Best for: Space
Early in its UK presence, Kia occupied a strong position, offering British families seven-seater transport and solid peace of mind, but trends change and the spacious Sedona is almost forgotten.
Instead, the Sportage SUV has taken on the role of large family car in the Korean brand’s range, in the process losing some of its earlier off-roading ability.
The emphasis is on the ‘some’ and not ‘all’, as the Sorento remains equipped with mechanical four-wheel drive but with the addition of sophisticated hybrid and plug-in hybrid options alongside the familiar 2.2-litre diesel.
Unlike the Skoda Kodiaq, the Sorento retains seven-seater capability and 4×4 grip even as a PHEV, although its electric-only range is less impressive.
It’s good-looking, too, having evolved in 2024 to adopt some of the electric Kia EV9’s brutal futurist styling that suits the Sorento’s 4.8m-long bulk well.
Interior quality is such that its switchgear will likely be operating just fine long after the Sorento is a museum piece, let alone when its reassuring seven-year/100,000-mile warranty has finally lapsed.
