New Kia Sorento Price & Specs – costs from £28,795

The 2015 Kia Sorento – which debuted at the 2014 Paris Motor Show – will cost from £28,795 for the 2.2 KX-1 manual rising to £40,995 for the 2.2 KX-4 Auto.

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Kia’s new, much improved and rather more ‘Premium’ Sorento SUV arrived at the Paris Motor Show last year has now gone in sale in the UK with a choice of four trim levels, a single 2.2 litre diesel engine and an auto option on all but the entry-level KX1 trim.

The Hobson’s choice 2.2 litre diesel engine delivers 197bhp and 325lb/ft of torque, is Euro 6 compliant, gets increased injection pressure and features a particulate filter and NOx trap (which is good). Economy is officially 49.6 mpg and 149g/km for the manual versions with 17″ wheels, and 42.2mpg and 177g/km for the automatics.

The power can go to all four wheels with Kia’s Dynamax 4WD system, but most of the time it will be front wheel drive unless you’re cornering hard, slip sliding around or manually select the lock mode for off-road.

All models come with seven seats and self-levelling suspension (a delete option for KX-2 upwards), alloys, roof rails, rear spoiler, cornering lights, LED running lights, electric folding mirrors, door sill scuff plates, black side sill and wheel-arch mouldings, electric windows, Cruise, Parking Sensors, Air Con and an Active Bonnet.

The KX-2 trim (from £31,995) adds in extra chrome, auto lights and wipers, pretend leather, heated seats, Climate, 7″ Touchscreen Sat Nav and reversing camera, with the KX-3 (from £35,845) going further with a Panoramic glass roof, xenon headlights, Adaptive Lights, 8″ Touchscreen SatNav, Keyless, powered tailgate, Premium Sound, TFT Colour instrument display and Lane Departure Warning.

At the top of the new Sorento range is the KX-4 (from £40,995) which offers, in addition to the KX-3’s spec, full electric, heated and ventilated front seats, Adaptive Cruise, 360-degree View Monitor, Park Assist, Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Now on sale, the new Kia Sorento is not exactly the bargain basement offering it once was, but it is now a properly mainstream offering with some real premium features and a lot to commend it.