By TONY NG

Peter Schreyer, Kia's current director of design, once called the Korean brand anonymous in an interview with BusinessWeek, just a few months after he joined Kia. But that interview occurred years ago and clearly, the Kia we know today has, since then, changed a lot.

Five years and two all-new vehicles that have enjoyed popular success (we're referring to the Cerato Forte and the two-door Koup here), Kia's lineup seems to get even stronger with a revitalised crossover, the Kia Sorento.

What's new?

For the market here, Kia has ditched the 4WD drivetrain in favour of a lighter front-wheel drive. There is a 4WD option box for you to tick against but we cannot fathom why anyone would want to tick that box, not here in this country anyway.

The Sorento also gets a downsized-for-the-times 2.4-litre Theta II engine, the same engine in the Koup - and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. This compares to the previous 3.5-litre model with a four-speed automatic. 95mm longer and 15mm lower, the Sorento is more aerodynamic than the previous model with a Cd of 0.38 - down from 0.425. All in all, these changes account for a weight loss of at least up to 215 kg (varies from model to model) and an increase in fuel efficiency.

Overall, the Sorento scores high with its new looks. The revamped fascia is refreshing and even though the new Sorento is more adapted to the asphalt than the off-roading, it still has an aura of masculinity thanks to the creases and folds in the sheetmetal. In terms of chassis, the Sorento gets a monocoque bodyshell, putting aside the previous body-on-frame method.

Click on thumbnails below to view more photos. Story continues after photos. (Photos: KIA, TONY NG)