Softly softly approach to 4WD

The Sorento has eschewed body-on-frame construction for a monocoque approach.

Kia's upgraded, tarted-up and refined version of its Sorento is a solid step forward for the Korean manufacturer.

Rather than vaguely pitching a model into the hard-fought urban SUV market that didn't quite tick all the boxes in any area, it's set out to make a solid "soft roader" and has done it properly.

Urban Kiwis have a strange hunger for SUVs of this ilk, and the Sorento R delivers across the board. It's still a four-wheel drive, but isn't really built with muddy forest outings or beach-bashing in mind - the Sorento will be more at home picking up kids from school or carting big families around the countryside.

The biggest change is the svelte shell - Kia has eschewed body-on-frame construction for a monocoque approach that fits better with its new, far more stylish bod, with its sharp new headlights, slick clamshell bonnet and chrome-framed grille.

This better body is a result of Kia's masterstroke - enlisting ex-Audi designer Peter Shreyer as head of design. Nearly every model in the company's line-up is now feeling the touch of Shreyer, and the brand is moving from being a purveyor of well-priced Korean kit, to releasing vehicles that exhibit the type of tasteful, modern Euro styling needed to sell big SUVs like this.

It's 96mm longer than its predecessor - packing seven seats with a sliding centre row into most of the four models - although 10mm has been trimmed off the wheelbase and 15mm has come off the top to enhance the sportier look.

Under the bonnet comes perhaps the biggest fix in the form of a strong new 2.2 common rail diesel. It uses a variable geometry turbo, making 145kW at the flywheel, and 445Nm or torque where it counts. This engine - which is also found in Hyundai's Sante Fe - is spread across all Sorento R models, and is a gem. Kia claims meagre fuel usage of 6.6 litres/100km in the six-speed auto, but urban reality saw the numbers creep up around the mid-sevens, still reasonably frugal for a hulking SUV.

Handling is what you'd expect from a vehicle of this size - body roll and understeer feature highly if you get too enthusiastic with the right foot, but that is not what this family-friendly machine is about.

The interior is well finished and functional and benefits from a stronger focus on fit and design, although the hard plastics used on the doors let the side down.

With the seven-seater option, rear storage drops to only 258 litres, but this is a normal compromise - go for fewer bums on seats and its swells to 1047 litres, and over 2000 litres with the second row down.

There's a two-wheel drive version for those not intending to get dirty at all - the LX and EX models and the well-equipped Limited, which was tested here.

All models feature ABS with electronic brake distribution, ESP and a solid complement of airbags as well as reversing sensors. On the Limited there's a clever reversing camera added to the mix, displaying on the rear view mirror.

The range-topping Limited also included an iPod-friendly stereo with six-disc in-dash CD player, dual-zone air and leather. A double panoramic sunroof was a nice touch, but gave the irritating side-effect of helping the chrome-style bezels on the instrument panel redirect bright flashes of sunlight into the eyes. Not ideal.

The two-wheel-drive "urban" drive comes in at a reasonable $46,990 with the Limited milking the wallet for $63,990. The LX (manual) is just under the magic 50 grand mark, and the auto version (EX) costs $55,990.

For those seeking a serious four-wheel drive, look elsewhere. But buyers of well-designed, comfortable and high-specced soft-roaders or SUVs should definitely take a closer look.