Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-2

The Sorento comes a close second in this test. If you need a seven-seater, it has more space than the Santa Fe in its back row. Yet while cabin quality is an improvement over the previous model, the dark colours will put some buyers off, and the upright styling isn’t as eye-catching.

The latest Kia Sorento was launched towards the end of last year, but you’d be hard-pressed to tell it apart from the car it replaced. It’s the same length and width as its predecessor, and while it’s 10mm lower, it retains the same upright, boxy lines.

LED running lights are the biggest update to the looks, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as there’s a certain no-nonsense, rugged charm to the Sorento’s chunky design.

It has the same dimensions outside, but the Sorento has been redesigned to create more interior space. There’s an additional 30mm of rear legroom, while the squared-off boot means the Sorento’s two third-row seats have the most headroom in this test.

That back row is also far easier to fold than the Outlander’s, because each seat is operated via a single pull cord in the seatback.

Elsewhere in the cabin, the dash has been revised to bring it into line with the rest of the Kia range, which means a driver-focused layout and switchgear with a positive feel.

The car in our pictures is an entry-level KX-1, while the KX-2 Nav we tested gets the same clear sat-nav touchscreen seen in other Kia models. However, aside from some silver trim on the centre console and door pulls, Kia’s reliance on large areas of black plastics and dull seat upholstery means the cabin feels rather oppressive when compared with the stylish interior of the Santa Fe.

Out on the road, the Kia and Hyundai offer very similar performance, because they share the same 194bhp 2.2 CRDi turbodiesel engine and four-wheel-drive running gear. The Santa Fe was a fraction quicker than the Sorento in our acceleration tests, but that was because it had more miles under its belt, so was that little bit looser. Whichever model you choose, the 422Nm torque figure means towing is a breeze, with a maximum towing capacity of 2,500kg on offer.

In corners, the soft suspension means there’s plenty of body roll – more so than in the Santa Fe – but the Sorento has more grip than the Outlander and feels more stable, too, while the smaller 17-inch alloys deliver a more comfortable ride.

Off the beaten track, the Sorento’s 4WD lock helps deal with slippery surfaces, but there’s no hill descent control, and it’s not as able as the Outlander off-road.

As well as more interior space, Kia has added extra standard equipment to the Sorento. Even the mid-range KX-2 Sat Nav is generously equipped, and it matches the Outlander for kit in most areas, despite being marginally cheaper.

Fuel economy was slightly disappointing on test, with the Kia returning 28.4mpg, and the Mitsubishi has it beaten for tax costs, too. In its favour, however, the Sorento comes with Kia’s seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty. And while the fixed-price servicing deal delivers the same level of maintenance as Hyundai’s, at £349 it’s £150 cheaper.