"Conquering the rough with the smooth" is not just marketing fluff; it?s a statement that the new Kia Sorento lives up to.

Smooth is a word that is central to the look and feel of this XUV. It?s more than just a vehicle, it?s an emotional experience. This wasn?t just my impression, the whole crowd of journalists gathered at the launch of the model that will take Kia into 2010 were visibly impressed with its performance and style.

Round, round, I get around

Upon my arrival in Kwa-Zulu Natal, I was quickly shepherded to the car park and bundled into the driving seat of a Sorento with my 'co-driver' for the day. Route card in hand, we made our way onto the highways, and then the byways, surrounding Durban, Umhlanga and Richmond.

I had driven 50 kilometres before I realized the car is diesel-powered. Engine response, power and note gave no clue that there is a 2.2-litre unit under the bonnet. It was a small cautionary sticker on the upper right-hand side of the windscreen ? reminding me to only fill up with 50ppm diesel ? that gave it away.

I was stunned. The engine puts out 147kW of power and 335Nm of torque and responds the instant you put pressure on the pedal. It keeps on rolling out (smoothly) until either the next gear is selected or redline is reached. The previous model has a bigger diesel engine with 41kW less power, and it is far less fuel efficient, too.

Handling

The vehicle's superb handling complements the engine's power. It flowed through corners and sharp turns, skipped over bumps and potholes and was barely shaken by an extended spell on a gravel-covered road. The self-levelling suspension in the seven-seater (not included on the five-seater) performs a marvelous job. I could see the wheels of the fleet ahead of us dancing up and down while the bodies of the Sorentos simply floated on.

Kia has dropped the low-range transfer case from this model and slightly lowered the ride height because its research shows that customers were not concerned about heavy-duty offroad capabilities, but were instead looking for a luxurious car that is practical and capable of handling a diversity of road surfaces.

This it does with style. Tar, gravel, sand, mud, potholes, water, wet roads ? I experienced them all and more in the three hours I spent driving the car. The suspension and handling adapts instantly to them all. From the driver's point of view, one surface is very much like the other, so stable and reliable is the vehicle's response.

"At first sight"

The change in the Sorento's styling is part of the entire makover. Chief design officer Peter Schreyer says he believes that brand design must be shared with customers and any design he authorises must "identify Kia at first sight".

This is apparent in the new Sorento. The front end, which Schreyer defines as "the most important" is now distinct. The grille has a 'mouth' shape and wraparound headlights and fog lights with black honeycomb background define the new look, which Kia dubs the "Tiger nose". The Kia brand is now as Schreyer wants it to be.

Creases in the doors and a broader rear end help define the more sporty design that the Sorento personifies.

The cabin is also unique. Fittings smack of luxury and the seats fit more tightly than in previous models. The idea behind this is that a third row of seats can be included without affecting the comfort of the rest of the passengers.

The instrument panel is enhanced with a "3D" look and the steering wheel is adjustable telescopically and for height.

Altogether, the Sorento is a mind-blowing package of style, design, luxury and power that is truly wonderful to drive ? on the open road or off the beaten track. The price is very reasonable too.

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