Kia Releases Global Circuit Off-Road Package for Sorento

Kia has announced that from now until October it's Sorento 4WD will be available with a no-cost optional Global Circuit package, which gives the mid-size SUV the extra kit needed for those occasional off-road sojourns.

The Global Circuit pack features a towbar with trailer wiring, ARB recovery kit, nudge bar, side steps, roof rails, floor and cargo bay mats and the requisite special-edition badging, and represents $3400 worth of goodies.

Available on both the 125kW 2.5-litre diesel and 180kW 3.3-litre petrol V6 equipped models, the Global Circuit package definitely manages to cram a lot of gear into the Sorento, and considering you won't have to drop a cent extra to tick that option box, the Global Circuit package represents a genuine bargain.

Released to commemorate the solo round-the-world trip undertaken by Swedish adventurer Christer Gerlach in 2005 (accomplished in a Kia Sorento, natch), the Global Circuit pack is designed to cement the Sorento's status as a more serious off-roader than some of the other similarly sized and priced vehicles in its segment.

With a ladder-frame chassis and dual-range transfer case, the Sorento is a properly old-school 4WD with the ability to tackle some seriously old-school roads.

It's underpinnings may seem a little archaic in this age of unibodies and car-like multi-link suspensions, but thanks to its rough road capabilities and low price, the Sorento has certainly managed to endear itself to off-road aficionados worldwide.

To date Kia has sold more than 750,000 Sorentos since the model's launch in 2002, and with the introduction of the Global Circuit package it'd be safe to say Kia will be selling a great deal more in the months to come.