The Kia Sorento surprised us several times this year. First, the turbo-diesel range came along and put a stake in the ground with striking styling, superb quality and pricing substantially undercutting the sister (but also very much rival in NZ) Hyundai Santa Fe.
Watch the full Zooming with DRIVEN NZ AA NZ COTY award show by clicking here
It’s a quality product all-round, but we especially loved the integration of driver-assist and safety technology in the higher-end models; everything from the Blind-spot View Monitor, which gives you a high-res video feed on the instrument panel, to Remote Start Parking Assist (RSPA) that allows you to park or retrieve the Sorento from a tight space from outside the vehicle, using the keyfob remote. Sounds like a gimmick, but it’s actually pretty handy for a large SUV.
The quality and equipment levels in the Sorento could easily make you think twice about buying a premium European SUV.
Then later in 2021 came the electrified options. Sorento is now available as a diesel, petrol-electric hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), with an impressive zero-emissions range of 57km. Front-drive or AWD.
Whichever way you look at it, as a seven-seat family SUV, the Sorento offers a lot of choice – and a lot for the money.
Runners Up
Subaru Outback, Toyota Highlander
KIA SORENTO
ENGINES: 2.2-litre turbo diesel, 1.6-litre hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
POWER: 148kW/440Nm (diesel), 169kW/350Nm (hybrid) or 195kW/350Nm (PHEV)
GEARBOX: 6-speed automatic, FWD or AWD
ECONOMY: 1.6-6.1l/100km
PRICE RANGE: $59,990-$89,990
