AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK

tyre pressure monitoring, full-size spare, parking sensors, camera with static and moving guidelines, three 12V outlets, two USB charge ports (with one of each in the middle row), heaps of storage (including three covered compartments in the centre console) and automatic headlights.

Kia’s industry-leading seven-year warranty makes Mazda’s three years’ coverage look woefully underdone.

Capped price servicing and roadside assistance also extend to seven years. The driver’s pew is fine on shorter trips but the underpadded cushion can get bitey on the cheeks after a few hours. Only basic manual adjustments are provided.

The middle row has a firm, flat cushion and adjustable backrest, split 60-40 (plus a 40-2040 split for the seat backs) and with each side individually adjustable for legroom, of which there is plenty.

Access to the back stalls, which fold up from the floor, is quite tight and available only via the kerbside door. As with most rear seats, young kids are fine but the absence of a footwell forces adults into an inelegant, uncomfortable squat.

In five-seater mode, boot space is considerably tighter than the Mazda. The middle seats fold flat to extend capacity and with all seats occupied you can still carry a few soft bags or the shopping.

If you head into a Kia showroom for a look at the Sorento, check the Carnival people-mover as well. It has a direct injection 3.3-litre V6 with the same outputs as the Sorento’s port-injection