KIA could not have chosen a better time to move into the premium car market with the launch of its high-grade Sorento.

The Korean company conceded that its second generation Sorento was looking more ute than cute and took the decision for a step-change, placing the accent on high levels of quality and sophistication.

The third generation 4x4 Sorento is a convincing proposition of a premium SUV entering new territory commanding prices upwards of £40,000 and occupied by the likes of BMW, Audi, Range Rover and Volvo.

Kia makes the leap of faith while retaining a healthy presence in markets with a slightly more modest price tag.

Its arrival coincides with a growing confidence, Europe and worldwide, that the days of recession and austerity are fading, replaced by optimism which has boosted interest in more expensive and luxurious cars.

While moving upmarket, Kia is also hoping the Sorento will appeal to younger lifestylers and professionals needing an SUV which can deliver on the family-fun-adventure-capability-safety fronts - while offering quality, class and style.

The all-new seven-seater 4x4 is longer, lower and slightly wider than the outgoing model, which gives it a slimmer, curvy look and is powered by a single power unit, a re-engineered version of the 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine.

The 197bhp unit certainly feels strong, refined and agile, whether with six-speed manual or automatic transmission and gallantly coped with spaghetti routes through mountains on the media launch in Southern Spain.

Despite the executive treatment, this isn't a pampered cruiser restricted to cosseted travel on the motorway - although it fits that bill perfectly. The Sorento handled impressively along switchback roads and was unfazed despite its 4,780mm length and 2.5-ton weight.

Steering has been upgraded, too, operating precisely, promoting good feedback and confidence.

A 90-mile trek up and down mountain, via the fantastic Ronda gorge and its zig-zag approach, proved the Sorento's 4x4 integrity and stability in the dry.

A day later, the SUV completed a 140-mile coast-to-coast trip from Marbella to Cadiz, via Gibraltar and Jerez, encountering Monsoon conditions on the return when the all-wheel-drive system was fully and continually employed for well over an hour. The Sorento kept its cool and grip while aquaplaning through flooded motorways. Who said the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain?

These were quite severe conditions facing the Sorento which dismissed any notion that the new SUV was going soft on its 4x4 integrity - despite the luxury appointments and fittings. It demonstrated that the Sorento still retains uncompromising stability and safety at its core.

The electronically-controlled all-wheel drive system normally sends 100 per cent engine torque to the front wheels, but this is redistributed up to 60-40 front-to-rear to maximise cornering stability or when, as on this particular occasion, road and weather conditions deteriorated.

For off-roading, the Sorento can be switched to lock mode to give a 50-50 torque split up to 25mph. But there's much more technological enhancement streamed into the SUV, including the Advanced Traction Cornering Control linked to the Hill-Start Assist Control.

Comfort is key to the Korean flagship's success and the uprated suspension has greatly improved the ride as well as promoted better handling. Noise suppression is just as important in providing a hushed cabin space, isolated from engine, road and wind noise.

Though the Sorento has a smooth, handsome outline, it still conveys a strong, determined attitude and boasts safety features beyond the norm, including Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning system, Advanced Smart Cruise Control Around View Monitoring, Adaptive Front Lighting and Speed Limit Information all of which help to establishing the Sorento with a full five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Inside the seven-seater, there's generous space which adds to the perception of a premium cabin, with the two rear seats providing decent room. Gaining entry and exit isn't as compromised as in some rival models.

Trim levels range from KX-1, KX-2, KX-3 and KX-4 and all models have a top speed of 124mph, a 0-62mph achieved in nine seconds (9.6 seconds for the automatic model), while returning average fuel consumption and CO2 figures of 49.5mpg and 149g/km respectively (43.4mpg and 172g/km for the automatic).

Prices start at £28,795 for the KX-1 manual, up to £40,995 for the top ranging KX-4 automatic, but it is the KX-2 automatic which is predicted to be the best seller with 30 per cent, closely followed by the same model in manual form - 25 per cent. The KX-3 manual is forecast to take 17 per cent of sales, the entry level KX-1 manual - 11 per cent while the KX-3 automatic and KX-4 automatic are likely to take 10 and 11 per cent of sales.

The new Sorento is expected to increase its residual values from between nine and 15 per cent over the previous model - depending on model grade.