Kia expect good take up with New Sorento

New Kia Sorento

With the arrival of the new Sorento large SUV, Kia Ireland are expecting the model to sell up to 300 units in the remainder of this year, making the model once again a serious contender in the segment, writes Trish Whelan.

Ten years ago when the brand set up its own subsidiary here, the Sorento was the car that was most important to their growth.

Large SUV sales were hard hit when the recession came, but are now on a strong upward curve - as evidenced by the success of the sibling brand Hyundai's Santa Fe with 400 units already sold this year.

The front of the new Sorento incorporates long, wrap-around headlamps and more prominent fog-lamps, as well as a larger and more upright 'tiger-nose' grille, with a distinctive three-dimensional diamond pattern.

The new model keeps the Sorento's hallmark long bonnet and wide D-pillar, but a lower roofline, higher beltline and swept-back shape give the car a more dramatic, muscular stance. This is aided by the more prominent 'shoulders' at the rear of the car.

Customers will be able to specify the interior in either single-tone (black), or two-tone (black and stone beige) colour schemes with cloth or leather trim. Additionally, brown or light gray colour schemes in leather trim will be offered as an option.

Available in 5- or 7-seats versions, the new Sorento features 40/20/40 second row split folding for improved versatility. The second row seats of the 7-seater are equipped with 'remote folding' controlled by two levers in the side cargo bay, and also slide to allow easier entry and exit to the third row of seats.

Over 1.1 million kilometres of durability testing was carried out on the new Sorento on a global scale, equivalent to around 27 circulations of the Earth around the Equator.

Pictured is James Brooks, Managing Director, Kia Motors Ireland, at the Sorento launch last Monday at Barberstown Castle, Straffan, Co Kildare.