Jumping out of the dual-zoned climate controlled Sorento and onto the hot arid soils of the Australian Outback was a reminder of just how harsh the conditions can get in Australia, and just how thankful one can be of the cooling technology inside some of the better cars of today. Kia’s Next Gen Sorento has been designed with the ability to tackle inhospitable terrain, while protecting the wellbeing and comfort of its occupants.

Like a nice cool breeze off the sea to lift the heat from the air, the Next Gen Sorento has a fresh, clean-cut design that is a breath of fresh air in a market place filled with many SUV options. What does one do with all this choice? I’d recommend taking a look at the brand new Kia Sorento Next Gen models which stand strong in the company of the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and Hyunda Santa Fe. Time spent with the new Next Gen Sorento reveals that this is a well-priced and talented SUV package. Let’s take a closer look.

Having the capacity to have a maximum of seven seats makes the Kia Next Gen Sorento a big, practical vehicle for taking extra friends to the local dance or school performance. A choice of soft cloth or leather seats has you sitting in the new Sorento in a relaxed fashion, and the seats are equally pleasant for long trips. Dual-zone climate control ensures that the Next Gen Sorento’s occupants keep their cool, while the outside temperature could be as hot as 40 degrees. With ventilated front seats that are designed to blow air through the front seat’s cushioning, the seat occupants are spoilt. Switching the function of the front seats to a heating position is a feature agreeable on a cold, winter’s day in Melbourne, where the wind often has a few extra chilly fingers.

A wonderfully well-equipped cabin has cool items like a multi-function steering wheel, a Start/Stop button, a three-mode electronic steering system, sunshade blinds for second and third row occupants, pocket lamps in the door handles for easy access in the dark, remote keyless entry and a cargo screen for hiding valuables from prying eyes. Bluetooth communications, great audio sounds and satellite navigation are part of the new Sorento package. I love the dash appearance. Its classy lines, sweet curves and dark tones give the Next Gen Sorento a very luxurious cabin ambience – particularly with the seats in soft black leather.

Active HID headlights, Active headrests and a high tensile steel body-shell all combine to make the Kia Next Gen Sorento a safe, sophisticated SUV. There is a full array of airbags as standard, and the competent active safety features like ABS and ESC are all standard on each Kia Next Gen Sorento models. Even the outgoing model boasted a five-star Euro NCAP crash test result, which proved that Kia has their safety script well edited and proofread.

Two gearboxes are available for converting the class-leading diesel engine performance into action. A six-speed manual gearbox offers greater torque levels and efficient gear changes, while the six-speed automatic is electronically controlled to provide smooth changes and excellent fuel efficiency. These options are also available for the very powerful 204 kW Lambda II 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine. However, the praises of Kia’s 2.2-litre Diesel engine have been loud and long for some time now, and it’s hard to get away from the appealing 436 Nm of torque available between 1800 and 2500 rpm. Also, the 145 kW available in the mid-range is why this superior diesel engine feels so good to drive. It is a perfect match for the Next Gen Sorento, and with AWD traction this machine is highly capable off the tarmac. 4WD lock position gives the Sorento massive traction for tackling uncertain, off-road conditions.

With a price tag well below 40,000, this 4WD SUV has to be a steal.

The current Kia Next Gen Sorento models include the:

• Next Gen Sorento 3.5L 2WD six-speed auto
• Next Gen Sorento 2.2L 4WD six-speed manual
• Next Gen Sorento 2.2L 4WD six-speed auto

For any more information on the new Kia Next Gen Sorento or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Kia dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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