Sometimes, bum luck gives you lemons to make glorious lemonade, and Kia Sorento is the shaker.

With possibly the worst timing in history, I gathered the chaps for a cheeky mid-week spin to Drover’s Rest. With everyone able to work from home, it doesn’t matter where home is. Little did we realise Sydney would erupt into a festering cauldron of illness and mismanagement. Yes ladies and gents, covid broke out while we were in the country.

As we write this, we have to decide whether or not to head back to the city before it is locked down. Once there, we won’t be able to leave again. Or, do we stay in a small idyllic settlement with everything nature has to offer, kissed by gentle sunlight, bathed in serenity. After very little soul-searching, we chose the latter.

Above: This Week 2021 Kia Carnival Platinum V6 Petrol REVIEW

Above: Our GT Line 2021 Sorento LAUNCH REVIEW

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The Car:

We drove Sorento at launch, read about it here.  Check out the Video, plus the current VIDEO Review for this week’s story.

Kia Sorento S is the cheapest of the big SUV models. For cheap, do not read nasty. Everything about is class and elegance personified, except perhaps the seat coverings.

Outside only a keen punter will spot the 17” wheels. Dressed in white, the base is defined by wheels that look just a touch too small, but smart none the less.

Inside:

Sorento S seating doesn’t feel quite as lux as the quilted cow covering in the gorgeous GT-Line. Even so, it feels properly tough. There isn’t quite as much whizbangery either. Driver dials don’t get the full-LCD treatment and the goodies contained therein.

If you hadn’t seen them, you’d not miss them, so there’s that.

There are 7 seats, which won’t get much use up at the farm. You’ll remember Casper and I being trapped last week. We’d been locked out of the cabins by an untimely change of code. We spent the night shacked-up-student-style in back of the Carnival. It was not good, and we took steps banish that possibility from our futures.

That means the seats will only ever be used for sitting. The back row will stay stowed, just in case.

Sound is decent, with Max playing DJ through CarPlay. Although the Sorento S doesn’t have Navigation, it doesn’t have wireless CarPlay so make sure you use the centre USB to connect.

The Drive:

Drover’s Rest can be a challenge in temperamental weather. Max’s mum hasn’t paved the rear entry yet, but that’s a story for another time. Our V6 Sorento is FWD, and on muddy hills, created much excitement. You see, all V6 Sorentos are FWD. Only the diesels get AWD. It is something to do with the V6 being unable to take AWD in right hand drive markets. It’s also why Stinger gets AWD in the USA but not in Australia.

We set off early, just as a light drizzle set in. 206kw was enough to set the front wheels too disco mode as they scrambled for grip. The trip is a couple of hours long, and after a big night the night before, only the driver was awake for it. It makes for a rather dreary drive.

Once on the highway, I streamed some nice quiet Mozart, and allowed the Kia to take care of the boring bits like staying within the lines etc. Don’t be tempted to take your hands off the wheel though, or much bonging will come.

I stopped for a coffee, only stirring the boys on a small speed bump at the servo. A tradie winked at me. God, I LOVE rest stops.

A chill had set in as the temperature headed south. The S doesn’t have seat heating, and although manual air conditioning does a fab job of keeping the travellers toasty, it took some while for my bones to return to room temp.

On a side note, the V6 is surprisingly frugal on a trip, and is good for at least 800km.

We pulled into the settlement an hour later and turned in for the night. Next morning the rain tumbled down, so the boys joined me for the short drive to the main house for breakfast with Max’s mum.

We didn’t tax the Sorento too much. FWD just won’t cut it off tarmac, as we found the hard way. On a short jaunt to the barn to get some old chairs, the track was just too muddy.

It’s been cold and rainy since we got here, so the fireplaces are welcome. There is a ton of food and oodles of booze. Happy days.

Here’s what we thought:

Alan:

Sorento is stunningly quiet, and looks dead posh even in base trim. I miss the navigation though, and the fancy driver’s instruments is a real oversight. I didn’t get a chance to test any of the other seats as I was playing father. Besides, I don’t quite trust the boys on buggered roads in something that drives by the front wheels.

The cabin is rather lovely, and if you hadn’t seen the top models you’d swear the S was the full Monty. Economy was decent at around 7.4L/100k, and that is an awful lot of car some something so big that costs somewhere in the 40’s.

Max:

Alan’s tardy arrival meant we were knackered by the time we were scooped up.

I’m driving home, if we ever get to leave so my only chance behind the wheel was to put her in the car port.

8 seats is a bit of a waste with 4 gay guys on board. It takes up valuable luggage space besides, but at least there is a full size spare wheel. I thought the sound system was a weak point. Bass is a bit reedy, and the tops a trifle weak.

Casper:

Sorento is supremely quiet.

Despite feeling like a hunky footballer had kicked my head in, my hangover didn’t quell my enthusiasm. I was in the back where a stadium of room was to be had. I had to keep pushing Ethan off me because he has a habit of drooling when he is half asleep.

With Ethan asleep against the (locked) door, the back seats felt a bit like a lunge chair.

Ethan:

Casper kept digging me in the ribs to wake me up, the inconsiderate bitch. I’ll give her a good piece of my mind.

The seats must be super comfy, because we were asleep most of the way. The front wheel kept buffeting in the damp which was slightly distracting. Hen we took off at lights, the racket woke me up. I thought Sorento felt expensive but having to use the key fob to unlock the doors is so last week.

We’ll give Al some notes when he does the full review, but yeah, I like it a lot. Oh, the sound system needs work. It doesn’t to the Kia justice.

STAY TUNED:

Looks like we’re stuck at the farm. If we go back to Sydney, we won’t be able to leave again. Bugger that for a joke.

We’ll report back later in the week with a FULL REVIEW. Cheers chaps.

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