About three years ago we bought a used Kia Sportage, the Sorento’s little brother. We took it to the Richtersveld, and were so impressed by its performance that when it came to choosing a new car, we went for another Kia. (By the way, we still have the Sportage.)
The Sorento is a luxury 4x4 SUV with a low-range gearbox (which makes it a proper 4x4) an 80-litre fuel tank and better fuel efficiency than the smaller Sportage. I drive in rush-hour Cape Town traffic and my fuel consumption is just less than 10ℓ/100km.

In April last year we toured Namibia for a month in the Sorento, with friends in a Land Rover Discovery, which we had to tow 50 km.
Over 9 600 km, the Sorento acquitted itself outstandingly. We had no problems – not even a puncture. It hugs the road on gravel and on tar it’s reassuring to know you have anti-lock brakes.

In Namibia we drove the notorious Van Zyl’s Pass, in river beds and over dunes, and the Sorento never failed us. It now has more than 36 000 km on the clock, of which nearly half has been on 4x4 trails.
We have been to the Gamkaberg (near Calitzdorp), Bosluiskloof (near Seweweekspoort), and the Tanqua Karoo. We’ve been over the Gannaga Pass and through the Biedouw Valley to Wupperthal and along the 4x4 route to Eselbank and Matjiesrivier in the Cederberg. We drove gravel road all the way to Hartswater when roads were flooded in the Cape during the rains of November 2008.
The vehicle was heavily loaded with luggage most of the time, but it didn’t slow us down. The 2.5-litre engine has enough power and it goes easily through thick sand. The 4x4 drive kicks in automatically when it’s needed.
We visited Leeuwenbosch near Touws River after heavy snowfalls, and the Sorento’s performance in snowdrifts was exceptional.

On our Namibian trip, we had the following on the roof rack: three jerry cans full of diesel, an extra spare wheel, gazebo, tent, stretchers, sleeping bags, mattresses, shower tent, shower, groundsheets and pillows.
Inside we had an 80-litre fridge, a deep-cycle battery, 4x4 tools and recovery gear, two bags of clothes and one of bedding, six ammo boxes filled with crockery and other kit, a laptop, cameras, gas bottle, folding table, chairs, a book bag, a cool bag, a vanity bag and a first-aid box. Phew!
Hills and difficult terrain were no problem, in spite of all the weight – even with the air conditioning on. The generous legroom up front and ample luggage space make it the ideal touring vehicle.

We made the vehicle higher by stretching the coil springs – it’s called “reset and temper”, to raise the mid-section clearance 75mm. We also fitted new tyres (Goodyear Wranglers) because the standard Kumho tyres just could not cope with 4x4 terrain. Three flats on a gravel road convinced us to switch to other tyres.

I would like a tank bigger than 80 litres. On the open road, we get about 800 km on a tank – a bit less over difficult terrain. I would also mount the spare on the tailgate, like on the Sportage.

Good. And you get a warranty of 10 years or 150 000 km, a maintenance plan of five years/100 000 km, and three years’ unlimited roadside assistance.

Another Sorento.

Engine: Four cylinder, 2497 cc (104 kw, 350 nm)
Clearance: Rear axle – 203 mm
                     Front axle – 208 mm
Fuel tank: 80 litres
Range: max 800 km
4X4 Specs: Permanent 4x4, low-range gearbox, with limited slip diff at the back.
Top speed: 180 km/h