Naza Kia Archives

KIA Announces 0% GST Prices While Turning Aspirations To Reality In “Champ Into The Arena” Futsal Tournament

NAZA Kia, the official importers of the Kia brand in Malaysia have announced the prices of its vehicles with 0% GST, effective immediately. This reduction in prices sees the new Kia Picanto priced at only RM47,079.43! The new prices can be downloaded here: Naza Kia GST Rebate for May 2018 Sales Campaign

Read more about the new Kia Picanto in our review here.

Also as the Official Partner of FIFA World Cup 2018, Kia lent its support to aspiring young football players and fans to be a step closer to achieving their dreams through the Kia “Champ Into The Arena” futsal tournament and the Kia Official Match Ball Carrier competition in Malaysia which were held over two weekends.

Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group CEO, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings (below) said, “Through these competitions, Kia seeks to build bonds with potential customers and fans of these events and give them a chance to connect with the brand in a more personal and meaningful manner by nurturing young football talent.”

The Malaysia leg of the Official Match Ball Carrier competition was held at the Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) on 22^nd April 2018 for children from the age of 10 to 14. The competition saw 14-year-old Adam Riezman taking home the title of “Official Match Ball Carrier” to represent Malaysia as one of 64 children from all over the world who receive a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to carry the match ball onto the pitch during FIFA World Cup 2018.

A Portugal supporter at the FIFA World Cup and an avid fan of Cristiano Ronaldo, Adam (above) hopes to see his favourite team and player in action at the world event in Russia. “I am thankful to my parents for supporting my ambition and passion for football since I was 9. I can’t wait for this trip to Russia where I will get to meet football fans alike who share the same love for football. Thank you also to Naza Kia Malaysia for giving me this opportunity to represent Malaysia as their Kia Official Match Ball Carrier,” said Adam.

The Kia Official Match Ball Carrier competitions are held in countries worldwide in search of young football fans. The Malaysian leg of the competition saw more than 200 participants from every corner of Malaysia gathering at KLFA Sport Centre Kuala Lumpur to show off their abilities to vie for the coveted spot. Participants were tested on several areas such as agility, skill, attitude and teamwork in a nationwide tournament held at the Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA).

Team TOT United from Kuala Lumpur emerged as the champions of the Malaysian Kia Champ Into The Arena tournament and will represent Malaysia in the international Kia Champ Into The Arena World Finals in Russia

About 170 teams who took part in the Kia ‘Champ into the Arena’ 2018 tournament went through a vigorous competition, where qualifying rounds were held from 31 March to 21 April 2018 in Peninsular Malaysia – namely Penang (Northern), Terengganu (East Coast), Johor (Southern) and Selangor (Central). Only top four successful teams from each region progressed to the Malaysians Grand Finals which took place at KLFA Sport Centre in Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur last Sunday.

Held on 29 April 2018, the ‘Champ Into The Arena’ futsal tournament aims to search for a talented futsal team that will represent Malaysia to compete on a world stage. This is the fourth time Naza Kia Malaysia organised this futsal tournament in conjunction with the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2018. The first was in 2010.

Team TOT United, from Kuala Lumpur emerged champion and earned the right to represent Malaysia in the international Kia Champ Into The Arena World Finals in Russia! The competition will run concurrently with FIFA World Cup 2018 from 15 June to 15 July in Russia.

“My team and I are ecstatic and proud to be representing Malaysia at the international Kia Champ Into the Arena World Finals in Russia! Our team was only formed during the qualifying round in Penang. To prepare for the final few matches, we had to undergo intensive training for a short period of time and I am so glad that the blood, sweat and tears we shed paid off,” said senior TOT United team member, Hazizi bin Mansor.

25-year-old Hazizi is no stranger to the international stage as his previous team also emerged as victors for the Malaysian Kia Champ In The Arena tournament in 2014 and represented Malaysia that year in Brazil.

The winning team, TOT United comprising six players aged 23 to 26, will fly to Russia on an all-expenses paid trip inclusive of accommodation, flight tickets, tour, RM5,000 cash prize and exclusive tickets to watch one of the World Cup Final Match live.

Kia Champ Into The Arena is more than just a futsal tournament as it is a way of Naza Kia Malaysia giving back to the public and customers for their loyalty and support. Apart from the futsal tournament, there were a variety of activities such as an exhibition match and a photo booth station, and the chance to test drive and have a feel of the Kia’s product line-up that were on display.

Naza Kia Appoints MBf Automobile As Newest Dealer @ MAI Autoshow 2018

Naza Kia Malaysia (NKM), the official distributor of KIA vehicles in Malaysia, today held a signing ceremony at the MAI Autoshow 2018 to mark the appointment of MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd into their ever-growing dealer network.

Present at the event to represent Naza Kia Malaysia was Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group CEO, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings who signed the agreement in tandem with Daniel Choo, Group General Manager of MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd.

This new dealership appointment symbolises Naza Kia Malaysia’s relentless pursuit of brand excellence and brand reach in the country. Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group CEO, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings, said, “We are grateful for the immense support from our dealers over the last few decades and we welcome MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd to our existing network of dealers. This dealership reassures us of Kia’s growing presence in Malaysia and the confidence that dealers such as MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd place on us.”

In addition, Naza Kia Malaysia continues to creatively improve consumer engagement using key elements of future design and technology. MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd will set up its first Kia outlets incorporating the Korean brand’s new corporate identity for its Kia Concept Stores. The first 3S Kia City Concept Store Experiential Showroom in Malaysia is set to be established at Menara MBf with an investment of RM5 million, along the bustling Jalan Sultan Ismail by mid-2019, giving visitors a one-of-a-kind immersive experience at a state-of-the-art facility.

MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd will also undertake an existing Kia outlet located at Jalan Maarof, Bangsar and invest RM1.5 million to revamp the premises into a Kia City Concept Store that will begin operations in the third quarter of 2018. As a new dealer onboard, MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd expects to invest RM6.5 million in total for the two Kia outlets.

“This year, we plan to continue intensifying investments to further grow our network with five new outlets nationwide and expand customer touchpoints to ensure an extraordinary experience throughout the consumer journey,” added Dato’ Samson. Naza Kia Malaysia currently boasts 51 sales and service centres in the country and have plans to open up new outlets nationwide in 2018.

About MBf Automobile…

MBf Automobile Sdn Bhd, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MBf Group, a multinational corporation whose portfolio has grown substantially to a range of sectors and regions to embody one of the Asia Pacific’s leading private conglomerates. With this appointment as a Kia dealer, the MBf Group is making as serious comeback in the automotive business in Malaysia. The company’s principal business activities span across nine different sectors, namely automotive, agribusiness, banking & financial services, commercial printing & engineering, education, healthcare, logistics, property development & management and retail.

REVIEWED: Kia Optima GT 2.0 T-GDI [+Video]

Would you believe that the Kia Optima GT has air-conditioned seats? Hard to imagine a car in this segment having such a feature, but I guess it came part and parcel in its CBU form, which also boasts a heated steering-wheel. No, really, I tried it, and it works…

Now apart from the Kia Stinger, which we featured here taking on a Porsche and BMW, Kia isn’t really a brand known for making exciting cars, I mean seriously, can you remember back in the year 2000 when Kia debuted the Optima looking like this?

Fast-forward to 2018, and now it looks like this:

Quite an amazing transformation over the last couple of decades wouldn’t you say? You can thank Peter Schreyer for that. But you know what, it’s not just in the way the car looks that’s mind-blowing, it’s the whole package really…

Powering the Optima GT is a 2.0-litre turbocharged gasoline direct-injection engine (T-GDI) with three drive-modes (Normal, Eco & Sport) that churns out a whopping 252bhp and 350Nm of torque, sent to the front wheels via a torque-converter 6-speed auto-tranny with paddle-shifts. This allows the Optima GT to complete the 0-100kmh sprint in 7.4sec.

The icing on the cake though, is the ‘manufactured’ engine note, that comes off sounding more like an old-school burbling V8 than an in-line four. This raspy and rumbling sound, clearly audible from the cabin, can be suppressed by selecting the ‘Eco’ drive-mode, but becomes even more pronounced when ‘Sport’ mode is selected.

It’s a brilliant car to drive, and here’s a short video of my take on it:

Perhaps the only downside to this car is its price tag. Coming in at around RM175,000 on the road without insurance, it falls squarely in Teana, Camry and Accord territory, and those 3 have dominated D-seg sales for the longest time haven’t they? Rhetorical question.

The funny thing is though, I reckon Kia knew this full well; I mean who wouldn’t know the market they’re trying to penetrate right? And yet, here it is, the Optima GT. It’s a lot of money to pay for an Optima, or even a Kia for that matter, a brand that has nowhere near the presence and steadfast-solid reputation of the aforementioned Big Three.

But maybe it’s exactly that bravado, that unabashed gall to even think of taking on the Big Three that sets this car apart from the rest. It had to be different, and it is. Unapologetically so.

There’s no denying it looks very good, but it also goes really well and offers the kind of NVH suppression that’s right up there with the best of them. And it also has the plus point of being absolutely, unbelievably bonkers when it comes to sheer power.

I doubt it’ll sell in vast numbers, and maybe it shouldn’t, for it’s own sake.

Being exclusive and brilliantly, unabashedly different in a segment that’s bordering on staid, the Kia Optima GT certainly stands out head and shoulders above the rest. – Chris Wee.

Kia Optima GT 2.0 T-GDI Photo Gallery…

KIA Brand Value Increases Globally In 2017

Kia Motors has been ranked among the highest valued brands in the world once again, according to Interbrand’s 2017 ‘Best Global Brands’ report. The latest study, released recently, confirms Kia’s brand value has grown 6% in the last 12 months, to US $6.68 billion.

“Kia’s continued efforts to evolve and redefine itself are critical to the sustained growth in its brand value” commented Mike Rocha, Global Director of Brand Valuation at Interbrand. “The launch of the Stinger (top) – Kia’s new and exciting fastback sports sedan, and the opening of ‘Beat 360’ (above) – a new sensory brand experience center in Seoul, fill me with high expectations of a bright future for the company.”

For the second year running, Kia is named the world’s 69^th most valuable brand in the report, its latest valuation representing a 645% increase in the value of the Kia brand since 2007. Now the 11^th most valuable automotive brand, Kia is ranked ahead of dozens of ‘household name’ consumer brands, as well as a host of volume, premium and luxury car manufacturers.

“This welcome rise in Kia’s brand value is a clear reflection of Kia’s continuous dedication to our customers,” Charles Suh, Senior Vice President of the Corporate Marketing Division at Kia Motors said. “This result provides us with further motivation to continue our mission to become the most desirable automotive brand in the eyes of consumers.”

What is The Power to Surprise?

The sustained growth in the value of the Kia brand is the result of company-wide efforts to cultivate a more emotional attachment between the company’s products and consumers in every market.

Now a byword for quality and reliability in the automotive sector, Kia has achieved the coveted first-place ranking in the USA’s J.D. Power Initial Quality Study for two years running. Ahead of all other car manufacturers for quality, Kia was also the highest-ranked brand in J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study in Germany and UK in 2017.

With such momentum, Kia Motors Corporation recently launched its first-ever premium sports sedan, the Stinger (below) and its new hybrid crossover Niro, which are designed to boost the desirability and dynamism of the Kia brand. Portraying a modern, forward-looking image, Kia’s latest products speak loudly about the company’s efforts to prepare motorists for the future, with advanced powertrains, innovative technologies, and premium quality and design.

Digital technologies are at the heart of Kia’s efforts to engage with consumers in markets all around the world. In Korea, Kia broadcasted the anticipated launching show of its new Stinger model live, giving media and consumers the chance to witness the unveiling of the powerful new car first-hand. In the USA, Kia launched the ‘NiroBot’, a Facebook Messenger service allowing users of the social media platform to ask about the new Niro and get instant ‘live chat’ responses.

Also in China, the brand introduced a ‘Kia Surprising Lab’ YouTube service, featuring the technologies at the heart of its latest cars, the K5, KX5 and KX7, which you can see in the short video clip below. All of these efforts illustrate how Kia utilizes relevant and evolving technologies to enhance digital experience and to stay connected with consumers at all times.

To accompany the ongoing growth in the company’s product line-up, official partnerships with the world’s most high-profile sports events continue to aid the strength of the brand. Sponsorship arrangements with FIFA, UEFA, NBA, LPGA and the Australian Open tennis championship have provided Kia with a wealth of opportunities to engage with young-at-heart consumers around the globe.

Stay tuned for our upcoming feature on why Kia is catching up fast with the more established Japanese brands! – Chris Wee.

Naza Kia Launches All-New Picanto @ RM49,888

Following its sneak-preview last year (above), Naza Kia Malaysia has kicked started 2018 with the launch of the all new Kia Picanto which just took place at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

Now in its third generation, the All-New Kia Picanto is the only non-national brand in the local A-segment which boasts an assertive new innovative design, better performance and a spacious new cabin, which the latest model also promises to be the most versatile car in its class.

Speaking at the launch of the All-New Kia Picanto, Ivan Kuan, CEO of Naza Kia Malaysia (below, right) said, “The Malaysian automotive A-segment market is one of the most fiercely contested segments. With the introduction of the All-New Kia Picanto, we hope to tap on this lucrative market segment and set the tone for our sales this year.”

The All-New Kia Picanto is uniquely modern, designed with safety and power in mind, with futuristic details and sportier image. Inspired by iconic designs, the latest addition to Kia’s line-up is a stronger build with subtle edginess and a rich body volume to fullfil customer’s demands.

The All-New Kia Picanto dons a dynamic design with a modern rich cubic effect on its side profile to create a strong yet sophisticated side-line treatment and bolder body lines for a more fun urban drive look.

Its open-link style radiator grille visually enhances the Picanto’s wide proportions to achieve that modern sleek look.

With the wheelbase extended to 2,400mm (increase of 15mm), the wheels are pushed further out to the corners of the car for a 25mm shorter front overhang, making the car look more planted on the road.

The exterior of the All-New Kia Picanto is also complemented by new projection bi-functional headlamps that project both high and low beams, with LED indicators and LED daytime running lights. The bumper is also retained from its predecessor with added detail to enhance overall aesthetics.

Inside the All-New Kia Picanto, Kia designers created a refined cabin with a modern lifestyle feel as compared to the second-generation model, with new materials and layout, adding a greater sense of quality. The predominantly horizontal design adds greater visual width to the interior, highlighting the increased cabin dimensions.

For added comfort, the seats of the All-New Kia Picanto is revamped to provide better seating for all occupants while maintaining all other interior space advantages. The seating height of the first row seats are reduced by 10mm and moved backwards by 5mm to improve headroom by 3mm and legroom by 15mm. The optimised door trim also increases shoulder room by 10mm for the 1st row seats. Additionally, the latest model’s crash pad is now slimmer with its steering wheel moved 10mm upwards to increase knee and foot room.

Those who value luggage space can now rejoice as the All-New Kia Picanto now boasts greater luggage capacity and better space efficiency with its foldable second row seats (60:40 split), giving up to 1,010 litres of maximised cargo space. It also comes with other value added convenience which the market has come to appreciate in a car of this segment which includes keyless entry, push start button, one touch triple turn signal, auto light control, RPAS (Rear Parking Assist System), electric folding side mirrors and safety power window on the driver’s side.

Ivan further commented, “The All-New Kia Picanto is engineered for the confident and stylish urbanite youths with a preference for sporty uniqueness, fuel efficiency and modern safety features. With the introduction of the All-New Kia Picanto to our latest line-up, we target to sell 5,000 units within the year, which will make up 50% of our total sales target for 2018. We are confident this will give us a great kick-start for a brand new year.”

The All-New Kia Picanto was carefully crafted with top-notch safety features. It is constructed with double the proportion of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) compared to the outgoing model and a selection of active safety technologies.

With a stronger body than ever before, 44% of the All-New Kia Picanto’s bodyshell is cast in AHSS (up from 22%), reducing body-in-white weight by 23 kg while improving tensile strength by 12%. The new, stronger steel reinforces the floor pan, roof nails and engine bay, as well as the A- and B-pillars, strengthening the core structure around the car. The new bodyshell also uses more than eight times the quantity of structural adhesive found in the previous model (67 metres of joins throughout the structure are now reinforced with the adhesive). Overall, static torsional stiffness has been improved by 32%.

For value added safety, the All-New Kia Picanto has six airbags strategically placed up front and at the sides of all passengers, ISOFIX baby seat mounts, rear seatbelt pretensioners and active safety systems like ABS and ESC.

Owners of the All-New Kia Picanto will now have access to some of the most advanced infotainment and modern technology enhancement available in the A-segment, while still enjoying the same high value for money expected of a Kia vehicle.

The large ‘floating’ 7.0-inch touchscreen at the centre of the dashboard houses a navigation system with 3D map which connects to your smartphone; readily integrated using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with voice recognition features. This grants users access to their smartphone functions via the Head Unit’s user interface to get directions, make calls, receive messages and listen to music. Other multimedia features include an audio remote control, Bluetooth and AUX & USB ports.

Powered by a 1.2 Kappa MPI engine, The All-New Kia Picanto has a Gated type 4AT with improved NHV performance, better fuel efficiency and power delivery efficiency.

To further add value to Kia vehicles, Naza Kia Malaysia is also reintroducing the ‘NOVUS’ Kia accessory bundle for all new Kia vehicles starting with the All-New Picanto, for the first time ever, in the Malaysian market. Accessories included in the package are the NOVUS emblem, solar tints, stylish and sporty NOVUS Bodykits, as well as leather seats and a DVR-digital video recorder among others.

The All-New Kia Picanto is now available in the Malaysian market in five different colours such as Pop Orange, Lime Light, Honey Bee, Clear White and Titanium Silver, and is now on display in authorised Kia showrooms nationwide.

Kia Picanto Product Specifications:

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS	ENGINE
	Type	Kappa 1.2 MPI CVVT
	Displacement (cc)	1,248
	Bore X Stroke (mm)	71 x 78.8
	Max. Power [Ps (kW)/rpm]	84 (61.8)/6,000
	Max. Torque [NM (kg.m)/rpm]	121.6 (12.4)/4,000
	Fuel Type	Petrol
	Fuel Tank (litres)	35
	TRANSMISSION
	Transmission Type	4-Speed Automatic
	CHASSIS
	Seating Capacity (Pax)	5
	Body Type	5-Door Hatchback
	BRAKING
	Front Brake	Ventilated Disc
	Rear Brake	Solid Disc
	SUSPENSION & WHEEL/TYRE
	Front	MacPherson Strut
	Rear	Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA)
	Wheel	14″ Alloy
	Tyre Size	175/65 R14
	Spare Tyre	Temporary Tyre
FEATURES	EXTERIOR
	Head Lamp	Projector Halogen with Auto Light Control & LED Daytime Running Lights
	Rear Combination Lamp	LED Type
	Fog Lamp	Projector type front, rear bulb
	Side Door Mirror	Electric Adjustable
		Integrated LED side turn signal
		Electric Folding
		Body Colour
	Outer Handles Door	Chrome Coating
	INTERIOR
	Instrumental Panel	Trip Computer
	Instrumental Panel	Segment-type Meter Cluster
	Sun Visor	Vanity Mirror
	Audio	Floating Type 7 inch LCD Colour Touchscreen
		Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Ready
		Radio/MP3/AUX/USB
		Bluetooth, 6 speakers, Steering Audio Control & Rear View Camera with dynamic guideline
	Air Conditioner	Manual
	Front Seat	Fabric with Driver Seat Height Adjuster
	Seatbelt	Front : 3-Point ELR Type with Height adjuster Rear : with Pre-tensioner
	Key	Smart Key & Keyless Entry
	Luggage	Rear shelf cover
	Luggage	255 litres capacity
	Windows	Front and rear powered
	Windows	Driver’s auto up & down
	STEERING
	Steering	Leather wrap upholstery
		Motor Driven Power Steering
		Min. turning cycle Radius of 4.8m
		Tilt steering

	SAFETY
	Airbags	Dual front, side, curtain
	Child Anchor	ISOFIX
	Sensor	Rear Parking Assist System with 3 Sensors
	Sensor	Speed & Impact Sensing Auto Door Lock
	Vehicle Stability Management	ABS, BAS, ESC, TRC
	Hill-Start Assist Control	HAC

Review: Kia Sorento

Before we start, put aside your prejudices about the brand and to a further extent your perception of the quality of Korean vehicles, else, this article won’t be of any interest to you. This new Kia Sorento, is by leaps and bounds better than its first generation predecessor – you know, the one that looked like the Toyota Harrier….

And that is the sole reason for the curt opening paragraph of this review on Kia’s full size SUV. It’s a handsome looking one at that, and is one of Kia’s better designs so far. The Massive honeycomb grille and projector headlights lend the front fascia a sense of luxury that you would expect from more expensive European models.

At 4,780mm long and 1,890mm wide, this 7-seater is a behemoth to say the least, it dwarfs even mid size SUVs by a considerable margin, which might put some people off, especially if they are of the perception that it is difficult to manoeuvre and parallel park. The cabin is so capacious that you feel that you are in a different area code compared to the person sitting next you.

Harking back to the early days of the SUVs, they were built to take on anything that came your way, whether it was an off-road excursion, hauling heavy machinery, towing a caravan, you name it – these vehicles were meant for the tough stuff.

And as such, early SUVs were a handful to drive, the hydraulically powered steering wheel was heavy to operate, brakes lacked feel and were typically less responsive, and the 4-wheel-drive system was a bit cumbersome to operate. But the advent of modern electronics, soon negated those issues.

This leads me to my point, the Sorento is an absolute hoot to drive. Despite its daunting size, it’s as easy to drive and manoeuvre as is your regular run of the mill hatchback. The steering is light, the brake pedal is super responsive – overtly to an extent, and in typical Kia fashion, the layout of the switchgear placement are neat, tidy and within reach.

My main gripe with the interior is that there’s no LCD panel for the entertainment system, which is a major drawback considering that it has become standard equipment in much less expensive vehicles. And the front seats are manually operated as opposed to electric – which is a deal breaker for some.

Then there’s also the third row of seats, which are fine, but the cup holders panels on either side seem a bit cheap and do no do justice to the rather supple soft touch plastics up front.

The instrument cluster features a blend of analogue and digital displays that complement each other fairly well. And the hue and colour balance is spot on, regardless of the lighting conditions. Their controls are intuitive and the learning curve, isn’t that steep. Common sense is sufficient to figure everything out.

As for engines, there’s a 2.2-litre diesel variant, and two other variants that come with the same 2.4-litre petrol powerplant. But forget latter ones, the oil burner is the one to have. It has excellent power delivery especially from lower down the rev range and is able to make mince meat of hauling heavy cargo around town.

Despite its sheer heft, thanks to the engine’s 198bhp and 441Nm of torque, the acceleration is almost car-like. It has the ability to blitz anything less than a hot hatch between traffic lights – not that we condone such hooliganism. It’s a feat that is supposed to be inconceivable for something of its size. Rationally, a vehicle like the Sorento shouldn’t be capable of harassing sports car owners, but it can, and it will keep doing it all day without breaking a sweat.

And since it’s a diesel, the Sorento will be able to travel close to 1000km before needing a fill up, a little sooner, if you continually mash the throttle pedal. The 4WD system works exceptionally well, there’s no need to interfere – it never misbehaves.

Unlike most SUVs, the Sorento’s suspension is a bit on the stiffer side, which isn’t a bad thing because it provides you with a pliant ride regardless of your speed. It’s up to snuff at absorbing undulations without the eerie floating effect that more luxurious vehicles offer.

It’s a ‘love it or hate it’ thing, but you would be hard pressed to find something similar that has a setup this reassuring at high speeds.
As a whole its an absolute doddle to drive, even for the more petite of drivers. It looks and behaves just like a car – steering requires little effort to operate, the gear changes are buttery smooth albeit not lightning quick, and the brakes are able to bring this mammoth of a vehicle to a standstill with a minor prod of the brake pedal.

The electronic parking brake works with you instead of getting in your way. It knows when to disengage without you needing to do so. It’s unbelievable how far Kia has come in just a few years. It’s behaviour can be likened to that of an office’s most cooperative employee – you tend to forget his significance.

That said, the experience isn’t all unicorns and rainbows though, there are a few caveats that need mentioning, most prominent of which is the diesel clatter. Unless you own a Range Rover with an SDV8, anything south of that is going to sound very utilitarian. And the Sorento is no exception.

If you are the type who wants something docile and uneventful, you will need to look elsewhere. But for those who want a rugged outdoors vehicle that has the muscle to handle any task, whether it be on or off-road – this is what you need.

It’s also a looker, which means it will blend in with more expensive vehicles at the valet lot of a black tie event. And it’s got automatic headlights, wipers, DRLs as well as other more sophisticated electronic gizmos, so it won’t feel out of place parked next to a Land Rover Discovery.

My take on the Sorento is simple, it’s a marked improvement over its predecessor both in styling and overall usability – This is one Sorento I wouldn’t mind calling my own.

Piston Review Rating: 8/10
Kia Sorento Specifications
Engine: 2.2 CRDi VGT Turbo
Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
Horsepower: 197bhp
Torque: 441Nm