Judging from the smooth lines and elevated build quality of the 2010 Kia Sorento, this Korean manufacturer is sending a clear message to the automotive industry of its intent of becoming a global player. Unlike the previous variant whose exterior lines remind you of a shoebox on wheels, this current iteration is more pleasing to the eye and appeals to a wider spectrum of the global market.

With the old design relegated to the paper shredder, engineers at Kia went the unconventional route and gave the current iteration a unibody design. This eliminated the truck-like harshness of a body-on-frame SUV, and offers Kia fans above-average off-roading skills and towing capabilities. The change in body construction as well as the loss of a low-ratio transfer case means a much leaner and lighter sports utility, or 475 pounds less than the previous model. They also designed the 2010 Sorento four inches longer and a bit wider, giving it a more aggressive stance.

Felix J. Mabilog, the maverick head honcho of Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC) which exclusively distributes the Kia brand in the country, gave me the keys to a Sorento test mule as my birthday ride. “I think that going out of town with your family aboard this SUV is better than a greeting card my friend,” says Mabilog, an industry stalwart, who has a penchant for surprising media men with his generosity.

The current Sorento shares the same platform with the Hyundai Sante Fe. The locally available units being sold in Kia showrooms are Korean-built with European-specs, and has a softer suspension compared to its siblings in the North American market. Due to its reduced weight, the 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine is capable of hauling the Sorento even on a full load and has no qualms during suburban driving.

However, once you take it out on the open road, the Sorento seems to struggle a bit and there are noticeable flat spots in the lower rev range. The six-speed automatic transmission also tends to “gear hunt”, an irritating downside which can also be found in another Kia looker, the Soul. Maybe this is one aspect of Kia vehicles that needs to be addressed. Perhaps, the VGT Diesel version Sorento will fare better during high speed sprints.

Mabilog also revealed that the 2.0-liter, 190-bhp VGT diesel version will be introduced in April this year, and Kia dealers are pre-selling the diesel variant at a special introductory price of P1.2 million. At present, the Sorento is available in two gasoline variants, the 4x2 LX which sells at P1.6 million and the 4x4 LX version at P1.7 million.

Admittedly, the Sorento was not built with the Paris-Dakar rally in mind. The Sorento is tailor-fit for families who wish to have a comfortable ride while absorbing the scenery from the cool confines of an SUV. Improvements are visible inside, with the fit and finish of the dashboard no longer plasticky while the dark wood grain accents adds a sense of sophistication to the interiors.

Auto Rally Challenge

After a pleasurable encounter with Kia’s flagship variant early this year, I was reunited with the Sorento over the weekend for the staging of the Auto Rally Corporate Challenge (ARCC). An off- shoot of the Sampaguita Rally, the ARCC is a revival of the “on time, all the time” rally popularized by local racers in the 1960’s. This year, 13 automobile manufacturers and a record setting 63 automobiles started at the grid which was a sight to behold.

The ARCC were participated in by veteran rally drivers and navigators, members of the motoring media, auto dealers and top industry executives. Participants were subdivided into five-man teams and this writer was part of Team Kia, driving its flagship variant, the 4x4 Sorento EX. With Lester Dizon of the Philippine Star as my navigator, we raced around the Subic Bay Freeport for a day. The key is to not get lost, and to be on time all the time. The digital trip meter did its job well of recording the precise distance travelled at every checkpoint. Despite the shearing heat of the summer sun, Dizon and I went about our business of giving it our best to win glory for Team Kia, thanks to the dual zone automatic climate control system.

The sleek, stylish and cavernous interiors provided enough room for us to stretch back and even catch some much needed shut-eye during a brief lull at the Subic International Raceway track. The seats are well-contoured and provide a level of comfort due to a plethora of seat adjustments.

Living up to its reputation as a comfortable sports utlity, the SUV gamely absorbed the road ruts and rolled with ease along Subic’s twisty back roads.  The Sorento’s stability controls and anti-lock brakes provided us with confidence to go all out at times without fear of the vehicle buckling down. The suspension is an improvement of the older versions which bottomed out during sudden road change and aggressive turning maneuvers.

We completed the ARCC by late afternoon, and Team Kia capped the day with a beachfront buffet at the Lighthouse Marina where our team was billeted.

If you are out looking for an alternative SUV that has adequate power and comfort features for that weekend trip to the farm, look no further. This Korean SUV has the qualities that can hold its own against Japanese, and even pricier European or American SUV’s. Kia is out to conquer the world.