Kia launched the new Sorento last week – the largest SUV in its range. It comes to the market in March, ahead of the upgraded Hyundai Santa Fé.

What’s new about the Sorento is the styling and extra features, with increased engine power. It also has a stretched wheelbase, which Kia claims makes the seven-seater model more comfortable than in the past. The dash layout is clear and modern, with a satnav kit included on all Irish models. The satnav is presented on a centrally located large screen and it’s easy to use.

What’s old is the engine, which has just been tweaked a little to make it more economical. Kia claims some changes to the six-speed gearbox, but the important feature of a 2.5-tonne towing rating with a braked trailer remains intact. Kia has also fitted a trailer-towing safety package which comes with the factory-fitted hitch.

I took 4x4 SUV across winding narrow roads, but there was no opportunity to test its off-road credentials. Perhaps this was deliberate as Kia aims the Sorento towards the on-road drivers, who will pay a bit more for better driving features, like the four-wheel-drive system for wet and frosty conditions. The ground clearance, at 185mm, is hardly the best, confirming its limited off-road ability.

Kia uses a part-time all-wheel-drive (AWD) system in the Sorento. This pushes all engine power to the front wheels until one of them slips. Then it instantly splits the power and sends up to 40% of the engine power to the rear wheels to give the driver greater four-wheel-drive stability. On some models, the four-wheel-drive can be locked with a dash-mounted button to engage a central differential lock.

The Sorento’s tyres on 18in alloy wheels ensure great driving comfort and smoothness. This is a solid SUV and it’s relatively price competitive. It is quieter than you would expect and it seems plausible that Kia lowered cabin noise levels by up to 6%.

Kia has also developed a new electric-powered steering system for the Sorento, which is claimed to demand less power. During driving there was a good feeling from the system, with no noticeable under- or over-steer.

Power and torque have been marginally boosted in this upgraded 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine. The economy figures were difficult to access on the test route, but they came in close to the rated figure of 17.5km/litre (5.7litre/100km or 49mpg) – marginally better than in the old version.

The CO2 levels have been lowered and this means the Sorento has a road tax rating of just €390, which is good for an SUV of its size. However, to get to that level, the vehicle must be fitted with 17in alloy wheels, which will probably make the Sorento look too low. Most users will opt for the large retro-fit wheels, but they will add to the cost.

Kia is selling the Sorento primarily as a seven-seater SUV – there is only 10% demand for the five-seater version.

The third row of seats is compact, but adults will fit in there even if it takes a bit of an effort on the way in and out. The second row of seats folds on a single lever to give access to the third row. With the third row in place, boot space will be limited, as you expect. When you fold all the seats, there is more than two metres of load area available.

The boot door is heavy, so the electric opening kit, which will be on the Platinum versions of the Sorento, is useful. There will also be a spare wheel fitted under the rear floor.

Compared to the seven-seater SUV competition, the Sorento is longest-lasting in the group, which includes the new Land Rover Discovery Sport, the Hyundai Santa Fé and Nissan X-Trail.

The Sorento is 95mm (almost 4in) longer than the old one, so you’ll need the help of the reversing camera, which will be part of the standard package.

It comes with a good safety rating – it has been awarded the maximum five-star crash safety rating by Euro NCAP.

The Sorento is made from stronger steel and it was praised for a passenger compartment that remained stable in the event of a collision, with good passenger protection, irrespective of their size or where they were seated.

The entry price of the five-seater is €38,995 (NI prices are not yet available) – that’s marginally more expensive than the current model. The seven-seater costs €5,000 more. CL

Kia Sorento 2.2 diesel

Engine 2.2-litre

Engine power 190bhp

0-100km/hr 9 seconds

Economy 17.5km/litre

Fuel tank capacity 65 litres

CO2 emissions 149g/km

Road tax band C (€370)

Main service 20,000km

Euro NCAP rating Five stars

Towing rating 2,500kg

Warranty Seven years

Entry price €38,995

NI price NA