Kia Sorento
BEST USED LARGE SUV
OUR PICK Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-2 (2017/66, 54k miles, £15,860)
THE Sorento is one of the roomiest seven-seat SUVs on the market today. It’s a comfortable family car and it offers decent value for money, although because of its size and weight, running costs can be a little higher than for some of its newer rivals.
But these more modern competitors aren’t as cheap to buy; a Skoda Kodiaq of the same age and mileage carries a £2,000 premium over the Kia, for example. Our pick is also a 2017 model, which means it’ll still be covered by Kia’s excellent seven-year warranty for another four years, which will provide great peace of mind for used-car buyers.
The engine range is simple, because there’s just one 197bhp 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel unit on offer, and every single model comes with four-wheel drive as standard, which means the Sorento stands up well to more utilitarian tasks, such as towing or light off-roading. Sure, it’s not as capable as a Land Rover Discovery, but for a road-biased SUV, it’s great.
The engine is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, or an eight-speed auto on more generously equipped trims. Both options are good – the auto makes for a relaxing drive, while its short ratios mean the Sorento feels faster than its 9.1-second 0-62mph time suggests. Fuel economy stands at 39mpg, though, so while you might save a chunk over its rivals buying used, budget to spend a little more at the pumps.
Inside, the Sorento is upmarket, because it was the first Kia to offer a premium finish inside. The dashboard and door cards feature soft-touch plastics and gloss-black trim, while leather is standard on midrange KX-2 variants and above. There’s a decent level of standard kit, too, including a seven-inch infotainment system, electric mirrors and parking sensors.