Kia’s come a long way

Irecently had the great pleasure of driving the new Kia Stinger. If you haven’t seen this car yet, you may want to take a second to Google it. And I mean right now because it’ll help paint the evolution of the brand that is Kia.

Kia officially opened shop in SA in 1998, with only five models on offer. Only 310 units found a home in that first year. Admittedly, Kia was not known for championing goodlooking cars, they were solely for the singular function of commuting from one point to the other. This could’ve been one of the reasons why some models such as the Ceres, Pride and Shuma didn’t see fruitful sales and were subsequently discontinued in SA.

However, Kia has come a long way since then. We were reminded of this over the weekend when we were invited to celebrate Kia’s 20-year milestone and the launch of the refreshed Kia Grand Sedona and Sorento. Both these models are overshadowed by their popular siblings, the Kia Picanto and Kia Rio, which for me have to be the turning point for Kia. These two nameplates have strengthened Kia’s stronghold in the country, and today there is a Picanto at every corner.

Back to the celebratory weekend: we headed to the Westin Hotel in Cape Town, where the Grand Sedona and Sorento were parked to greet us. “Remember us?” They seem to say. As a kid I used to play “guess the car” without looking at the name and never

would I have guessed Grand Sedona and Sorento, so it was a bit of: “Well, nice to meet you for the first time,” though I know of them and have seen them around. As I circled both cars, I tried to figure out why they are the unpopular pair. The refreshed models would certainly be more noticeable in traffic, and this is why. Our pick for the first driving leg of the weekend, was the Sorento. It is noticeably sleeker, tighter and definitely more attractive. This SUV sports revised front-end features, a more detailed radiator grille, revised LED daytime running lights and sleeker tail lamps as well as a new bumper design in the rear. Jumping in, the cabin is familiar. It looks as upmarket as most SUVs. The changes inside include a new tactile multifunction steering wheel, a new gearshift lever and a revised instrument cluster with revised graphics. It is both comfortable and spacious, and the 605-litre boot swallowed the crazy amount of luggage all four of us had. For more seating space all model derivatives offer seating for up to seven passengers and with the third-row seats folded, much can be done with the ample boot space. I got to experience the car as the driver as well as the passenger on our long trip to George. It is important to mention that Kia makes really good engines, and this comes through in the effortless way it takes on the road, but also, the gear transmission is seamless. The model-line up comprises a midspec LX as well as mid-high-spec EX derivative after the entry-level LS and high-spec SX and SXL models were scrapped to focus on these two. For the first time. With an eightspeed transmission, the 2.2-litre diesel Sorento produces 147kW and 440Nm of torque, which I found ample and punchy enough for the scenic routes leading to George. More impressive than its looks was the frugality! If I had to pick out imperfections in this otherwise good car, it would be the slight road noise that penetrates the cabin, as well as the bumpiness that comes through as a passenger in the back seats. After an overnight stay in George, it was time to head to Port Elizabeth for the last leg of our trip and I was pleased to have the Grand Sedona as our second sample and proved gentler in the back, which we needed after a long night of mingling. The great suspension was the first point of impression. The Grand Sedona is Kia’s flagship people mover, that is ideal for larger families but also for corporate use in shuttling big groups. Though it is aimed at competing with the Hyundai H1, it is more of an MPV than a minibus which makes it less overwhelming to drive. Let’s not forget that the H1 is a 10seater, while the Grand Sedona we had was a seven-seater, with the option of making it an 11-seater on special order. Like the Sorento, the Grand Sedona also underwent some cosmetic changes to the front and rear. A reworked front bumper, updated “tiger nose” grille and new LED daytime running lights on high-specification models certainly give it a refreshed appeal. Inside, the cabin has been upgraded, and the use of leather gives it a luxurious appeal. The line-up has also been revised, with the discontinuation of the SX and adding the EX specification. It gives a great compliant ride through its new eight-speed gear box that transmits 147kW and 380Nm of torque. After experiencing both these cars over the weekend, I realised how far Kia has come in SA. It has proved to be a brand that produces cars that are not only reliable, but are also appealing. Over the past few years, Kia has won countless awards worldwide and certainly forges on in the industry as a strong competitor. The success is evident, and perhaps there is a lesson here. From selling only 310 models in their first year here to selling 310 units almost weekly, is testament to the growth and success of Kia. The next 20 years look exciting for the brand. Pricing Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDI LX: R569,995 Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDI LX AWD: R609,995 Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDI EX: R599,995 Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDI EX AWD: R639,995 Kia Grand Sedona 2.2 CRDI EX sevenseater: R599,995 Kia Grand Sedona 2.2 CRDI EX 11-seater: R615,995 Kia Grand Sedona 2.2 CRDI EX+ eightseater: R629,995 Kia Grand Sedona 2.2 CRDI SXL sevenseater: R782,995