2016 Kia Sorento: Tech-savvy with all the space you ever need

Kia has been on a roll of late, with model after model being launched, to much fanfare. Their latest midsize crossover offering is the redesigned Kia Sorento, and it could very well be the best car in its segment.

The 2016 Kia Sorento offers a good blend of style, practicality and technology, growing in size compared to the last model, and featuring the latest variation of Kia’s styling theme. Options include HID headlights, LED tail lights and 19-inch alloy wheels.

The premium look and feel is carried over into the cabin, which offers more space for up to seven occupants and numerous technology features previously found only on luxury cars.

The new interior features an abundance of soft-touch materials, more so than any other car in its class. The increased exterior dimensions and the extended wheelbase have created generous additional space inside, with 5-seater or 7-seater versions available.

The new Sorento features an optional power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory, cooled front seats and standard 40/20/40 second-row split-folding seats that slide front and back. The second-row seats can be remotely folded from the boot by pulling a lever. And the third row has enough space for adults, with better legroom than some bigger 4x4s.

With the third row folded down, there is as much cargo space as a bigger 4×4. The boot also features a hidden storage compartment under the floor and a cargo net to hold small items.

As for technology, there is no shortage in the Kia. starting with the multimedia options. The standard audio system has a 3.8-inch display, MP3 CD player, USB and AUX-in ports, and six speakers around the cabin. A 4.3-inch version is available, also fitted with a rear parking camera.

The latest version of Kia’s optional audio-video navigation system comes with either a 7-inch or 8-inch LCD touchscreen display. An advanced Infinity premium sound system is also an option, with 10 speakers including a subwoofer and an external amplifier. Other new available features include an Around-View Monitor, which uses four cameras to show the view on all sides of the car.

The Sorento also can be had with a 3.5-inch screen or an optional 7-inch colour screen in the gauge cluster to show multimedia, navigation and trip information.

There are 3 drive modes that can be selected at the press of a button — Comfort, Normal and Sport — which can make the steering lighter or firmer as well as adjust the automatic gearbox to your driving style.

There is also a smart power tailgate that automatically opens when you walk near it with the key. And the panoramic glass roof can open partially to make an airy cabin.

On the safety front, there is the optional DYNAMAX all-wheel-drive system with 4WD Lock mode as well as Advanced Traction Cornering Control and Electronic Stability Control, to make driving safer in wet or low-grip sandy driving conditions.

More high-strength steel is used in the new model than before, and a full set of airbags is available alongside optional systems that include Adaptive Smart Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning System, Blind-Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

With a choice of 172 hp 2.4-litre 4-cylinder and 270 hp 3.3-litre V6 engines, there is something for every family in the Kia Sorento range. It is the ideal car for travelling long distances with the family or just for going camping far away from the city.

For more information in Saudi Arabia, visit Kia Al Jabr.