean SUV can now also be available with 2.2 turbodiesel with 194 CVwith an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Attractive body of Kia Sorento it changes especially at the front, where the eye is caught by a shiny new “look”: inspired by that of the maxi electric SUV EV9 (WHO first touch), consists of very thin luci LED daytime running lights that form a variety of Inverted “L”.with the vertical lights being moved back compared to mask black color. The latter is unmarked (transferred to the bonnet, which in turn has been renewed with clearer and more decisive lines) and gives character to the car thanks to the three-dimensional texture and the honeycomb motif. Also new Rear lightsit is no longer fragmented but bound into a single inverted “U” shaped element.

Inside it is more elegant and in keeping with the times

With the update of 2024 of Kia Sorento it also changes internally. In the large passenger compartment, carefully designed, full of storage (but no refrigerator) and ventilated panoramic roof of electricity (typical in the rich Evolution of our experiment), a large curved element stands that brings together, one next to the other, screen (both 12.3″ and easily readable) of multimedia system and dashboard. The latter is well connected with an open one title display, which provides key information in front of the driver’s eyes, such as vehicle speed, road signs and navigation directions. more elegant dashboardin which the thin air vents are well connected (with two temperature control wheels) and a small touch-sensitive console that, by pressing a common “button”, allows you to switch from two-zone “climate” management to of infotainment and vice versa.

Business class for five, and there is room for seven

Report card of Kia Sorento shines with sound comfort, especially in this edition of Evolution. In addition to being warm, they are comfortable seats covered with leather, it is also ventilated and electrically adjustable (for driving with memory). Divided into two asymmetrical sections, the second row (which also has the seat heating function) can slide, allowing you to find, according to your needs, more space in trunk (which when traveling with seven people must be skimpy, but when the seats are folded down it has a capacity of 813 liters) or for the legs of long passengers. Who, however, in order not to touch the big figure of with their heads panoramic roof, must have to put the back of the sofa back. Not a bad place inside the third rowequipped with two USB-C sockets and ventilation devices and where, as long as you are not tall, you can face a small trip without much sacrifice (but with your knees very inserted because of the seats, which are very close to the floor) .

Useful if you are not in a hurry

An important contribution to comfort comes from the valve soundproofing the passenger compartment and with the suspension, effectively smoothing out road imperfections despite the large wheels. It wobbles just a little when handling bumpy surfaces firmly, whereas on the other hand 4×4 traction (which includes three specific driving modes for snow, mud and sand) ensures a secure grip. Road holding, thanks also to the many electronic driving aids (all standard), is also safe on asphalt, but roll score it doesn’t make you want to accelerate between bends, where almost two tons of weight makes itself heard, and also forces the four-cylinder diesel engine to work overtime when you want to get a little insight: the best quality of the 2.2 is the fluidity of the operation. And i consumption? The company claims an average of 15.5 kilometers with one liter of diesel; at the end of our short tour, with some downhills but also on the highway, we saw about 13 on the on-board computer.