SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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Changes: 2022 Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi

Million-buck "bargain"

Posted: February 14, 2022

The numbers
Prices: EX+ 2wd, R809 995. EX+ awd R849 995. SX awd R914 995. SXL awd R988 995.
Engine: 2151 cc, DOHC 16 valve, four-cylinder turbodiesel
Power: 148.5 kW between 3500 and 4000 rpm
Torque: 440 Nm between 1800 and 2700 rpm
0-100 km/h: 9.2 seconds
Top speed: 205 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 8.0 l/100 km
Tank: 80 litres
Luggage: 187 – 821 – 2011 litres
Turning circle: 11.6 metres
Ground clearance: 176 mm
Warranty: Five years, unlimited km
Roadside assistance: Five years
Maintenance plan: Six years, 90 000 km


Changes, there are a few. But by no means too few to mention. (Apologies to Frank Sinatra who made “My way” famous and to Paul Anka who wrote the lyrics.)

Apart from the obvious facelift; sharper lines, more sculpted appearance, reworked grille and lower air intake, new bonnet, new vertical tail lights and new roof spoiler, it’s also longer, wider and taller. The wheelbase is 35 mm longer for more people room and cargo space. The only drawback is that its turning circle is now 100 mm wider.

Built stronger, it’s also about 21 kg lighter, thanks in part to a re-imagined engine that weighs 38 kg less. Bore and stroke remain the same but the old iron block made way for one in aluminium, while the alloy cylinder head now uses a belt, rather than a chain, to drive its dual overhead camshafts. Performance remains much the same; two-tenths of a second quicker to 100 km/h and two clicks faster at the top end.

The gearbox is also new – eight-speed DCT instead of eight-speed conventional automatic. And it sports bigger brakes – 345- and 325 mm discs vs 320 mm at both ends on the previous models. Suspension changes include some new components, revised geometry and structural improvements. Fuel tank size remains unaltered. But sadly, it lost 9 mm of ground clearance in the course of these changes.

The local range still consists of four models but they’re now spread over three trim levels fitted mostly with awd. That tech remains the same but users now get to enjoy a new terrain selector. The only 4x2 version is an “entry-point” EX+ although one can have awd in that as well.

Basic kit for this grade includes dual-zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers, auto-folding outside mirrors with warming, electric tailgate, leather trim, LED headlamps, smart entry with push-button starter, PDC front and rear, reversing camera, six airbags, four sets of ISOFix with top tethers, ESC, hill start assist, downhill brake control and trailer stability assistance.

And let’s not forget the Jaguar-inspired rotary motion selector. One twists it to choose between R, N and D but, unlike the British version, it always stays up. Minds out of the gutter, please.  Discretionary gear selection is done with paddles and, like most, one’s choice only remains so, beyond a few seconds, while driving in ‘Sport’. Drive modes consist of Eco, Comfort, Sport and Auto while the terrain selector on awd models offers mud, snow and sand options.

By the time one arrives at SXL level the goodies include memory function for the driver’s chair, BOSE surround-sound with 12 speakers, dual LED headlamps (high- and low beam), HUD, panoramic roof and smart cruise control.

On the road, one remains aware that this is a large car but performance is strong. Like other big diesels it turns over at a fairly lazy 1800 rpm for 120 km/h in eighth, leaving plenty of leeway for emergency acceleration if needed. Stomping hard for quicker progress doesn’t feel like old style kick-downs at all; there’s simply a smooth transition to a lower gear and a rapid change of pace.

Gravel road behaviour is workmanlike rather than a magic carpet ride. One can hear and feel what’s going on but the car always remains stable and sure-footed.

As for people-space and convenience, there’s tons of it with the exception of the two fold-away chairs right in the back. Despite increased fore and aft movement for the second row seats, access to the rearmost pair is purely for the young, short and flexible. Headroom is at a premium although leg space may be negotiated by agreement with those in the middle line. A plus, back there, is that each chair has an ISOFix mounting with top tether. Baby seats for quads – most thoughtful.

This report barely skims the surface of all the kit that’s fitted; you will have to visit your local dealer to see it all because even the top model, at almost a million Rand, represents a relative bargain..

Test unit from Kia SA press fleet

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

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