IF I had a gallon of diesel for every time I’ve been asked about the pros and cons of the Kia Sorento I’d be able to fuel one up free for a year.
As a motoring writer driving an endless variety of different cars you become accustomed to being stopped by complete strangers and asked about the car you’re driving.
But the cars which arouse the most interest are usually high performance machines - cars which most drivers wish they could drive but which, in reality, few could afford.
And that’s certainly not the case with the Sorento, for this is an eminently affordable SUV – an absolute steal, if the truth be known, when you consider the sum of its abilities.
Most of the interrogation was done by caravanners who wanted to know if the big Kia was worthy of the Tow Car of the Year award it walked away with this year.
And the fact is that if you need a towing heavyweight, this car will do pretty much everything a Merc M-Class or Land Rover Discovery 3 will do, but at a fraction of the price.
With a revised and more powerful 2007 version just arriving in showrooms, there are some real bargains to be had at dealers who still have stocks of the outgoing model with as much as £6,000 off top of the range 2006 models and up to £2,500 off entry level models.
That means you can get a cope-with-all-situations, full-size, four-wheel-drive tow car for between £16,000 and £20k. The new range is going on sale at the same prices as before, but you’re unlikely to be able to talk discounts just yet - the new version will cost from just under £20,000 to just over £26,000.
And, frankly, although the newcomer has a number of improvements, including more power and torque, improved performance and an even higher, 3,000kg maximum towing weight, it’s difficult to find too much wrong with the original.
With a van on the back, the 138bhp Sorento XE 2.5 turbodiesel pulls effortlessly from rest and there’s no evidence of turbolag – just a smooth and progressive delivery of power helped by seamless changes from the five speed auto box fitted to the test car.
It is, perhaps, a little too quick to change down when tackling gradients and engine noise does increase on long, uphill hauls, but – other than the usual diesel clatter on start up - noise levels in general are low from all sources.
In fact on smooth tarmac surfaces, the lack of rumble from the tyres and absence of suspension chatter means the silence is uncanny.
That suspension provides a generally comfortable ride, but can be badly caught out by deeper road imperfections and potholes – a criticism which should be addressed by comfort-orientated suspension mods in the 2007 model.
Inside there’s acres of space for the family in a well-equipped and neatly trimmed cabin.
There’s no shortage of storage spaces for all the oddments you’ll need on a family trip and even with the rear seats in place, the boot is a generous size and can be handily accessed through an opening window in the tailgate.
Fully loaded and towing at average speeds of 55-60mph the Sorento averages around 21mpg – not bad when you take into account the weight of the van, auto transmission and extensive use of the standard-fit aircon system. When not towing, you’ll comfortably average around the 30mpg mark.
But whether you need a heavyweight four-by-four for towing duties or if you simply want a competent, well equipped SUV for everyday duties, you’ll be hard pressed to find better value with or without a discount.
FAST FACTS
Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi XE auto
Price: £21,095
Mechanical: 138bhp, 2,497cc, 4cyl diesl engine driving all four wheels via 5spd automatic gearbox
Max speed: 104mph
0-62mph: 14.5 secs
Combined mpg: 33.6
Insurance group: 12
CO2 emissions: 223g/km
BiK rating: 34%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage, 3yrs paint, 6yrs anti-rust