Kia Sorento

By Bill McCarthy

NOT so very long ago, the idea of paying more than £50,000 for a Kia would have seemed, well, fanciful. That is no longer the case, with the latest offering of the stylish, super-practical Sorento, seeming a bit of a snip when compared to the opposition.

Just like its stablemate Hyundai, which recently introduced their upmarket brand Genesis, Kia has gone upmarket.

It’s the fourth generation Sorento since 2002 and for the first time offers a plug-in hybrid powertrain alongside the 2.2 litre diesel and1.6 full hybrid and is available with three spec levels – ‘2′, ‘3′ and this test flagship ‘4′ model.

So what do you get for a price tag approaching £55k? A whole lot is the answer with this seven-seater, four-wheel drive SUV that scores close to a perfect 10 on the fashion catwalk. It also features the Kia seven year warranty.

For a multi-purpose vehicle, it’s design is more than eye-catching with large black grille flanked by smart headlight cluster, wing-shaped air curtains and stylish 19-inch alloy wheels. Longer taller and wider than its predecessor, it has an imposing road presence.

The plug-in hybrid technology mates a 1.6 petrol engine with an electric motor and 13.8 kWh battery to produce 261bhp.

It is also capable of up to 35 miles on battery power alone, increasing to 43 miles in city driving. The nominal mpg is 176.6 mpg and with emissions of 38 g/km, it is cheap to run.

Mated with a six-speed auto box, it has plenty of power and can hit 60mph in a very respectable 8.4 seconds, making it quick away from the traffic lights, but also excellent for overtaking on the motorway.

Should the going get tough, the Terrain Mode. can be deployed to select ‘Mud’, ‘Snow’ and ‘Sand’ modes. The system automatically optimises the drivetrain to best suit each scenario, adjusting engine torque output and distribution.

Otherwise, for normal driving the car is composed and comfortable as you would expect in a large SUV.

The interior has a premium feel as you would expect with a car of this price and some clever innovations.

It features high-quality soft-touch finish, using metal and natural materials and soothing ambient lighting.

There is a digital cockpit fitted as standard on all models, while a 10.25-inch touchscreen is fitted on ‘3′ and ‘4′ models, which controls navigation, infotainment and smartphone connectivity.

This range-topping 4 model also features an ear-splitting, (if your turn it up) 12-speaker BOSE premium sound system with all the extra woofer and tweeter bits and pieces.

The infotainment system also allows Bluetooth smartphone pairing for two phones concurrently.

There is also a host of kit on this model including powered tailgate, roof bars, camera, full length sunroof, heated and cooled powered seats, ambient lighting and a clever safety innovation seen in the GENESIS where the two main binnacle dials turn into cameras when the indicators are activated.

Like many upmarket models if features a rotary get selector while switchgear and general controls feel sturdy and are logically placed.

It’s a hugely practical vehicle with seven seats as standard, which split, fold or can be removed for maximum stowage. The middle row has slide, recline and 60:40 folding functionality, while the third row split 50/50. The rearmost pair are pretty substantial as well, so longer journeys can be completed with relative comfort.

It is jam packed with safety kit including various lane departure, collision and blind spot warnings, while the full set of airbags includes for the first time a centre airbag for extra driver protection.

Factfile

Kia Sorento ‘4′ 1.6 PHEV T-GDi Auto AWD

Price: £54,695

Mechanical:261hp, 1,598hp petrol engine and electric motor driving fall wheels via auto gearbox

Max Speed: 119mph

0-62mph: 8.7 seconds

Combined MPG: 176 miles

Insurance Group:31

C02 emissions: 38g/km

Warranty: 7yrs/100,000 miles

Mercedes C 300

By Bill McCarthy

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Mercedes’ compact executive thoroughbred, the C-Class, is a best seller for a good reason.

Since the current generation was launched in 2014, 2.5 million models have been sold worldwide

It looks the part, offers cutting edge technology and has the sheer desirability and aspirational quality many look for.

The latest version is as slick and stylish as ever and with this plug-in hybrid version, offers a step forward against many of its rivals.

With an electric-only range of around 65 miles, you could ask the question, why go for full electric as the charging infrastructure continues to grow at a snail’s pace? Even when the charge runs out, you still have the petrol engine to deliver power.

While many plug-ins offer around 30 miles, doubling the range here means most journeys can be completed on electric power only

Every engine in the new C-Class is electrified either as a plug-in hybrid or a mild hybrid with 48-volt technology and an integrated starter-generator

The two litre engine is mated with a 128bhp electric motor, powered by a large 25.4kWh battery to deliver rapid pace and brilliant economy. The low CO2 emissions mean low, for now, road tax and the lower end of the Benefit in Kind taxation table.

It has a nominal mpg of 470.8, but true mpg depends on how much you drive on electric only, so is probably nearer to 60-65mpg.

The C-Class model range consists of four equipment levels, including Sport; AMG Line; AMG Line Premium; and AMG Line Premium Plus.

It has a low-slung sleek silhouette, attractive alloys, and elliptical lights either side of the large grille sporting the iconic three-pointed Mercedes star.

It also features AMG front bumper with sporty air intakes and chrome elements

The interior is premium quality with heated and powered leather seats, soft-touch finish, classy inserts, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster display.

The centre is dominated by the standard 11.9-inch display which operated the latest generation of the impressive MBUX infotainment system, which has now fully integrated the major music streaming services.

It is also capable of receiving over-the-air updates. As soon as a new update becomes available a message appears in MBUX.

Full smartphone connectivity is available and certain systems can be operated by voice command.

Wireless phone charging is also available

On the road, the car is an impressive performer. The hybrid system is mated with the familiar nine-speed automatic transmission to deliver seamless changes and swift acceleration.

The driver can select a number of modes including Comfort, ECO, Sport, Sport+, Individual and two hybrid-specific modes: Battery Level and Electric, for a choice of performance and economy. Switch to Sport mode and everything sharpens up to deliver an engaging drive.

Otherwise, the car glides along almost silently on electric power, with plenty in reserve with the powerful petrol engine lurking in reserve.

Handling is sharp and the car performs well on twisting country lanes competently, always feeling well-balanced and aided by responsive steering.

Using an 11kW charger, you’ll need two hours for a full charge, which limits the potential for zero-emissions running on longer journeys unless you have that time to spare at a service station. Fast charging capability would make it even more attractive.

The large batter. means boot space is reduced on the hybrid to 315 litres, which is not a huge amount in its class.

Mercedes has a reputation for safety and equipment is extensive with a full range of airbags, Blind Spot Assist; rear view camera and a host of other aids.

Factfile

Mercedes C 300 e AMG Line Saloon

Price: £44,895

Mechanical: Combined 205hp 1,999cc, 4cyl petrol engine and electric motor driving rear wheels via 9-speed auto gearbox

Max speed: 152mph

0-62mph: 6.1 seconds

Combined mpg: 470.8

CO2 emissions: 13g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/100,000 miles