Kia has surpassed themselves with the introduction of their two latest large vehicles. The new Sorento and new Carnival have reached a peak in the brand's local presence and we were on hand to spend a few days driving these fantastic motors down the coast.
People mover Getaway
It is not very often that you get to watch a car brand grow and eventually ascend to premium status from its early beginnings. We have watched just this happen with Kia South Africa as they emerged well over 20 years ago and have grown from strength to strength and evolved their product line up from low-key entry-level automobiles to luxury vehicles that rival even the most steadfast of German brands.
The Kia that consumers have had in their mind’s eye for decades has completely changed right in front of them. The types of cars that KIA now brings to showroom floors is simply stunning. From the erstwhile little Picanto through the Rio and onto the Sonet, Seltos, and Sportage, KIA has continuously pushed the boundaries of technology and design and the cars they produce have just gotten better and better, all you need to do is take a look at a Sportage model from 2008 and the current model and it is plain to see the evolution of the product.
So then we found ourselves poised to drive two of Kia’s latest offerings to the SA market, the brand new Sorento SUV and Carnival MPV, two vehicles that could not be any different from each other but share the same DNA, and even better still, we got to put some serious mileage on them through a host of different driving terrains.
New Sorento
Now into its 4th generation, The all-new Sorento brings a striking design change from the previous models, there are sharp lines and bold styling elements that make this new Sorento stand out. LED lighting and a new tiger-nose grille elevate the front end into Telluride territory while at the rea the Telluride DNA is evident with wraparound vertical taillights. and the Sorento nomenclature spread across the auto tailgate. From the side, the Sorento appears longer and sleeker but is no bigger than the previous generation but this is thanks in part to clever design and the new global platform that all KIA’s SUVs are now built on. South African spec vehicles will come standard with 18 or 19-inch wheels depending on the derivative and will be available in a slew of fresh new colour options.
The interior is fantastic, featuring beautifully tailored leather finishes and enough tech to keep even the hippest of tech fundi busy for hours. We will leave the full list of equipment for the official road test as we simply do not have enough space here to catalogue everything that the new Sorento has been furnished with but suffice to say it’s a lot of gear packed into one car.
The Sorento is powered by Kia’s new SmartStream 2.2 CRDi diesel engine mated to an 8-speed DCT transmission which is silky smooth in its operation, all while the combination pumps out 148kW and 440Nm. The drive is nothing short of sublime and effortless in its operation. The suspension and drivetrain can be controlled with the drive modes and can be tailored to the conditions that a driver may find themselves in.
Our drive in the Sorento saw us tackle open roads, busy suburban streets and off course misty coastal roads and it was indeed something special plenty of power underfoot when needed and a complaint and comfortable suspension made sure that the kilometres just slipped by. Fuel consumption figures also surprised, with our combined-cycle drive costing us just 5.9l/100km.
Models and Pricing
Sorento 2.2 CRDi 7-Seater EX+ 2WD 8DCT R809,995
Sorento 2.2 CRDi 7-Seater EX+ AWD 8DCT R849,995
Sorento 2.2 CRDi 7-Seater SX AWD 8DCT R914,995
Sorento 2.2 CRDi 7-Seater SXL AWD 8DCT R988,995
Reimagined Carnival
The Kia Carnival sits very neatly in its own bubble, so to speak, when you stack it up against its rivals. The german offerings are priced considerably higher and have less specification while other offerings don’t really come close to the standard features that you will find in this new Carnival. The new MPV is based on the same platform as the Sorento and has the same SmartStream diesel power unit and drive train, so you get a very SUV-like feel when piloting this van around town.
The exterior and interior design is very elegant and mirrors much of what you will find in Kia’s other models like Seltos and Sorento. The technology that has been shoehorned into the Carnival boggles the mind, with the ADAS safety systems running, semi-autonomous driving is possible so that driver and passengers can absolutely enjoy the adventure that the Carnival will take you on.
Despite not having the AWD system that the Sorento is equipped with the Carnival was still capable of tackling a foreboding gravel mountain pass and the dry and dusty Karoo flatlands without even breaking a sweat which is a testament to the type of drive that this machine offers. Despite its rather large proportions, the Carnival returned 7.2l/100km on our cross-country excursion and didn’t skip a beat.
As we mentioned before, the sheer volume of tech equipped in the Carnival is too extensive for the short space we have here and covers everything from entertainment to safety and everything in between and the best part is that its all standard fitment and won’t cost you a cent more than the list price.
Models and Pricing
Carnival 2.2 CRDi EX 8AT 7-Seater R799,995
Carnival 2.2 CRDi EX+ 8AT 8-Seater R879,995
Carnival 2.2 CRDi SX Limited 8AT 7-Seater R999,995
Carnival 2.2 CRDi SXL 8AT 7-Seater R1,024,995
Verdict
Kia has come a long way since its humble beginnings and I know the astute among you may be looking at the pricing and be saying ” for a KIA?!… that’s nuts!” but I will counter that with a simple “Have you seen the prices of cars lately?” and “It is worth every penny, find me a comparative vehicle with the level of fit, finish and standard specification for the same or less money and then we can talk. In my humble opinion, Kia has taken the high road and is offering class-leading tech and design for just the right amount of money and with their industry-leading Unlimited Kilometre, 5-year warranty (inclusive of roadside assistance), as well as a 6-year / 90,000 km maintenance plan they are near impossible to beat.
Keyword: Kia Sorento and Carnival launch First Drive