2015 Kia Sorento Platinum CRDi AWD REVIEW – Kia Gets Serious About Its Seven Seat SUV
The skinny: Kia’s new Sorento takes the leap from "family-friendly", to "family first", with a bigger interior, better noise insulation, and increased safety. This Sorento Platinum, at the top of Kia's Sorrento range, not only features one of the best diesels in the segment, but also comes equipped with plenty of added safety and comfort items.
At nearly $60k on-road, it's pressing into premium-brand territory. But, for what it offers, compared to its closest competitors from Japan, the Sorento Platinum diesel represents pretty impressive value, shaving some 10 grand or more off the top-tier seven-seat SUV competition.
Vehicle Style: Large SUV
Price: $55,990 (plus on-roads)
Engine/trans: 147kW/441Nm 2.2 4cyl turbo diesel | 6spd automatic
Fuel Economy claimed: 7.8 l/100km | tested: 8.1 l/100km
OVERVIEW
At this point, other car makers with large seven-seat SUVs should be feeling a little nervous. Kia’s Sorento may not be a new nameplate, but this latest version plays hardball in the family-friendly SUV sector.
While it wears a fresh new look externally, it's on the inside that really counts, and Kia has served up a high quality, flexible, and contemporary interior.
There are plenty of premium features packed into the top-spec Platinum model, plus a diesel engine, which is something that Kluger, Pathfinder, and CX-9 are all unable to match.
THE INTERIOR | RATING: 4/5
Quality: From fine-grade plastics to solid-feeling switchgear, everything has taken a move upmarket in the new Sorento.
There’s a liberal application of metallic highlights, and broad swathes of glossy woodgrain, giving a very Euro-centric look and feel.
Fit and finish is top notch, panel gaps throughout the interior are extremely precise and tight fitting, which is very reassuring.