Should you buy one?

If you want a spacious, tech-heavy, seven-seat SUV, the Kia Sorento is an easy car to recommend. Its vast cabin, efficient engines, comfortable seats, practical boot and arsenal of USB ports place it high on family buyers’ shopping lists. It even has some clever touches to rival the likes Skoda, such as that blind spot camera and those electrically folding rear seats.

However, there are rivals out there that can offer more than just practicality. The more compact Mercedes-Benz GLB is easier to pilot at the cost of interior space, while the Land Rover Discovery Sport is worth considering for its luxurious ride quality and unstoppable off-road capability. The Skoda Kodiaq and SEAT Tarraco also have much stronger finance offers, making them cheaper on a price-per-month basis.

If you’re still stuck on owning a Sorento, the diesel model is still a solid all-round choice if you frequently cover long-distances or need to haul passengers, luggage and trailers. The plug-in hybrid is the most expensive, but it also offers the lowest benefit-in-kind rate. Plus, it’s quick, refined, and offers part-time zero-emission running.

What we like

The Sorento looks great, it’s incredibly practical, it’s loaded with safety kit and it comes with all the latest interior technology. The hybrid models also promise low running costs, while the PHEV occupies an attractively low benefit-in-kind bracket. Even the diesel is great performer, offering a good mixture of performance and efficiency.

What we don’t like

It’s not the most exciting SUV in the world – and badge snobs will continue to need convincing when it comes to spending around £50,000 (or more) on a Kia. It’s also a shame that Kia no longer offers a more affordable version of the Sorento. Now, there’s just one highly specified trim-level available. The diesel also lacks refinement and makes this big Kia feel older than its quieter, electrically assisted contemporaries.