Car of the Year/SUV of the Year: 2020 Kia Sorento

Not too long ago, Kia used to lure buyers in with low prices and its seven-year warranty/capped price servicing/roadside assist offer — which until this year was the best after-sales program available. This meant its vehicles didn’t necessarily have to meet any great expectations — they just had to be good enough. But Kia has moved beyond that now. It has vehicles considered among the best in their respective segments, while we named the Stinger sports beast our Car of the Year in 2017. And just as that car astonished for how it filled its brief while maintaining the value which initially drew buyers to Kia, so too does the new Sorento family SUV. Now Kia has done it in a vehicle catering to a group far broader than just those looking for rear-wheel-drive performance fun: the large seven-seat SUV is among the most popular in Australia. You may wonder how the Sorento’s value can be praised when it’s priced from $45,000-$63,000 plus on roads — it’s a Kia, after all. But the price range is on par with other mainstream, large, on-road seven-seat SUVs like the Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Santa Fe but you get more stuff in the Sorento. It could be argued the top-spec, top-dollar GT-Line variant offers the best bang for buck. It’s not cheap, but everywhere you look there are features you’re more likely to find on a Euro-badged SUV with a six-figure price tag: quilted Nappa leather, heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, heated and ventilated seats, and a 12-speaker Bose stereo. There’s a 10.25-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch digital driver display nestled side by side, offering the slickest of graphics, while using the indicators brings up a camera view behind you in the driver display to make sure there’s nothing in the adjacent lane. OK, the “calming” sounds being played through the stereo (falling rain, cracking fireplace etc) are pretty naff, but it’s still fun to show off to friends. There are some excellent perks found throughout the Sorento range. There is plenty of cargo room, with the rear seats easily stowed. Adults can fit in the third row, with ample headroom and a sliding second row assisting with leg room — plus passengers six and seven score their own air vents, cup holders and USB inputs. There are other small touches parents will appreciate, such as rear window blinds and the Driver Talk intercom, which allows you to speak to third row passengers via the stereo. Up front, a shift-by-wire dial changes gears rather than the usual lever, opening up space for handy nooks and crannies for wallets and the like. Some may roll their eyes when discussing an SUV’s looks, but we enjoy the Sorento’s aggressive, modern styling as found in other Kia SUVs such as the Seltos. As with other SUVs of its ilk, the Sorento can be had in V6 petrol/front-wheel-drive or with a four-cylinder diesel/all-wheel-drive pairing. The engines aren’t new, but the diesel (the pick of the two) does get a new wet eight-speed dual-clutch automatic which is a quality unit. It’s a comfortable car and, despite being a large SUV, the steering is light and the Sorento never feels unwieldy when parking. Safety gear is generous, with one of the best head-up displays out there adding another premium touch. And “premium” is a word which comes to mind regularly when it comes to the Sorento — which goes to show just how far Kia has come. It’s made a vehicle which will allow many families a slice of —dare we say — luxury in their lives, without breaking the bank. It’s an impressive achievement and a worthy Car of the Year. 2020 KIA SORENTO SPECIFICATIONS THIS YEAR’S WINNERS