Sorento looks much like a modern rendition of the previous-generation Honda CR-V or Lexus RX (also Toyota Harrier). We are not sure how Kia arrived at Sorento's design, but more importantly, it is one of the best (along with Rio) from Kia thus far. The interior styling does less well, with an old-fashioned feel to the dashboard design. Overall though, Sorento is a commendable effort in terms of styling. Sorento may seem at home on tarmac from the exterior, but underneath, it is one of the rare few in Malaysia built for off-roading. On the roads, Sorento feels out of depth relative to road-biased rivals. Poor body control is the order of the day as Sorento rolls heavily through bends, and pitches over bumpy surfaces. The low grip levels and over-light, dull steering do little to improve the on-road handling. Off-road is where Sorento truly belongs, where the capable 4WD system can show its worth. Sorento's suspension struggles to soak up the impact of rough surfaces. Refinement is higher on the list with well-contained engine and wind noise, but the large tyres generate noticeable road noise. Drivers sit high and enjoy good visibility thanks to the SUV seating position. Seating adjustments and tilt steering column allow greater fine-tuning. The dashboard is clearly about function than design. Controls are easy to read, and simple to use. Sorento's off-roader credentials can be seen in the substantial cabin construction. The materials used exhibit similar toughness, but are not the nicest to touch or look at however. According to JD Power customer satisfaction surveys, Sorento has led the class for two years in a row. The only diesel engine option, the 2.5-litre CRDi (Common Rail Direct Injection), is mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox. With 343 Nm from just 2000 rpm, the on-road performance feels strong even if the 138 bhp is only average. Work the engine too hard though, and be prepared for a strained, unpleasant soundtrack. As mentioned at the start, the engine noise is minimal at highway speeds. Interior roominess is definitely Sorento's strongest point. Front and rear occupants, up to five, get to sit with generous amounts of head- and leg-room. The huge boot provides plenty of loading capacity, which can be increased by split-folding or folding flat the rear seats, up to a maximum of 1849 litres. The diesel has a respectable fuel economy of 11.6 km/litre. Maintenance and repairs should be affordable. Depreciation will be the main concern as the Kia/Naza badge inspires less confidence in the second-hand market compared to more established brands. Buyers should expect to see more depreciation than for highly regarded rivals like Honda CR-V. Relative to Kia Sportage or Hyundai Tucson, Kia/Naza Sorento is more of an off-roader despite the civilised looks. That means Sorento lacks in refinement against Honda CR-V or Chevrolet Captiva on the roads, but offers much more off it. Perhaps a closer rival would be Nissan X-trail, which also possesses credible off-roading ability. Between the two, Sorento offers better space and off-road ability, though once again it lags X-trail in on-road manners. Sorento gets Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), dual airbags, seatbelt pretensioner, Radio/Cassette/CD/MP3 player with eight speakers, trip computer, steering wheel mounted audio control, dual zone air-conditioning, roof rack, cruise control, leather interior, power driver seat, power sliding roof and 16-inch alloy wheels. The NOVUS package adds side mirror indicator light, reverse sensors, window tint, bumper guards, GPS/GSM tracking system, remote alarm system and turbo timer. Sorento is not the worst-polluting SUV out there. The respectable fuel economy and decent carbon dioxide emission level put Sorento ahead of many other SUVs. To be sure though, “green” folks should still stick to smaller-capacity sedans/hatchbacks.