The Kia Sorento has come a long way from its early days. Once seen as the sensible but perhaps unexciting family SUV, the 2024 version arrives looking like a beast with some impressive new tricks. It promises a blend of refinement for the road, decent off-road capability, and a plush interior that might make you second-guess splurging on more premium brands. But can it truly walk the walk, or is it all just for show? To find out, Kia sent us their 2.2-litre diesel to play around with.

On-Road Ride

Let’s face it – the majority of Sorento owners will likely be driving this SUV on the motorway, urban roads, or suburban neighbourhoods more than they will ever be tackling muddy paths. Kia knows this, which is why the Sorento has been tuned to offer a genuinely refined on-road experience.

From the moment you press the start button, you can feel that Kia has gone the extra mile with sound insulation. The cabin is quiet, even at higher speeds, allowing for peaceful family chats or simply enjoying the impressive sound system. The suspension has been fine-tuned for comfort, with a gentle but controlled bounce over bumps and potholes. It absorbs rough patches with ease, even when fully loaded with passengers and gear, making long-distance journeys feel like a breeze.

Steering-wise, it’s light and responsive, though some might find it a bit lacking in feel. It’s more about ease of use than thrilling feedback, which suits most drivers perfectly fine. While it might not provide the sharp handling of a smaller crossover, the Sorento holds its own on winding roads, managing to avoid feeling too top-heavy despite its SUV bulk. Kia’s engineering here leans towards providing a sense of stability rather than an exhilarating driving experience, which, let’s be honest, is what most family SUV buyers want.

For motorway cruising, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance come into play beautifully. It’s almost like the Sorento’s got a little bit of autopilot magic going on, helping reduce fatigue on those long jaunts. Just be ready to steer, as it’ll remind you with a beep if you let go of the wheel for too long!

Fuel wise, after around 400 miles of very mixed driving, the 2.2-litre diesel, that’s mated to a very slick 8-speed auto, achieved 38mpg, that I didn’t too bad, considering its size and that I don’t usually hang around!

Off-Road

Now, Kia doesn’t market the Sorento as a hardcore off-roader, and you wouldn’t exactly take it to battle the more rugged green-lanes found in, say, a Defender or Land Cruiser. But don’t let that fool you into thinking the Sorento is a pavement princess. It’s surprisingly capable when the tarmac ends.

Equipped with an all-wheel-drive system and multiple terrain modes, including settings for snow, mud, and sand, the Sorento adjusts its power delivery, torque distribution, and braking to tackle more than just grassy car parks. The AWD system works with the vehicle’s stability control to help maintain grip even on uneven surfaces.

When tested on light to moderate off-road conditions, think gravel roads, shallow streams, and some rutted lanes, the Sorento held up well. The ground clearance of 176mm is enough for handling typical British countryside outings, though you might want to avoid more challenging rock crawling. The Sorento’s hill descent control is particularly useful, making downhill slopes a cinch, and the suspension manages to handle uneven terrain without throwing passengers around too much.

If you're into weekend adventures like camping or outdoor sports, the Sorento should see you through without breaking a sweat. However, if you’ve got dreams of conquering a bunch of gnarly lanes in Wales, you’ll likely need something a bit more specialised.

Interior Spec

Step inside, and the Sorento doesn’t disappoint. Kia has made a huge leap forward in terms of cabin quality and design. It’s not just functional anymore, it’s actually luxurious in places. Soft-touch materials cover most surfaces, with clever use of leatherette, brushed metal, and even wood-effect accents in higher trims. It gives the cabin a premium feel that rivals some more expensive competitors.

The dashboard is dominated by a large 12.3” digital driver’s display paired with a 10.25”touchscreen for the infotainment system. Both are crisp, responsive, and easy to navigate, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto coming as standard. The layout is driver-friendly, though some may find the infotainment menus a bit too complex at first. Still, it’s packed with useful features, from navigation to a 360-degree parking camera, which makes parking this large SUV in tight spots a lot less stressful.

And speaking of size, let’s not forget the Sorento is a proper seven-seater. Unlike some so-called seven-seaters that cram people into the third row as an afterthought, Kia’s done a solid job of making the rear two seats usable. Adults may still find it a bit cramped back there, but for kids or shorter journeys, it’s perfectly comfortable. And when those seats aren’t needed, they fold flat, providing a massive boot space of up to 813 litres. Fold down the middle row, and you’re looking at a whopping 1,996 litres of load space – enough for serious family holidays or carrying bulky items.

My only annoyance was that the Sorento doesn’t have any USB sockets, rather the more modern USB-C. So if you’re considering a Sorento - which you should, go and buy a handful of adaptors!

Comfort and Practicality

Comfort is where the Sorento really excels. Kia has taken note of what families need on long trips, and they’ve delivered. The seats are supportive and well-padded, with plenty of adjustment options to find the perfect driving position. Heated and ventilated seats are available on higher trims, as well as a heated steering wheel – an absolute treat on frosty UK mornings.

For passengers, rear seat comfort is just as important, and Kia hasn’t forgotten this. The second row of seats reclines and slides, giving backseat passengers control over their own comfort levels. There’s ample legroom and headroom, even for taller adults, and the panoramic sunroof option makes the cabin feel airy and open.

There are plenty of cupholders, cubby holes, and USB ports scattered around the cabin, ensuring that everyone can keep their devices charged and their drinks secure. Kia has clearly designed the Sorento with family practicality in mind, making it a strong contender in the large SUV market.

Safety

In terms of safety, Kia has equipped the Sorento with a wealth of features designed to keep you and your passengers safe on the road. It comes with a full suite of driver assistance technologies as standard, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward-collision warning.

The Sorento also earned a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, further solidifying its credentials as a safe family vehicle. In particular, its safety assist features, such as lane-keeping assistance and intelligent speed limit recognition, are intuitive and work well in practice without being too intrusive.

If you’re regularly driving around with precious cargo (aka kids), it’s good to know that Kia hasn’t skimped on safety, and there’s even an ISOFIX system for easily securing child seats.

Conclusion

The 2024 Kia Sorento does an impressive job of blending family-friendly practicality with a touch of luxury and even some off-road capability. It’s not going to compete with hardcore off-roaders like the Land Rover Defender, but it doesn’t need to. For those who want a well-rounded, spacious, and comfortable SUV that can handle the school run as well as weekend adventures, the Sorento more than delivers.

Kia has also made great strides in making the Sorento feel more premium, both in terms of interior design and driving refinement. It’s not just a big SUV – it’s one that offers a surprisingly smooth ride, plenty of tech, and enough ruggedness to make you feel confident when the going gets a bit tough.

In short, the 2024 Sorento offers excellent value for money and deserves its place as one of the top contenders in the large SUV market. If you’re in the market for a do-it-all vehicle that’s as happy on the motorway as it is down a gravel track, the Sorento is well worth considering.

Website - https://www.kia.com/uk/

Price of vehicle tested: £45,195