Kia Sorento Prime

Sorento Prime and the UM generation explained

Kia has sold four generations of the Sorento. The third one, the UM, kept the unibody layout of the second generation, grew in every direction and shares its platform with the third-generation Kia Carnival. Its styling took ideas from the Kia Cross GT concept, and the old 1cars text notes a likeness to the Toyota Highlander in the shape of the side windows. The car is bigger than the Kia Sportage and sits below the US-market Kia Telluride.

Kia built the UM at Hwaseong in South Korea and at its West Point plant in Georgia, USA, and partners assembled it in several other countries. The story of the brand is in Kia's history.

Engines by market

The engine range depended heavily on the market. Europe received diesels first, North America mostly petrol engines, and Korea had both. The figures below are the main versions.

Both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive were available; most European cars have all-wheel drive. The 2.2 CRDi is the engine most buyers in Europe chose. With the eight-speed automatic it takes 9.4 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h, according to UK specification data, and its official combined economy is about 6.5 l/100 km. For the facelift Kia replaced the 2.0 T-GDI with the 2.4 GDI on lower US trims.

Dimensions, seats and boot

Compared with the second generation, the UM is 95 mm longer and 15 mm lower, and the wheelbase grew by 80 mm. Most of that went into the second and third rows.

By our calculation, a facelifted 2.2 CRDi with all-wheel drive and a kerb weight of 2,032 kg carries 13.8 kg per kW, against 14.6 kg per kW for the 2.0 CRDi at 1,986 kg. Boot space of rival SUVs is ranked in the biggest-boot SUV ranking.

The middle bench slides and reclines, and the third row folds into the floor. Adults fit there only for short trips, so it suits children best. Higher-trim cars have heated and ventilated front seats and heated outer rear seats, while third-row passengers rely on side vents from the air conditioning.

Inside the UM: cabin and equipment

Kia redesigned the cabin rather than carrying over the old one. The UM has a new steering wheel, a revised dashboard and centre console, and better sound insulation, including new panels between the engine bay and the cabin. Depending on trim and market, equipment included:

• an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and an audio system with nine speakers and a subwoofer;
• a panoramic sunroof with a wind deflector;
• a powered Smart Tailgate that opens when the key holder stands behind the car;
• a surround-view camera system, blind-spot detection and lane-departure warning;
• adaptive cruise control, a parking assistant (SPAS) and rear cross-traffic alert;
• bending xenon headlights (AFLS), LED daytime lights and 19-inch alloy wheels;
• rear self-levelling suspension and a heated steering wheel.

The facelift brought new LED headlights on top trims, a driver-attention warning and, in North America, third-row seats as standard on every trim.

Safety and crash tests

The Sorento UM performed well in crash tests. Euro NCAP tested a 2.2 diesel in 2014 and scored it 90% for adult occupants, 83% for child occupants, 67% for pedestrians and 71% for safety assist. ANCAP gave it 15.62 of 16 points in the frontal offset test and full marks in the side and pole tests. In the United States the 2017 Sorento was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick, with "Good" ratings in all crash tests, including the small-overlap front test.

Standard safety equipment covered front, side and curtain airbags, ABS, stability control with Vehicle Stability Management, hill-start assist, trailer stability assist and ISOFIX points in the second row.

The 2017 facelift

Kia updated the UM in 2017 for the 2018 or 2019 model year, depending on the market. The new front grille, bumpers and lights borrowed cues from the Kia Cadenza and Forte. More important for European buyers was the eight-speed automatic gearbox for the 2.2 CRDi, which improved refinement and economy. Top trims gained LED headlights and tail lights.

UM pros and cons