The latest edition of Kia’s family-friendly seven-seat SUV launched earlier this year with EV9-inspired styling and a range of power types. Al Suttie tests the plug-in hybrid in top-spec guise.

Kia Sorento PHEV 4 1.6 T-GDi auto

List price (BiK): £55,940 (12%) CO2: 37g/km Economy: 176.6mpg Test efficiency: 49.2mpg

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Monday

It’s not that long since a Kia Sorento graced the digital pages of this diary, yet here we are with another week with the now updated SUV. In this instance, it’s the plug-in hybrid PHEV version that has arrived and this one is in upscale 4 trim that means a price tag that puts it into consideration alongside some very prime and premium contenders from the likes of Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes.

Tuesday

The most obvious update for the Sorento is its exterior looks, which now come with more than a hint of the all-electric EV9. Of course, the Sorento is not an EV but a PHEV in this case, which means a 1.6-litre petrol engine and electric motor, giving a combined 250hp. That gives 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds, but more relevant to my daily slogs is the Kia can breeze past most slower traffic with blissful ease and with little effort from me thanks to the slick six-speed auto ’box.

Wednesday

Take the time to fully charge the Sorento PHEV’s 13.8kWh battery and it can offer a claimed 34 miles of all-electric driving. That’s a handy range, if not quite a match for the likes of the MG HS that can manage more than double that. Even so, a good deal of my driving at low speeds in the Kia is completed in battery-powered silence. When the petrol engine does kick in, it’s quiet and refined unless you want full-on acceleration.

Thursday

A couple of other PHEVs I’ve tried recently have tried to recoup as much energy as possible with their regenerative braking that they sacrifice all pretence of smooth driving. Not so in the Sorento, which works its way deftly down the gears as you slow and comes to a clean, controlled halt without any jerkiness. Nice, and the suspension is equally at one with the world even when the road is an angry mess of potholes.

Friday

Seven seats in a car makes me a prime target for the Friday evening football training run. I’m happy to oblige with the Sorento, which makes light work of carting around three teenage boys, one of whom (my son, natch) insists on sitting in the third row to “test it out for you”. He fits with room to spare, but I suspect most Sorento drivers will drop the two rearmost seats to enjoy the gigantic boot space.

Saturday

As part of the Sorento’s update, it gains the latest twin 12.3-inch dash and infotainment screens, which are joined to create a classy sweep of data ahead of the driver. As with other Kias this is used in, it’s easy to read, and fathom, and there are some buttons retained along with the switchable row of controls on the centre console. It’s not perfect, but a damn sight better than most, and the infotainment is quick and simple to work.

Sunday

Off to meet a friend for a morning’s gravel cycling. Easiest thing is to fold all of the Sorento’s rear seats, which is a doddle. Lay down a protective blanket and chuck in my bike and kit – quick and simple. My cycling buddy had a previous generation Sorento and he’s impressed by this one enough to start asking questions about whether he should replace his Volvo XC60 with the Kia. Any concerns about the Kia’s price have now been ably answered and quelled in my mind.