Cars Car reviews
John Oxley
The new generation of Kia Sorento is an entirely different vehicle from the last one. While we loved the ability of previous G2 it was essentially an old-fashioned rock and roller like the first generation Land Rover Discovery, attributes which are no longer desired by the people who now buy mid-size four-cylinder SUV for fleet and family use.
Off-road drivers and people who tow boats and caravans regularly will be disappointed by the Sorento R. It's lost the ladder chassis of the G2 series predecessor which traversed muddy fields and hauled heavy loads cross-country with ease.
Ground clearance has dropped 20mm from the previous model, and the low-range gearbox has been dropped in favour of electronic hill descent control, hill start assist and a four-wheel-drive lock for the new Sorento R.
Towing capacity for the Sorento R is now 2000 kg for the automatic version and 2500 kg for the manual transmission, but Kia says this shouldn't be a problem as its research says most buyers in this class are not looking to haul heavy loads.
However the new Sorento R is a much more pleasant vehicle to drive on-road. There is far less body roll through the road-orientated suspension and the new monocoque body is far more aerodynamic which means a hugely improved and much decreased level of cabin noise, vibration and harshness.
Great engine
The new 2.2-litre R series common rail turbo-diesel engine developed by the Hyundai Kia Motor group plus the addition of a six-speed automatic transmission is a vast improvement over the old 2.5 turbo diesel unit in the G2.
The engine is a modern marvel, pushing our 147 kW of power and 445 Nm of torque, and that, combined with the lighter weight compared to the previous model, makes the Sorento a great performer.
Where the old G2 was a bit slow off the mark, the new generation of Sorento R responds to the throttle with no discernible turbo lag and gallops away from standstill leaving slower traffic in its wake.
And the six-speed auto gearbox is a gem, with quick and smooth changes plus the ability to change manually if you want to be a bit more sporty.
It's a great package, good looking, comfortable and well specced. However if you want to go seriously off-road, get something else - it won't go where the previous model would.
However it will take you across a river that will leave a 2WD vehicle bogged, and it will take you to some of your favourite scenic spots.
On the whole though the new Sorento R is far more suited to urban dwellers rather than serious hardened four-wheel-drivers, and it will do far better as a family proposition.
Price: R399 995
More at Ananzi Motoring
